is there anything i should do before i do this? i dont want to messup my computer
2007-05-24 13:28:59 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
NOTE THIS:
if you have never formatted/reformatted a hard drive before and have no idea how to nor have any idea how to install windows, i HIGHLY RECOMMEND NOT DOING IT YOURSELF.
Second,
YOU WILL LOSE ALL DATA ON YOUR HARD DRIVE.
Still want to proceed? Read on.
Save any Files you want (Documents Music, etc) to CD"s as DATA (burn as data cd or dvd if you have a dvd burner)
Make sure you have your Operating Disc that came with your computer, and make sure you have the serial key that goes with it (should be on a sticker on your case).
Then make sure you have your driver's disc so you will have proper network, audio, video, etc, drivers so your computer will work..
After all that and you install windows, use windows update (google it).
2007-05-24 13:34:08 · answer #1 · answered by Water Bottle 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
backup any vital files and data of yours
they will be gone
when you format in xp there are two available formats
- older fat32 ( some say faster , but fragements and cannot do large drives ( over 120 gigs)
and ntsf - newer , does not fragment , some say safer
if you are starting fresh you might want to set up a number of partitions rather than one
for example if you have a 200 gig hard drive
drive c - 40 gig where you put windows and a few programs
drive e ( d is for the cd/dvd drive) say 80 where you put your programs
drive f - the remainder where you put your songs /videos / storeage
the beauty is if you run into trouble , you can reinstall windows in drive c. Your programs and most imporantly your data is safe elsewhere.
If you are really stick you can install windows on another partition temporarily to get the computer going to read the other drives. works out well.
some people will tell you that viruses stay mainly on drive c.
I am not sure of that.
When you setup windows on a blank drive it will ask you if you want to create partitions
2007-05-24 20:38:01 · answer #2 · answered by billys_office 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The format will wipe out everything, so make a backup of all the files you want to keep. Also have a copy of the operating system you want your computer to run, so that you can reinstall it after you format the drive. I'm assuming that you're going to format the main drive where the OS is installed.
2007-05-24 20:34:05 · answer #3 · answered by schentor 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
first, you cant format your hard drive from Windows if it have the OS installed on it...
If it is an extra drive or partition you can format it... but I would recommend doing a backup using DVD's...
If it has Windows on it the only way to format it is installing the OS again and telling the OS installation to format the drive... I would recommend you create a new partition on the same drive... Lets say... 50% for the OS and 50% for your files... so when you need to format you can just format the OS partition and the other partition will be left untouched...
2007-05-24 20:34:17 · answer #4 · answered by joseamirandavelez 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Make absolutely sure all your important data is backed up, then format away
2007-05-24 20:33:28 · answer #5 · answered by acb29 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes back up all your work to Cd's and make sure you have drivers and windows installation disk and the most important make sure you can activate windows.
2007-05-24 20:34:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its not that difficult if you know how, but I would question your reason for the format ?
2007-05-24 20:33:14 · answer #7 · answered by Cupcake 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋