Formatting Hard Drive?

Question

I was reading about my computer and found this article.
"Best machine for the money. I formated the hard drive (got rid of Gateway's software) and installed updated drivers when I received the computer, improved perfromance A LOT. Excellent Gaming Machine) "
I was wondering what does it mean by formatting the hard drive, how do i do it, and would it delete all of the stuff on my hard drive?

Answer 1

What that user did was erase all the extra "crapware" installed by the manufacturer on a new PC.

Many of these programs are unnecessary & unwanted by the buyers of new PCs.

The Restore DVD that came with your PC will not do a clean install of Windows. You would need another legitimate copy of Windows with its own key.

regards,
Philip T

Answer 2

Formatting basically means to erase your hard drive so you can reload your operating system or sell the drive. I personally run a bleach utility on the drives that I sell on ebay, it's a DOD level file destruction so data cannot be recovered. To format a drive in windows xp simply reboot the computer with the windows xp cd in your cdrom drive. When asked to boot from cd press any key do so. Windows xp will detect the drive and any operating system that may be installed and present you with a few options. 1) run a repair on windows, 2) reinstall windows which will allow you to (reformat) the hard drive. You don't have to reformat but I would highly recommend it, and use NTFS for better security.
http://www.hollandpcservice.com

Answer 3

Formatting the drive prepares it to accept data. It would wipe your entire system clean and you would be left with nothing but free space. All your programs, including your operating system, would no longer exist on that drive. Unless you have a copy of Windows XP (or whatever operating system you are using) you are at the mercy of Gateway's restore disk (or whatever they call it now) which just basically takes your system back to when you bought it with everything pre installed.
Assuming you have an XP disk, you would have your computer boot to your CD/DVD drive and follow the prompts from the installer.
Good luck!

Answer 4

formatting a hard drive is basically wiping it clean, so yes you would lose all of the stuff on your hard drive.

to format a drive make a dos boot disk, put format on it and boot off the. once you get to the "a" prompt type

format c:

you will get a warning message about losing all the files on your disk, if your sure type in "y" and away it will go

once done your computer WILL NOT have an OS on it, so it will no longer boot, you will then need to install an OS

dougc

Answer 5

Formatting means to make it compatible with the PC and if you format a hard drive it will lose everything on it to do this you can either use software from the manufacturer or you can use the software that is on your PC. PS just right click on hard drive and go to format disc also wont work on hard drive bigger then 120GB unless you have specific software.

Answer 6

Hi,
This will complete clear all your HD so make sure you have Backup of all your stuff. Just put the Windows Disk in your CD, then switch off, wait, then switch On, your computer will now Boot from the Disk just follow the instructions to reformat your HD and install Windows again.

Answer 7

good for you!!!!!! but a bateway is still junk it will only give you probs just wait. reformating dosenot clear your hard drive unless you take the option to wright 0000's to you hard drive that will clear it of anything except bugs ect...the first one will stil clear out all your games and progies ect...always make a backup befor you format enjoy