wipe your hard drive?

Question

I need to know what the steps are to wipe your hard drive, but be able to reinstall the operating system that came with your computer, and I do not need the safety info, because if I break it I don't buy it. please make it simple, I'm not to bright!

I have an HP Pavilion A1250N, but the computer I need help with is an HP also, like a 500 series or something.

Answer 1

The answers of placing the Windows CD in the PC and rebooting is right on. But if you want your old data wiped you should do a search for Boot and Nuke and download it to a floppy. That will wipe the data off all the way, and then reinstall windows. Good luck.

Answer 2

1. make a back up cd
2. You will have to have a special disk, a diskette, it is a diskette that you use to start the computer with the basic tools
3. Go to help options in the windows, and type, safety disk, or something like that, it is very easy
4. Call a friend who knows about computers

A. save all the drivers, and the important programs
B. save here all the things you need
2. Format the dirve disk
And then re-install everything

Answer 3

Ok to reformat your computer, the most important first step is to BACK UP YOUR DATA. So you dont lose any.

Then, insert your XP cd when the computer is restarting, and it should attempt to boot from the CD. Then follow the instructions to reformat. You will have to delete your current windows, then install it again.

Answer 4

Just insert the Windows CD (I'm assuming you are using Windows) and boot to it (you might have to change this setting in BIOS). When it starts, make sure you tell it to format first.

Answer 5

I'd have to know what kind of computer you have. On mine you go to PC help and tools then click system recovery but I'd try system restore first.