We are getting a new computer this weekend and want to give our old one to the kids for games and stuff. We have a Compaq Presario but it has a bunch of stuff on it and we don't have any software that may have come with it (got it used.) Is there a way to wipe it clean and then reload the basic stuff like windows, explorer....
Right now it runs a bit slow and the kids complain that it makes game playing difficult. What can we do? Thanks!
2007-02-22 06:40:05 · 7 answers · asked by just me 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
Here is how to do a "system recovery" on a compaq computer. You do not need the cd's or anything else. I have done this 3 times, and when you are finished, your computer will look just like the day you bought it. Mine came with xp already loaded on my computer. Click on start-programs-PC Help & Tools-then click on compaq system recovery. A window will popup and say, are you sure you want to continue, click yes. That will wipe everything off of your computer, so if you want to save anything, do it before you start. The operating system (XP) will still be on your computer. When you are finished, click control panel, and activate windows firewall. Next, run windows updates (express mode) Now install your security programs, so it is safe to go online. Your antivirus (update) antispyware (update)..then the programs you want for your kids..This works great, and all you need to do is to put the programs back, that you want..Good Luck..
EDIT: Another way to start this program, is to tap the F-10 key, while your computer is booting up..
2007-02-22 07:01:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I bought a used Compaq Presario for my mom on eBay a while ago.It was owned by a small business and they had cleaned the hard drive of all there files.When I first turned it on and as it was booting up I saw a message that was only on for a second or two that said press a certain key for you want to restore to factory defaults.I'm sure which key it was but when I did and followed the prompts it was just as if I had ran restore discs. It made it like it was new, with no files on it.
2007-02-22 06:48:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
1) Go to the control panel and open "add/remove programs". Click on any program your kids won't need and remove them.
2) Open Windows Explorer and look through the hard drive, espeically the My Documents folder, and remove any files the kids won't need.
3) Defragment the hard drive.
4) Make sure all your drivers are up to date.
Without the original disks, you can't just reformat the drive and re-install windows, so the kind of cleanup above is the best you can do.
2007-02-22 06:44:00 · answer #3 · answered by Steven D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's really difficult if you have no installation sources (mainly Windows).
What you could try is to
1. uninstall all software you don't need,
2. empty the "trash can" and
3. do a defragmentation of the harddisk.
It won't be like new, but possibly a bit faster.
2007-02-22 06:46:38 · answer #4 · answered by Chris 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just remove any programs that you don't use anymore by using going to Start--Control Panel--Add/Remove Programs and look for programs that you don't use...After this Defrag your drive so it can run faster....You can go to http://www.cccleaner.com and download it...after scanning using the ccleaner then it will find internet junk and registry issues...its free so give it a try...
2007-02-22 06:48:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, get Kubuntu at www.kubuntu.org and reformat it and reload that free operating system. However, beware! After you find out how much better and cheaper it is than Windows, you will want it on your computer, too!
2007-02-22 06:45:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
UUUUUMMMMMMMM...............
well try to find PC repair discs and there found any were and if there is music and pictures i recomend burning it, use memory stick, and try to any other thing
2007-02-22 10:06:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋