Can anyone help urgently please???

Question

My computer is playing up, only 3 months old. I backed up my files and transferred them to my old computer. There are three of us on a homegroup, and the guys are alway changing things.

I want to get it blank, and reload everything again.
I don't want to do it in Safe Mode, because that still leaves some software on it. I want to upload all my disks again.

What buttons do I press. F8 takes me to Safe Mode. So that is no good.

It is not a laptop. The tower has ASUS / AMD 64 Athlon X 2 on it..

I need an answer from a computer tech. Please.

How do I do this? Urgent. Very urgent. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

http://www.windowsreinstall.com

Check that site for graphical step by step instructions.

Before Reinstalling Windows, Debug your Hard Drive. It will erase the MBR (Master Boot Record) Completely and re-write it.
Do this debug script ONLY if you have an IDE Hard drive. It is not good to run this script on a SATA Hard Drive.

Debug will erase EVERYTHING from Hard Drive.

If I were you, I would first run the Debug on the hard drive since the way you have mentioned about you 3 being on same network. I dont know about other two folks. If they are good with computers and hacking stuff, you should remove everything from the Hard drive.
There is nothing better than debugging the Hard Drive :)

Here is the Debug Script ...
http://www.compset.net/h_hdd_debug.html

Answer 2

Find either the recovery discs (supplied by some manufacturers such as HP) or Windows cd and leave them in when you turn on the computer. You need to boot from the cd, then format the drive and do a 'clean install'. Format means delete absolutely everything and clean install means start literally from scratch.
Assuming you have a Windows XP disc, you are asked to press a key to boot from the cd when you turn on the computer. You press the key and soon after you see a blue screen while Windows loads some basic files. You have the opportunity to format (I recommend the non-quick NTFS option) and then you are asked to choose a drive and install. The whole process will probably take an hour or two (that's just to get Windows) then you apply drivers for your equipment (scanner, camera, printer, etc.) and your additional applications.
To stop others from going round randomly ticking and un-ticking important settings, go into Control Panel and make their accounts Guest accounts, then change the administrator password.

Answer 3

If you want to get it blank your best option is to do a full reinstall of Windows.

Please be aware that this WILL erase all of your data so you should ensure you have backed up any important data to CD or another computer beforehand.

To do this you will need your original Windows CD or if your system did not come with it - a system recovery CD.

You will need to instruct your system to boot from this CD instead of from the internal hard disk drive. This may be just a matter of looking for something like "Press F8 for Boot Options" when you first switch the computer on - most modern systems have this option. Once pressed you will get a list of boot devices and you will need to put the disc in and choose the CD or DVD drive that relates to it.

If you don't have a boot options choice you will need to change the boot order in the system BIOS. To enter the BIOS you will see something like "Press DEL to enter setup" however this may be F1,F2,F3 or F10 instead of DEL. You will need to press the corresponding key to enter the system settings. Once in the settings you should have an option similar to "Advanced BIOS Features" - you will need to move down to that and press enter. Once in there look for "Boot Options" or "Boot Device Priority". In the list the drive at the top is the first one the system tries to boot from - make sure that is your CD/DVD drive and the next one down is your hard disk drive. Then press F10 to save the changes and exit.

If you boot with your recovery CD your system will be restored to factory settings automatically - installing all the drivers and software that came with the system.

If you boot with your Windows CD you will need to reload all these.

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

"I want to get it blank, and reload everything again."

You should use the original install cd from windows and reisntall the whole OS.

Backup the files that you would like to save and then add them after you reinstalled.

Dont connect to the internet without a antivirus and a firewall on the computer so download and make copys of the installation progs before reinstalling. Then make sure its the first you install before you connect internet and start updating the system etc.

Answer 5

Windows XP Clean Installation - Partitioning and Formatting using Windows XP CD
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm
http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_home_install_-_graphic.htm
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Answer 6

That's very simple, to blank the drive boot from your windows cd and follow the instructions. When the format option comes up, choose it. This will destroy EVERYTHING on the hard disk so make sure this is what you want. (I do it all the time, I like a fresh clean system)

Answer 7

Do you have documentation that came with your PC and/or your motherboard?

You could go to http://www.asus.com.tw/ and download the manual for your ASUS motherboard model in your preferred language. It will tell you what key combination will start the Windows repair.

See also

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q307654

about Windows XP repair methods and how to access them at boot time.

The last resort of course being a clean reinstall with Windows XP CD-ROM disc.

Answer 8

You will need the recovery disks that came with the computer, or you will need to purchase a new operating system. If you do that, I recommend Linux as it is free. OpenSuse is nearly identical to windows (it also comes with powerful office software and other applications bundled right in)

Answer 9

Have you done a system restore? You should be able to restore the computer to the day that you bought it > start> programs>Accesories>system tools > System restore choose the earliest date and the computer should restore it to that date.
Otherwise you need to reformat and all the info for that iss available online...too much to go into here

Answer 10

Do you have a restore CD?

Some newer computers make you burn your own. Click help, and look for a restore wizard. Find the wizard and burn yourself some restore CD's now, before your disk is trashed and you lose it all.