windows xp formatting question

NeVeR

I want to format my computer but i dont have the restore disk.

Is there anyway i can do this without the disk,, i have my serial number for the software,,, just not the disk..

aidan_walsh

If you want to reinstall Windows, you will have to have a Windows installation disk. Since you have the serial, you could probably borrow a CD off a friend (unless its a proprietary disk, like older HP and Compaq computers used to ship with, which lock you into using that CD).

NeVeR

is there anyway i cam just wipe the harddrive,, thats the main thing i want to do... there is so much stuff (100 gig) of things i dont need,,,

aidan_walsh

Use dban (securely wipes the disk) or fdisk.

Alternatively, just open a command prompt and format drive_letter /FS:file_system_name

NeVeR

and if i use this windows will still work? just all teh other stuff will be gone ?

aidan_walsh

If you format the disk, Windows will be gone. Everything will be gone.

I'd wait until you get a Windows disk off a friend, or email your computers manufacturer and ask for a replacement recovery disk.

Capt'n Midnight

Format means wipe.

And dBan is designed to wipe off all the data off the drive forever, much more secure than a normal format. The NSA might be able to recover data off it by using heat to erase the most recent levels of recording maybe. ( assuming that they haven't done a deal with the HD manu's to restrict the level of an erase but that consipiracy theroy )

Use spacemonger to ID stuff to delete.

What brand of PC is it ? - many have hidden restore partitions instead of disks, some of the restore images don't wipe your drive , many do.

NeVeR

it's an Advent 3000 series.

NeVeR

if i get a normall windows xp disk not a restore disk would that work?

i mean would it remove old windows and all it's contents and install a fresh one, or will all my stuff still be there,?

NeVeR

as i posted before,, if i got Windows XP on Disc and installed it, would it over write the current one and all it's content ?

thetourist

as i posted before,, if i got Windows XP on Disc and installed it, would it over write the current one and all it's content ?

if you get an xp disk there's no absolute guarantee that it will install on your pc - unless it'ts a new disk that you bought that noone else is using - on xp it is not a given that the product id on your m/c will work with a copy of a friend's disk - windows 98 works that way but xp doesnt always

if you reinstall windows then it will wipe windows and the registry - which means that unless you have a backup of the registry then it will delete all the info about your applications so you'll have to install all them too - but your current registry is probably in need of a clearing out anyway so it's not the best idea to try to keep it - so bank on reinstalling everything - it's the best way - also deltets the favourites, my documents, emails in OE, email addresses desktop, my music etc etc etc

you may be able to restore your system without a restore disk depending on your system - some of them ( certain years of packard bell and iquon ) use a restore partition - usually accessable by pressing a certain function key during startup

imopo - there's no real point of doing it by half measures - just do an inventory of whatever you want to keep - burn it to a cd and wipe everything - pc will be like new - make sure to put on all your updates sp2 , antivirus etc when you're finished

whole job takes between 3 to 6 hours depending on experience, difficutlites encountered etc etc

good luck

ps you should be able to get a restore disk off the manufacturers - if it;s a pack bell then they have an excellent website - just bung in the serial number and you never know what you find


ps it's a good idea to make a backup of your drivers - esp the modem ( or whatever you connect to internet with ) drivers --- nightmare if you cant connect -- use a program from the driver guide website - cant remember it's name

just to clarify - there are two different options for installing windows - one is a reinstall and the other is a repair ( just to confuse things there is also an option to repair using the console - this is a different thing altogether - avoid it ) -- i never opt to do a repair - i think it deletes MORE or LESS everything - you're better off do a full install and a full format - which deletes absolutely everything )

daywalker

Advent support is given through dixon's PC servicecall website,

http://www.pcservicecall.co.uk/layout.aspx?ID={37ed5c65-48a8-4013-959e-1c2ba7a179f4}&CatID={86f24952-3c1b-45c1-96d5-9c2481265a70}

you can get new recovery discs from this website, they charge about GBP£5 to send you a new set of recovery cds.

http://www.pcservicecall.co.uk/recoverymedia/