how do i format my computer?

Answer 1

Boot from your operating systems install disk.

This should give you an option to format the disk and reinstall your operating system.

If your after a secure wipe before selling / throwing away an old pc then download Darik's Boot and Nuke, burn it and then boot from it. (http://dban.sourceforge.net/).

Be carefull though as both these options will cause you to loose all your stuff!

Answer 2

short question = long answer. Depends on what OS you want to load to it. I'll start with Windows XP, bucause it is the most popular.

Some Caveats....Following these directions will erase the hard drive, and all your data and programs. Be sure you REALLY want to do this!!!! Make sure that your data is backed up on other media, and that you have the install disks for any software you plan to reload.

Insert WinXP cd in the drive, and reboot the PC. Hopefully it will ask you if you want to boot from the cd. ("hit any key to boot from cd"). Hit the "any" key (bad joke there) and the pc will boot from the cd. Follow the prompts to load windows (not repair). It will then ask you where you want to load windows, and offer to do so on the current partition. You should follow the prompts here to delete the current partition, and then format the resulting blank partition as NTFS. Choose "quick" if available. That action will reformat the hard drive as a NTFS drive.

If you are using any win9x OS, you'll need to create a floppy or CD boot disk, boot from that disk, and perform fdisk and format commands from the DOS prompt. If you've never done this before, get a friend who has and keep him (her) handy during the process...you'll need the help because it can be a very arcane procedure.

Unix and Mac are yet another tale. I don't have enough experience with either to feel comfortable writing instructions.

Answer 3

formating a computer is of different kind one formating the partion through the os the other is through the os cd or using fdisk utility. u can format the partions(not the primary partion in which the os is installed) by right clicking on the drive letter and selecting the "farmat" option.
to foramat a full disk u can use your os cd. restart your system and go the the BIOS and check whether the cd rom drive is the 1st boot device if not make it so. the reboot the system now the system will ask " press any key to boot from the cd.. " press any key it will enters in the installtion screen from that select the 1st option "press enter to install the os" then it will show you the partion on which it should b installed along with the delete and format options. you can select fat32 or ntfs and continue.

Warning: formating will lead to loss of whole data in the disk .

Answer 4

Do you mean as in like your Operating System?


If you have the original (I'm guessing Windows XP) cd..


Its easier, just to call Windows, its free, and they will tell you everything you need to know...

heres the number: [phone]