How do you reformat with an HP pc??

[kazaaman]

I have an Hp computer and wanted to reformat my computer. I searched and searched and didnt find a xp cd. I thought I lost the cd. Then my friend told me that if i press F10 during the startup process where the HP sign comes up.

I can choose different ways to format my computer without the cd......
He told me the best way was "Destructive Formatting"

Is this true????

Help Plzzzz

[DDRFREAK1030]

yea i had an hp

it had that f10 thing

destructiv i think deletes everything

its good if u dont hav an xp cd

g2g

aite peace

[muchspl2]

I got a hp, never used the reformat partition, I just reformated after I bought it with a xppro disc

[Afronaut]

The thing with those factory PC's are,
they usually have an hidden partition in the hard drive
that has an image of the OS.

You get to install that image from, say F10.
There's a meantion usually what to press to get to the "Setup" after
bios is done its thing.

Even if you have a CD try to fix the OS from it,
it will most likely just install the image from hidden partition.

Use Partition Magic or similar to take a look on your hidden partitions.




Its easy solution to get to the square one, OS-wise,
but if you ever change hardware you might be
in for a suprise whilst installing it.

[accat13]

becareful if you upgraded from xp to sp1 or sp2 there may be a patch from the hp site.To install before formatting from the hidden partition.

[tesco]

it's better to just download windows xp corp and use that to install.
doesn't have all the hp preisntalled crap.

[kazaaman]

If I reformat my Hp, it should be the way as I first bought it right?
Will it include the Hp products?? I dont need their crappy editors and stuff.

If i reformat without getting the patch will it seriously affect my computer?
Because i dont know what site to get the patch from......

Did you reformat when you had sp2 and experience problems??

Thanx for everything, Yall R tite as hell

[Afronaut]

get the drivers for the Hardware for the HD,
they might be on the CD too. But I'd hunt down
the latest drivers.

Then download WinXPCorporate (no activation) professional
with Sp2 integrated and instal it.

I havent seen a Hewlett Packard PC that didnt make me want
to install XP-Pro from cratch, they basically suck imo.

But, be sure to have the drivers for hardware before
moving to the real XP Pro.

Manufacturers site should have the drivers for update,
but I wouldnt bet on it,
the main reason I stay hell away from these factory pc's.

I use to date with a chick who had IBM pc, the OEM preinstalled and all that,
so, she got a new screencard butit was hell to make the IBM version of OS to
understand whats going on, this was years ago, I will never get me an IBM or
ready-built-with-OEMOS PC. The changes for the PC to suck is huuuge.

[nsane]

no, you need the 'Restore CD' that came with the computer. i wouldn't recommend formatting unless you had the disc any ways. because, most likely, the XP disc doesn't include the drivers for the hardware HP uses (my friend had this problem)

[Afronaut]

no, you need the 'Restore CD' that came with the computer. i wouldn't recommend formatting unless you had the disc any ways. because, most likely, the XP disc doesn't include the drivers for the hardware HP uses (my friend had this problem)

Thats why I said find the drivers.

It is do-able, if one finds the drivers. And, the drivers are usually on the OEM disc. If not, hunt them down on the net, manyfaturers site is a place to start.
Just be sure to have the drivers before starting the install, most likely you
dont have the Net before installing drivers.

I know because I did this about a three weeks ago on my friends PC.
Found the drivers on his "rescue-cd" too.