View Full Version : Reformatting a hard drive
CaseyRyback
10-10-2004, 04:11 PM
can someone give me some help on how to do this? My parent's computer is really messed up and getting lots of randoms errors (also is extremely slow)
I have all the Windows discs that came with it and all the registation codes as well. There is nothing on the computer I care to save. I just want to be able to hook it up so they can access the internet and use word.
Keep in mind I have not done this before, so if I am a little slow on what all needs to be done please be patient.
bignick
10-10-2004, 04:21 PM
If you have a windows disc, put that in and boot off of it. You should then have the option of formatting a drive, then reinstalling it.
I like to make 2 partitions, 1 for windows and apps and games and what not, and the 2nd is for my data, so I can reinstall windows when ever I want.
On my laptop, I have a 30 gb drive. I made 12gig partition for windows and apps and an 18gig partition for data.
bignick
10-10-2004, 04:23 PM
ummm, I just noticed your avatar, it your serious, I dont know what to think. If its a joke, Im still a little worried about you. Thats like david hasslehoff over in europe. scary shit.
Admiral Ackbar
10-10-2004, 04:28 PM
ummm, I just noticed your avatar, it your serious, I dont know what to think. If its a joke, Im still a little worried about you. Thats like david hasslehoff over in europe. scary shit.
HAhahaha. I found that the other night when we were raggin' on Seagal and recommended it to him.
Why don't you give this a shot Big Nick. (http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33833)
I can picture a joke now...
Stevie Wonder: "You get the ugly Olsen Twin."
CaseyRyback
10-10-2004, 04:30 PM
you lost me
so stick in the first windows disc, and it will ask if I want to reformat?
should I create any type of boot disc?
CaseyRyback
10-10-2004, 04:31 PM
ummm, I just noticed your avatar, it your serious, I dont know what to think. If its a joke, Im still a little worried about you. Thats like david hasslehoff over in europe. scary shit.
Ackbar made it as a joke. I liked it so I started using it.
willardhaven
10-10-2004, 04:35 PM
Does Seagal even play the guitar?
Admiral Ackbar
10-10-2004, 04:37 PM
Oh yeah. That's the cover of his new album.
To quote Steven...
http://www.stevenseagal.com/right.jpg
Would you like to hear a sample? (http://www.stevenseagal.com/mp3.html)
Oh yeah. That's the cover of his new album.
To quote Steven...
http://www.stevenseagal.com/right.jpg
Would you like to hear a sample? (http://www.stevenseagal.com/mp3.html)
After seeing Out For A Kill I could do with some liberation from his sight and sound.
x0thedeadzone0x
10-10-2004, 04:40 PM
Oh yeah. That's the cover of his new album.
To quote Steven...
http://www.stevenseagal.com/right.jpg
Would you like to hear a sample? (http://www.stevenseagal.com/mp3.html)
Haha. He spelled through wrong ("Throught"). So much for trying to sound smart, you're not fooling anyone. ;)
:lol:
Oh yeah. That's the cover of his new album.
To quote Steven...
http://www.stevenseagal.com/right.jpg
Would you like to hear a sample? (http://www.stevenseagal.com/mp3.html)
Haha. He spelled through wrong ("Throught"). So much for trying to sound smart, you're not fooling anyone. ;)
:lol:
Quiet! He's a reincarnated Lama. Do you want some Buddhist goons showing up at your door to rough you up?!
CaseyRyback
10-10-2004, 04:51 PM
Nick, could you explain the whole partition thing to me?
I want to do this right the first time, and I want my parents to waking me up in the morning when they come downstairs to use my PC
Admiral Ackbar
10-10-2004, 04:53 PM
When you stik in the disk and restart your computer it should boot to your cxd drioive.
You may have to change your bios to boot from your cd drive before your hard drive.
Once you get it to boot it should ask you to hit the spacebar or something like that for a second or two. DO it. Then you;'ll get a blue screen that will give you the option of reformatting and restore.
Make sure to backup important files first!
sm04as
10-10-2004, 04:54 PM
If you have a boot disk you can also reformat manually with a command.
CaseyRyback
10-10-2004, 04:55 PM
what would you consider important files. There is nothing on the PC I would consider important, but is there anything important that would cause something not to work properly?
Admiral Ackbar
10-10-2004, 04:56 PM
Perssonal file, saved games, stuff like that.
CaseyRyback
10-10-2004, 04:57 PM
all games are removed and my sister already saved all her word documents to a disc.
I am going upstairs to try and see if I can do this.
Will post here again if I need any help
bignick
10-10-2004, 04:59 PM
Nick, could you explain the whole partition thing to me?
I want to do this right the first time, and I want my parents to waking me up in the morning when they come downstairs to use my PC
lol, I got wrapped up in your avatar discussion.
So what version of windows do you have?
Basically, you will put the cd in the drive. It should then say press any key to boot from CD. Hit any key. Give it a minute, its gonna load drivers or something, anyway, it will then ask do you want to install a new verion of windows, re-install it, or repair it. Select install new version.
It then asks where do you want to install it. It will list your partitions there. Chances are, you will only hav one listed. Press D I think to delete it. Then press C to create another one. the size is listed in MB so a 40gig drive is 40000MB I would say 20000 is enough for windows and applications they may have. Then press C again and create another partition with whatever space is left.
Next select the first partition as the one you want to install windows on. On the next screen, select format.
Then it will install windows and all that good stuff.
Then after it installs, you will probably have to load the drivers and for devices taht didnt load. I would look those up first, and make sure you have them on hand. ESPECIALLY the network card drivers.
CaseyRyback
10-10-2004, 05:09 PM
like I said, I know nothing about how to do this.
The only discs I can find are the one's for Works at the moment. I am pretty sure that is all I had to install last time I had a problem (computer got a virus and kept turning off constantly)
Admiral Ackbar
10-10-2004, 05:13 PM
What brand is this? Some comoanies put everything on the same boot disk. Does your disk have both works and windows xp on it? That should be it then.
I have a custom built so I just use my Windows XP boot disc.
CaseyRyback
10-10-2004, 05:15 PM
It is an IBM.
All I have are six discs for works, an IBM software selection CD and a floppy for my monitor
I thought it had both XP and Works on the CD's, but for some reason I cannot get the CD to load up
CaseyRyback
10-10-2004, 05:20 PM
I got the works CD to load, but all it will let me do is change works settings (remove, add, change)
DrunkTigerWoods
10-10-2004, 05:23 PM
I also have the same problem. I'm reinstalling WinXP Pro on my pc. I followed a guide online and I couldnt get it to work.
bignick
10-10-2004, 05:40 PM
out the cd in, then reboot your computer, and it should ask you to press any key to boot from cd.
CaseyRyback
10-10-2004, 05:50 PM
out the cd in, then reboot your computer, and it should ask you to press any key to boot from cd.
I will try that later. Hopefully that will work
Thanks for all the help. I am going to ask my uncle if he can help later (he worked at IBM for 35 years)