Hi, I have an old P3 800 that I'm giving to my nephew for homework, can anyone tell me the best way to wipe the disk and start with a clean slate, I've got a lot of programs that he wont need and after 3 years it's slow as hell!
2007-03-21 10:29:46 · 10 answers · asked by Steven N 4 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
Best thing to do is to re-install Windows. During the installation process you are asked if you want to first format the hard drive. This will not only wipe all the data but make Windows run at it's optimum level.
2007-03-21 10:34:23 · answer #1 · answered by HomSupLo75 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It's technically not possible to erase EVERYTHING from a harddrive, no matter what you do, there will always be ways to retrieve at least remnants of old files, thats why crime investigators try to get info off hardrives, even if its all been "formatted" there is still info there. But for you, if you want all the files gone, and the small remnants dont matter then use either an OS disk and go through the set up, selecting "format" not "quick-format" or using a recovery disk that came with your comp and still, do the same thing.
2007-03-21 17:45:19 · answer #2 · answered by blackhawkjr 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The only sure fire way to do that is to do a low level format! But not many people do that these days !
You can't just do a normal format, you can still recover data, what you will need is all your drive parameters etc, it's a relatively long process but your hd will be spanking new when you're finished
2007-03-21 17:34:34 · answer #3 · answered by Michael F 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You could uninstall each Windows program one by one if you knew in which order it's supposed to be done.
But this works quicker:
1)Go to the DOS command prompt: C:\
2)Type Help: C:\Help [Enter]
3)Find the command to wipe out everything: Format (something something) (Unconditional Format)
4)Return to the command prompt
5)Execute that command
2007-03-21 19:06:26 · answer #4 · answered by ♫ayayay♫ 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If you intend to wipe the entire drive, including the operating system, then use darik's Boot and Nuke - you can boot your system from a floppy or cd/dvd media and securely erase the drive
free here
http://dban.sourceforge.net/
This utility is also included in Eraser (free)
-
http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/features.php
use it to delete files/folders or the free space on your drive if you want to leave the operating system intact
2007-03-21 17:46:25 · answer #5 · answered by zoomjet 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i recommend using the operating system cd that came with the pc (assuming you have it) and do a clean installation
just boot from the cd and follow all the prompts
delete your existing partition and install a fresh copy there
if you dont have the cd, you will just need to uninstall/delete everything manually
2007-03-21 17:34:30 · answer #6 · answered by joshcornelison 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
make a startup disk then use the startup disk to format the hard drive then load the os systerm you wish to use and any other program you think mite be of use thats all you have to do
2007-03-21 18:31:09 · answer #7 · answered by gandolf the wizard 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Use a MSDOS disk to delete the partion using the FDISK command - XP will repartion and format automatically when it's installed.
Simple ;-)
2007-03-22 14:55:23 · answer #8 · answered by Mr_Smelly_Underwear 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You have to reformat Drive C: and Drive D:. Then reinstall the operating system.
2007-03-21 21:16:14 · answer #9 · answered by Marc G 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
find the c: prompt and type "format C:"
Remember everything on the hard drive will be erased OS included.
2007-03-21 17:34:13 · answer #10 · answered by pilot 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋