whats the best way for me to completely restart my computer and make it like it was the day I got it. I dont have a system restore or reboot cd, Its a school issued laptop and we never got one. I have all my important stuff on my ext hard drive, whats the best way to do this (myself - not the school or a store) without having the cd?
2007-01-22 06:01:17 · 8 answers · asked by BM33 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Laptops & Notebooks
Well what your trying to do is known as "reformatting" your hard drive. To do so, you need to make a boot disc to use during installation. Here is a tutorial on how to reformat your computer including creating a boot disc:
http://www.everythingcomputers.com/reformat.htm
Make sure you read and understand the whole thing before you begin. Print the whole thing out for reference too! Good luck!
2007-01-22 06:08:12 · answer #1 · answered by yoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyo 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You would make your problem smaller by about 90% if you had a windows cd. But if you're using windows xp, You could create a new user, make sure that the user is a computer administrator, and then log into that account, and delete your other account, and as far as the programs go, you could go into the control panel, and click on the add/remove programs button, and just uninstall all of the programs that you have and you would be right close to brand new.
But again I say I think it would solve most of your problems if you had a windows restore disk or Operating CD.
good luck;0
( I can send you an ISO image of the windows XP, through your email if you dont mind having pirated windows.)
2007-01-22 14:10:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If pre XP operating system is currently on the computer, open up MS-dos prompt without windows running in the background. Type c:/format c:
this will erase everything. Then install operating system with CD. Keep in mind you will need a CD key. This may be found on a sticker on the tower.
Most likely you have a windows XP computer. There are 2 types of XP. Home edition and Proffessional. Find someone with the full installation cd. insert it and restart computer. When it asks you to format, format the HD. The CD will do the rest. easy huh?
2007-01-22 14:12:59 · answer #3 · answered by nada 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Im guessing the laptop came with programs other than simply windows installed on it. The best way to do it would be to transfer all of your imporatant data to a DVD or another computer. And just format the computer and reinstall windows. But you need to make sure you can get all the programs you need before doing that. If you don't have and can't get a windows CD, or the programs you need to reinstall after a format...you might as well give up on it and just use it the way it is.
2007-01-22 14:11:52 · answer #4 · answered by Mr.Robot 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Important: save a complete list of your laptoc features: Display tipe and model, VGA adapter, NIC card, Audio adapter, Modem card, etc, etc. Find it this way: 1. right click on "mi pc", properties 2. Click on hardware tab then in devices manager 3.copy a list of all devices mentioned avobe. 4.exit and the you can format the hdd. Now you can install the best OS for your equipment, Win XP PRO-SP2 version is good. when its done, verify the hardware devices list. the yellow marks the conflictive devices, you'll have to update the apropiate controllers. find it in Driverguide.com or other web sites. Best possible if you have its before the formatting. You need to have the win xp installer boot cd!! Good luck
2007-01-22 14:19:47 · answer #5 · answered by yess 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well without some sort of OS you can't get there. You have to have the operating system to reload.
To wipe a drive clean goto hotfiles.com and do a search for wipedisk. If it is not there then google the same and you'll find several. These programs wipe the entire HD.
2007-01-22 14:12:43 · answer #6 · answered by chefantwon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can't-not the way you describe it. The best that you can do is to uninstall everything possible and then use a registry cleaner to clear leftover files, followed by a defragmentation. You can try this utility-it has a free trial period.
http://www.download.com/Advanced-Uninstaller-Pro-2006/3000-2096_4-10613948.html?tag=lst-0-8
HASN'T ANYONE READ THE QUESTION?USER DOESN'T HAVE XP CD, so DO NOT tell him to re-format!!!!!
Once you have done all this, make sure that you install an antivirus app like Free AVG ( http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10596553.html?tag=lst-0-1 )
2007-01-22 14:11:22 · answer #7 · answered by Douglas D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can't, if you do not have the restore cd or even the Windows cd then you are out of luck.
2007-01-22 14:05:27 · answer #8 · answered by spacedude4 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋