2007-02-15 04:54:21 · 24 answers · asked by manarshh_jot 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
Hi. To be safe you should backup all data you want to another hard drive. Low level formatting will destroy your data.
2007-02-15 04:57:00 · answer #1 · answered by Cirric 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Formatting a hard disc by definition means wiping it clean of all data. In other words, you can't format a disc without losing files. The thing to do is to back up your data first, and then format your drive. Now, you CAN reinstall MS Windows on your computer without erasing your hard disc, but that may not be what you're looking to do.
2007-02-15 04:59:37 · answer #2 · answered by gg5000 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You'll need to make a backup (this can be a hard drive, but you could also back up on CD, USB, mp3 player, DVD-RW, online backup system...)
Don't forget to backup things like your adress book, your preference files for your applications, your e-mails, your bookmarks in Firefox or IE, and make a list of what applications you'll want to reinstall so you can do it all at once.
Make sure you have all the licence keys of applications you bought written down somewhere, as well as wifi passwords and any passwords you rely on your computer to remember for you.
2007-02-15 05:02:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You cannot format your hard disk without loosing data, only thing you can do is take a backup of the data and then format it
2007-02-15 19:34:14 · answer #4 · answered by Gollgappa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even if you reformat you won't necessarily destroy data on the disk; although it will require great measures to retrieve the information.
Like others have said you need to back-up your data first.
If you have sensitive information (ss numbers, passport images, bank account info, etc) you don't want others to be able to get hold of you should probably use dban first to COMPLETELY wipe the drive.
Then start the OS install process.
2007-02-15 05:34:54 · answer #5 · answered by Beam 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buy or build an external hard drive, save all of your data there and then re-format your original hard drive.
I just bought an 80 GB external drive yesterday; you can either buy them with an enclosure and put them together yourself, or already built. I haven't used mine yet but I'm told that they're very easy to use. Good luck with it.
2007-02-15 05:09:16 · answer #6 · answered by Coreydan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Partitioning will even delete your data. Dont take a chance. The USB hard disks are available very ceaply nowdays in market. Buy one, transfer your data, and then jo kide karne hain, woh kar le.
2007-02-15 19:50:04 · answer #7 · answered by manoj Ransing 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey Peoples!
Dont answer the question if you dont know the true answer!
partition the disk
partitioning the data wher it resides, create another area or areas that you can add DOS, files other Operating Systems
www.bootdisk.com
for free
partition tools
2007-02-15 04:57:57 · answer #8 · answered by god knows and sees else Yahoo 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Any form of formating of a HD will destroy all of your data and programs. Backup everything first before you think about doing a format.
2007-02-15 05:02:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
formatting a drive and losing data are synonymous... get an optical / pen drive, pit your data there, wippe the HDD clean, put the data back again, although i wonder if you'll format after listening to all this
2007-02-15 04:59:48 · answer #10 · answered by s_kundu88 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋