How Do I Wipe My Hard Drive

[DEBBIE]

HELP.I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY WINDOWS XP AND INSTALLING NEW DRIVER FOR A PRINTER AND DVD \RW IS IT POSSIBLE TO COMPLETLY WIPE MY HARD DRIVE AND REINSTALL WINDOWS XP AGAIN :unsure: :ermm:

[dingoBaby]

Yes it is possible, as long as you have the XP set up disk or disks. Just make sure you back up any data that you do not want to lose.

You might want to describe the problem you are having, in more detail. There are alot of helpful, knowledgeable people here. You might not have to do a clean install.

[DEBBIE]

HI I CANT INSTALL ANY DRIVERS FOR MY NEW PRINTER OR DVD /RW ALSO THE PC WONT SHUT DOWN ITS FOREVER FREEZING I WAS WONDERING IF I TOOK EVERYTHING OF AND REINSTALLED IT WOULD THIS SOLVE THE PROBLEM? WINDOWS XP HAD WORKED WELL UNTIL RECENTLY DONT KNOW WHATS GONE WRONG MAYBE THE KIDS HAVE DELETED SOME FILES THEY SHOULDNT HAVE BUT I HAVNT A CLUE WHERE TO START .SO I THOUGHT IF I GET RID OF EVERY THING AND START AGAIN THIS WOULD MAYBE SOLVE THE PROBLEM.BUT ITS WHERE TO START :blink:

[DEBBIE]

AND ALSO WHEN WINDOWS XP STARTS UP IT TELLS ME THAT C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\SYSTEM32.EXE IS MISSING STRANGE ITS NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE :blink:

[DWk]

hmmm....not sure but might be a virus....do you have an antivirus? which one? is it up-to-date with its definitions?

DWk

ps: well when i have a problem wit my machine i usually just reformat it (which is what you want to do), but i dont have problems mostly..

[DEBBIE]

I USE NORTON SYSTEM WORKS AND I DID GET THE THE BLASTER WORM VIRUS BUT I MANAGED TO GET RID OF IT THROUGH A LINK WITH SYMANTEC .HOW DO I FORMAT THE DRIVE AND WILL THIS SOLVE THE PROBLEM? GOD I HOPE SO ANY HELP IS REALLY APPRECIATED IM NOT USED TO PROBLEM WITH THE PC IM NOT VERY GOOD WHEN PROBLEMS ARISE ;)

[DWk]

here you go...this one i used the first time....u do it one time then u dont worry about next times...

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

have fun

DWk

[Cygnuz-Y]

AntiVirus dont do shit <_<

[callum]

Here is a link to a guide to re-installing windows xp, it includes pictures. So it may be easier to follow.
http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/OS/Inst...tallxphome1.htm (http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/OS/InstallXPHome/installxphome1.htm)

It may seem a bit complicated, but it isn&#39;t really.
Just follow the on screen instructions.

Once you have re-installed windows xp, it may be a good idea to keep an admin account with a password for yourself and limited accounts for your children.

[DWk]

Originally posted by Cygnuz-Y@10 September 2003 - 01:26
AntiVirus dont do shit <_<
riight... once u get another virus and u gotta reformat...u gonna pray u had an AV....n0ob

DWk

[Cygnuz-Y]

Everybody has virus, doent matter if you have, Norton,Panda,McAfee, everyone installed at the same time, they cant detect new Shit, i have tried them all, and they just Consume Pc resourses&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;

lol

You really believe everything software companies says? :blink:

[DEBBIE]

THESE LINKS ARE GREAT AND EASY TO FOLLOW BUT HOW DO I REFORMAT THE HARD DRIVE FIRST ? :( :unsure:

[callum]

Originally posted by DEBBIE@10 September 2003 - 01:35
THESE LINKS ARE GREAT AND EASY TO FOLLOW&nbsp; BUT HOW DO I REFORMAT THE HARD DRIVE FIRST ? :(&nbsp; :unsure:
You will get to a point during the installing of windows, where it will show you the existing partitions on your computer.
It give you the option to delete your C drive, then you can format it.
Take a look at the pictures in the guide I linked to.

Images 1.5 to 1.12. :D

[DWk]

woops sry...i forgot that i knew how to format when i installed xp... sry my bad.... i guess callum beat me this time&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33; ;)

but trust me callum&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33; there WILL be a rematch&#33;&#33;&#33; :D

DWk

[callum]

Originally posted by DWk@10 September 2003 - 01:44
woops sry...i forgot that i knew how to format when i installed xp... sry my bad.... i guess callum beat me this time&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33; ;)

but trust me callum&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33; there WILL be a rematch&#33;&#33;&#33; :D

DWk
Anytime :P

[clocker]

If it&#39;s not too late already...have you tried System Restore?.

[DEBBIE]

THANKS ALL OF YOU I THINK I WILL GIVE IT A GO TOMMOROW NEED SOME SLEEP NOW AND THANKS ONCE AGAIN
CHEERS
DEBBIE :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[DWk]

w0ot....anytime Debbie :) :rolleyes:

DWk

[DEBBIE]

YES I CANNOT ACCESS SYSTEM RESTORE THATS WHY I THOUGHT UNINSTALLING EVERYTHING WOULD BE A BETTER OPTION WELL WE WILL SOON FIND OUT TOMMOROW WONT WE
THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE ILL LET YOU KNOW THE OUTCOME (UNLESS I MAKE A RIGHT MESS OF IT )BYE FOR NOW
DEBBIE :) :) :) :) :) :)

[DWk]

Originally posted by DWk@10 September 2003 - 02:39
w0ot....anytime Debbie :) :rolleyes:

DWk
i quoted same thing :rolleyes: :) :rolleyes: :) :rolleyes: :) :rolleyes: :) :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :) :rolleyes: :)

[ScoobyDooooo]

Believe me, I&#39;ve done the same thing in restoring my hard drive many times... afterwards
I just bought a new hard drive and installed it myself. I&#39;m just a novice at this and I&#39;m just typing these directions from memory, so if anyone posts corrections, etc. replying to this post, be sure to read them first before attempting anything.

Now I probably have a different computer from you but since you also have Windows
XP which is the same OS as mine.. I&#39;ll try to help, but remember I&#39;m just a novice at this who has reformatted my hard disc many times before installing a new hard drive. Make sure you have that original Serial number that came with your Windows XP Operating System Disc. You won&#39;t be able to re-install Windows XP
without it.

A. You will need the Windows XP Startup Discs which you can download them from the Windows XP website under "Technical Support". OR you can just put your Windows XP Operating Systems CD in your CD Drive, reboot and click on either "ESC" or "F3(?) during the reboot <--- (someone correct me, not sure) and your system may recognize your CD Drive and you can just click on your CD Drive where your OS Installation Disc is in and it should automatically direct you allowing you to skip that floppy disc process. I did it both ways... with my old hard drive I just used the Operating Systems CD, but when I installed the new hard drive I had to use the floppies because at that beginning point with a "raw" hard drive, my CD drive was not recognized. When I did it with the downloaded from Windows XP floppies, it took up 6 blank floppies, keep in mind that you will need at least 6 or more blank, formated floppy discs to start and have them prepared. Don&#39;t forget to LABEL each disc as the files finish downloading from Windows XP to each one. For example write Disc 1 on the floppy after the files download, then Disc 2, etc. Also have your Windows XP Operating CD ready... and the original serial number that came with it, you will need it later.

B. Put in your A: "Startup disc 1" and reboot your computer. You will see the "setup"
starting... it will then ask you for "disc 2" then disc 3, and so on, and so on.

C. When you reach the final setup disc. At that point it should ask you what drive do you want to work with
and it should show you what it is.. for example C:... ... "Do you want to CREATE
a NEW Windows installation or REPAIR"
CREATE (I believe you type the letter "C") Then it will say "Do you want a
"Quick" or full format or do you want to add a partition? Scroll and click on "Quick" format.
Then it will prompt you that Choosing this will ERASE all files on your hard drive and it will ask you if you are sure... For example: ARE YOU SURE? Y/N
Type "Y" YES to erase all files... Then it will request that you put in your Windows XP Operating CD into your CDROM DRive.... then after that you just follow the
directions making sure you have that serial number for Windows XP that came originally with the OS program or with your computer.

If anyone looks over this and finds that I missed something, etc... correct me :)
especially at the beginning point where I wasn&#39;t sure whether to click on "Esc" or
"F3".

Good Luck
Ann

[true_neo]

Me is also a comp nOOb, but recently formatted HD. this is what I did:

A: Have the XP CD in yer CD drive, and the serial ready.

B: Now this is the part that may be diff for pcs, but on my PC I pressed Del at boot to enter BIOS Setup.

C: Go into Advanced BIOS Setup.

D: Shift the Boot Order so you get [Name of yer CD Drive here] as first boot.

E: Exit BIOS Setup and save changes.

F: Now at reboot, the comp will ass you if you want to load CD, or the HD. press a key when it asses for it to load the CD.

G: It will ass you if you want to reinstall XP, press yes. Then if you want to create new partition, or format. Press format. After format done, let Windows reinstall, enter CD key at request, and rember to prss NO if it asses you to install unsigned elements durin install.

And stop posting in CaPs LOCK&#33;

[clocker]

ScoobyDooo,
Nice going.

I just built a comp a few weeks ago and perhaps can save you some work.

When first I turned on the machine I hit and held F2 down and entered BIOS.
There you will find a list of the places that the machine first looks to for a OS.

Default is floppy drive A:.
Just rearrange the list so that "Boot from CD" is at the top and you can go direct to your Windows disk and boot from that.
No floppies needed.

[ScoobyDooooo]

Wow.... All the trouble I went through and didn&#39;t realize how easy it was&#33; I wish I was here way way way before... could&#39;ve saved
ME a lot of time, thanks for letting me know... you saved the original poster some
time too. (Did my post come out in Caps(?) I know I re-edited a few times...
and tried to use the "Bold" format for a few lines and it came out kinda screwy, but I don&#39;t see CAPS on my end? - ) Strange. Oh well, thanks anyway&#33; I&#39;ll definitely
keep what you both wrote in mind in case I ever have to reformat again.
:)
Ann

[true_neo]

I was talkin to the nOOb when I said that caps lock thing, not you scooby. Debbie was it who needs to stop doin that.

[ScoobyDooooo]

Originally posted by ScoobyDooooo@10 September 2003 - 18:47
Wow.... All the trouble I went through and didn&#39;t realize how easy it was&#33; I wish I was here way way way before... could&#39;ve saved
ME a lot of time, thanks for letting me know... you saved the original poster some
time too. (Did my post come out in Caps(?) I know I re-edited a few times...
and tried to use the "Bold" format for a few lines and it came out kinda screwy, but I don&#39;t see CAPS on my end? - ) Strange. Oh well, thanks anyway&#33; I&#39;ll definitely
keep what you both wrote in mind in case I ever have to reformat again.
:)
Ann
Added Quote from Scooby Re Caps: Oh, you meant the original poster right? duuuuhhh...
That&#39;s why I&#39;m still a "novice" in more ways than one... and yes I am a blonde :lol: