Reformat a Gateway/Dell or Any Other Major Brand PC?

Question

A friend of mine gave me his old Gateway computer for my children. It did not come with any kind of software at all. It currently has Windows ME on it but it is XP capable as I have checked its specs. My question is, how do you completely reformat these types of hard drives? There is usually a protected partition that contains recovery material or something similar. If I did a typical reformat, the unprotected partition would be erased but the protected one would still be there. Is there anyway I can reformat all of this completely and have a one partition hard drive?

Answer 1

If you format your hard drive and do a fresh install of Windows XP, you shouldn't have any problems. The process should permanently delete any data on the hard drive. For detail instructions with diagrams, go to

"How to format your hard drive and reinstall Windows XP from scratch"

(http://lifehacker.com/software/windows/geek-to-live-how-to-format-your-hard-drive-and-install-windows-xp-from-scratch-157578.php)

Answer 2

When you start the computer with the XP cd in the CD ROM drive you will progress through the steps until you get to the step that asks which partition to install XP on.

It is this step you will delete ALL partitons on all hard drives.

Once you have removed all the partitons you then create the new C: partition.

I have written out the exact steps in an article on my web site.

Answer 3

yes, when you get a windows xp install cd, you can just delete both of the partitions, then make a new partition using all of the space.

Answer 4

the human beings have forgot to point one significant element. After your reformat and reinstall of homestead windows, you may desire to bypass to homestead windows Updates (techniques > homestead windows replace) and reinstall all homestead windows severe and secure practices updates. this could take numerous hours or much extra while you're on dial-up, yet that's severe to maintain your homestead windows maintain. additionally while you're reinstalling a version of homestead windows till now XP service %. 2, you may desire to manually activate homestead windows firewall till now you hook up with the internet for the 1st time. without a firewall, your computer can grow to be compromised (re-contaminated) interior minutes. On 2nd concept, you're probably extra constructive off, paying a expert to try this for you. Your "stuffs" is consistent with threat too valuble to possibility dropping all of it.