C: Format

[Guest]

Question, If I were to format my C: Drive, would it erase everything
completely or restore it to factory defaults?

 

[Ron C]

Question, If I were to format my C: Drive, would it erase everything
completely or restore it to factory defaults?

Formatting will erase it completely. A totally clean slate.
Everything on the disc will be lost and unrecoverable. Before you even
think about formatting be sure to back up your files on some sort of
storage -- a cd, a second hard drive, whatever you might have available.
~Ron

 

[Guest]

So how could I clean my hard drive, or local disk, to the point where it has
everything, and only, what was on it the day i bought it?

 

[Guest]

What makes you think that you can do that. You don't even know what a format
does. You are certain to FUBAR your computer!

 

[Guest]

I know I can because my comp gives me the option. A format erases everything,
but on one of my older comps, I format it and it goes back to factory
defaults. I was just wondering if my new one is the same.

 

[Guest]

I know I can because my comp gives me the option. A format erases everything,
but on one of my older comps, I format it and it goes back to factory
defaults. I was just wondering if my new one is the same.

A format never restores it to "factory defaults", and never has. You need
what many manufacturers call a "System Restore" CD. Sometimes, they put the
restore files on a hidden partition, and some bootup code gives you the
option to "reset" the computer. This formats the main partition, and then
reinstall Windows and all the applications from the hidden partition.

If there isn't a restore partition, or a restore CD, you should have a
Windows install CD and CD's for all the applications that came with the
computer.

Do you truely want to delete everything? There are ANY files (Word
documents, bookmarks, etc.) that you need to preserve?

Good luck!

 

[Richard Urban]

A format "always" erases the hard drive. There is no such thing as a
selective format. It's all or nothing! You have got the definition of format
confused with something else!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Guest]

Well see, I want to create a backup, so just in case things dont go smoothly,
I have soemthing to fall back on. But in XP, I don't know how....could you
tell me?

 

[Guest]

Well see, I want to create a backup, so just in case things dont go smoothly,
I have soemthing to fall back on. But in XP, I don't know how....could you
tell me?

Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup

Do you have a CD burner? It really isn't practical to backup to floppies any
more. Also, I always make two backups, and restore at least one file from one
of them to verify it is good.

 

[Guest]

I have a CD Burner, but let's say I copyed the whole C: and compressed it, do
you think it would fit a regular data, 700 MB, CD?

 

[David R. Norton MVP]

I have a CD Burner, but let's say I copyed the whole C: and
compressed it, do you think it would fit a regular data, 700 MB,
CD?

My "C" drive is 9.85 gigabytes. My brilliant mathematical skills tells
me this is larger than 700 MB. ;-)

You'll need many CDs for the backup and the backup program in XP
doesn't span CDs so you'll need to get backup software that will. Try
a Google search for backup software, you may find a free one that will
work.

BTW, if your CD burner is an HP, HPs Simple Backup will work very well
and it comes free with the burner.

 

[John]

I know I can because my comp gives me the option. A format erases everything,
but on one of my older comps, I format it and it goes back to factory
defaults. I was just wondering if my new one is the same.

:

what would make you think that any fool would *guess* what you have in
hardware and operating system(s)?

John