i am recieving my dads old computer in a few months, and i need to completely reset to whole sytem to factory settings. i dont have a disk or anything, is there a way that i can just reformat the hardrive? im runing windows xp home on a emachine computer.
2007-08-14 03:26:33 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
if you do not have original disks you can format, but you will need an operating system, and also the drivers to any hardware that is installed
2007-08-14 03:29:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To start over with a clean install you will need to format the hard drive and then install an operating system, XP or Vista, or what ever, and you will need all of the drivers for the motherboard and for any third party PCI and or Video cards that are installed.
The operating system will have to be purchased from a local dealer or from one of the many suppliers that sell on the web. The drivers will have to be downloaded from the web sites of the people who made these products.
Or you can just take the time to either delete or uninstall all of the the data and programs that you will no longer need or want.
2007-08-14 10:36:59 · answer #2 · answered by Ron M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can format your harddrive, but you still need an operating system (Windows xp for example). So I would suggest getting a copy of the windows xp CD. Put the disk in the CDROM and boot from there. You can select reinstall windows, which will format the drive at the same time.
2007-08-14 10:38:08 · answer #3 · answered by MBA seeker 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you're not too scared of change, I'd suggest that you download and burn a DVD of the Linux flavour of your choice, and boot from that DVD. It should then allow you to reformat the disk and then install the Linux you chose.
Lots of ppl are scared of it, but it got so much simpler, and remains sooo much nicer than Windows will ever be, that it's worth the try. You got some vacation time to get used to it. It's like riding a bike for the first time of your life: it's very daunting to go about at "high" velocity on two very thin pieces of plastic, but when you got the hang of it, you wonder why you had a 3rd wheel ever in your life.
2007-08-14 10:36:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Unless you are familiar with the process... ask a friend if they would be willing to do it. Otherwise, just clear out everything, and start using the computer "as is"...
Once all the "My documents" are deleted, remove cookies, and a few other simple things like taking away dad's wallpaper, you could probably start using the computer in 20 minutes.
"Never create more work than necessary"
2007-08-14 10:36:00 · answer #5 · answered by Brian H 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if your dad does not have the os cd then you can find a friend who has the exact copy of your os and borrow his/hers. As long as you have the CD KEY of course.
and NO a cd key for winXP pro will not work for a winXP home.
I stumbled across a microsoft page where I could order a replacement CD. It cost me $6 plus shipping. But I don't remember where the site was. surfing through Microsofts web site can be pretty tricky. I'll see if i can find it.
2007-08-14 10:36:01 · answer #6 · answered by Jerik 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would reformat and repartition the harddrive then install the operating system, but you will need an operating system CD in order to do this.
2007-08-14 10:32:01 · answer #7 · answered by Judy L 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
u need to go out and buy the windows xp cd. if u want home u can get it for 100 but if u want pro u can get it for about 140. Pro in my eyes is better. i have always used pro after my home edition crash many times. i havent had any problems with Pro.
2007-08-14 10:30:40 · answer #8 · answered by Computer Knowledge 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You cannot reformat without a windows xp CD.
2007-08-14 10:28:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can format the drive, but if you don't have a CD, you won't be able to reinstall anything. A computer with a blank hard drive isn't very useful.
2007-08-14 10:29:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋