my computer no longer gos to windows so i want to erase
the hard drive and install a new operating system.
2007-06-19 13:07:55 · 6 answers · asked by can0fish 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
If you have a OS install cd, just put it in, boot up to the cd, reformat and do a clean install of the OS.
2007-06-19 13:10:52 · answer #1 · answered by Linux Root Error 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"A new broom sweeps clean". Hard drives change slightly over time, and if you are erasing everything on the disk, it makes sense to do a low-level format so that the marks on the disk line up *perfectly* with the current positioning of the read/write heads.
Run the FDISK program (both Windows and Linux include it) to delete all partitions on that hard drive, then create those partitions anew, and do a low-level format of each partition with FDISK.
You will then need to install a file system (with Windows, you use FORMAT, with Linux, it depends on what file system you want to install) on the hard drive.
Newer versions of Windows will format a hard drive when you do a fresh installation, so you could skip that step. If you are doing a reinstallation of WIN98, I don't recall if that's true or not.
2007-06-19 20:22:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
in my opinion, check out a version of linux thats absolutley free Called Ubuntu a much more reliable operating system for the future, i left windows at christmas and never looked back. Regarding your hard drive, try booting from a Win XP disc and Format it through there and then try installing your "custom OS" from that. hope this helps dan
2007-06-19 20:17:02 · answer #3 · answered by dan c 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's not loading up Windows anymore, then you need to get a fresh copy of Windows. You can probably get a decent version of Windows XP home from Wal-mart for like a 100 bucks. If you want Windows Vista, be sure you check to be sure you have enough ram to run it. It runs on a bit of ram because of the graphical issues with Vista. Vista is great though, but check your RAM size to be safe. The cheapest price of Windows Vista is going for I think about 140.00 dollars.
Good luck.
2007-06-19 20:14:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As part of the install for any newer version of Windows, it will offer to partition and format the hard drive for you. Let it and that will delete everything off the drive for you. You do not have to do it separately.
2007-06-19 21:04:57 · answer #5 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
stick in a windows disk and format.
2007-06-19 20:10:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋