FORMAT HARD DRIVE

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Guest

Hello
I am wanting to reformat my hard drive.
I have all of my material saved to CD's.
Could someone advise me on the tasks and order to reformat the drive,
install all of my Windows XP (factory installed - not upgrade), and to
reinstall all of my material back to the drive.
 
1. Put in your Windows XP CD and boot up to it
2. Follow the directions
3. When it talkes about partition, you want to delete the current partition
4. then you will want to create a new partition and format that to NTFS
QUICK FORMAT
5. Windows will load and it will ask you a few questions and do what you can
to answer.
6. When its finished you can put your CD in to the drive and click and drag
over your data to your PC.

Here is a web link you can print out and follow as you go too:

http://www.theeldergeek.com/clean_installation_of_windows_xp.htm

Good Luck
 
hustedj ...
Thanks for your prompt, detailed information.
I appreciate your help.
Thanks
Robert
 
As your OS appears to be pre-installed OEM, you would do well to look at the
manual supplied with your computer, and/or contact the vendor..

Some conditions that allow recovery of an OEM install..

1. the vendor supplied you with recovery CDs..
2. the vendor supplied you with an XP OEM CD..
3. there is a hidden partition that enables creation of recovery CDs..

Copying the entire system to CDs is not an option.. one has to use imaging
software to be able to re-create a bootable system..

Assuming any one of the conditions above, you might also want to clarify
that any application over and above the OS is recoverable.. again, just
copying program folders over is not an option.. you may well need original
CDs to be able to get your applications back..

A question.. why do you feel the need to re-format your system?.. XP is a
fairly robust OS, and there are free tools available that will enable you to
clean up your system and get it into good shape again.. the advantage here
is that no pre-installed applications will be lost..

The other point here is that you will learn how to manage your system such
that any future problems can be handled without the need for drastic
action..

While I have this open, I will take the opprtunity to help you further and
hopefully without the need to format your computer.. please excuse the
length of this post..


Spyware/Adware/Scumware has become a major player in compromising
computers.. they introduce viruses, trojans and worms.. they attempt to send
out information about you, and they also slow your computer down..

The worst of it is that you probably downloaded the spyware, albeit
inadvertently..

Some basic steps to removing Spyware/Adware..

First step is to run a one shot virus remover.. I have found that McAfee
Stinger works for people.. download and run it..

http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

You will also need to download Spyware removal software.. Spybot and Adaware
are available at these websites.. both are free.. download and run them..
don't forget to check for updates after you have started them..

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

Spybot has the ability to immunize a system, but there is better for this
function, so download and run Spyware Blaster too.. again, check for
updates..

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/

If you have had your Internet browser hijacked, that is to say, you get
redirected through a search engine NOT of your choosing, you will need
different tools..

HijackThis is a popular and effective tool.. download it from here..

http://www.spychecker.com/download/download_hijackthis.html

CWShredder will eliminate CoolWebSearch and variants.. there is a free
download here..

CWShredder.. http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html

About:blank.. http://lunatic-skydance.de/mr/soft/SpoonWeg.exe


For other tools in the fight against spyware, visit this website and
bookmark it..

http://www.pchell.com

You must also run a firewall and anti-virus program.. here are some links
for you..

http://www.mcafee.com
http://www.symantec.com
http://www.zonealarm.com
http://www.kerio.com
http://www.gate.com
http://www.avast.com
http://www.grisoft.com


Please return to this thread and provide feedback.. it is the only way that
helpers here can determine how effective the advice given has been..

Good luck..



--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user
 
WOAH !!!!!
Now, I feel overwhelmed.
I don't know now which road to take.
I didn't know it would be so involved.... since I had everything burned to
CD's, and I thought formatting the drive would solve them. I have numerous
programs and sites, so much duplication and items appear in many folders and
files.
I'm sitting here scratching my chin..
? ? ? ? ?
 
What happened?

Robert - 3052 said:
WOAH !!!!!
Now, I feel overwhelmed.
I don't know now which road to take.
I didn't know it would be so involved.... since I had everything burned to
CD's, and I thought formatting the drive would solve them. I have
numerous
programs and sites, so much duplication and items appear in many folders
and
files.
I'm sitting here scratching my chin..
? ? ? ? ?
Click to expand...
 
Robert

Start at the beginning..

1. Did you computer come supplied with XP and other applications like MS
Office trial version or something similar, or just XP, the OS?..

2. Were you supplied with any CDs by the vendor?..

If the answer to #1 is YES, and #2 is NO, you need to find out from the
vendor if there is a partition on the hard drive that includes ALL of the
files necessary to re-load the system as you bought it.. you can do this by
contacting the vendor or looking in the supplied manual.. OK?..

If the vendor tells you that the partition only contains files that reload
the OS, and the other applications are not included, then you will have to
decide how important the other apps are and whether you are prepared to lose
them..

Now, it could be that they will supply you with recovery CDs for the entire
system, but you will have to ask them first..

In any of the scenario above, as long as you have saved any files, folders
generated by yourself, e.g. word processing files, then you will be able to
recover a workable system with no problem at all.. but you will have to use
the recovery process suggested by the vendor..

The reason that I posted the original info is because many people do what
they think will be a full recovery, only to find that all value-added
programs no longer exist..

You can NOT just copy program folders to a CD, then after re-installation of
the OS, copy them back to the hard drive.. that is NOT how it works.. you
have to be in possession of install material.. whether it is an image
supplied by the vendor as a hidden partition on the hard drive, or in the
form of recovery CDs makes no difference..

Formatting the drive WITHOUT first finding out what recovery options are
open to you will, in all probability, leave you with less of a system than
you thought you would get..

My advice.. CONTACT the vendor.. listen to their advice.. do as they suggest
if acceptable to you.. if it isn't, come back here..

Tell us how it goes anyway..


--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user







Robert - 3052 said:
Now, I'm TOTALLY confused .. :(
Click to expand...
 
Hello Mike,
Thanks for the prompt and detailed info.

I think I'll have all of the CD's you mentioned, but I'm still not certain
how to reload programs (mostly those downlaoded from the internet).
The CD's I copied and burned contain the .exe's needed, the dll's, etc. How
do I burn these programs back to the hard drive?

I'm using a Gateway 510 Series.
They included the CD-ROMs for the
"Operating System", one for the
"Drivers", one for
"Applications" ...
they also included the Works Suite Series ( Office, Money, Word Processing,
etc.
The Instruction Manual is installed with the pc (PDF) ... some 400
pages....so, needless to say I have not printed their book ( you would think
they could opt for a true manual).
Again, Mike, thanks for taking the time to teach .. also, maybe others who
refer to this post will learn something as well.
Robert
 
Robert
You can't burn or copy programs from one drive to another the reason is
because of .dll's just like you said. You will need to redownload your
programs or get the CDs and reload them. You can copy back over your data by
clicking and draging the files over from your CDrom to your hard drive. you
should of said something about this back in the beginning brother.

Good luck
 
Robert

It's good that Gateway supply all that you need to recover your computer..
what you need to do now is look at the PDF manual for how to use them.. each
manufacturer has its own cute way of 'restoring to factory'..

Re. downloaded programs.. if you 'run' them from the download site, that
action installs them from a remote location in much the same way as if you
had installed from CD.. in order to re-install programs such as these, you
have to use the 'save' option at the point of download, and either keep them
in a folder/partition as installables or burn them to CDs.. as with the OS,
it is not possible to just copy the program directories..

When a program is installed, files are deposited across multiple
folders/directories.. in this way, copying program folders misses all of the
important files that may have found their way into Windows system folders..

You may well have to download them again, this time saving them..

Looking back at the threads, I see that you make reference to duplicate
entries.. what seem to be duplicates are often just shortcuts.. XP allows
multiple access points to programs, so it is easy for the new/newish user to
think that the system is full of unwanted files..

If you go through the more general Microsoft newsgroups, you will see
references to file systems and directories that people don't want because
they never use them and don't like 'mess'.. lol.. there is many a problem
caused by users poking around in the folders, deleting stuff that they feel
is wasting space, that they don't recognise because they were not apparent
when running Windows 98.. :)

To these people, I have one thing to say.. use the system to be productive..
time is better spent learning how to use MS Publisher, Word, or even playing
games.. operating systems don't install folders and files for the 'hell of
it'.. each will have its use.. it's just that the user hasn't encountered
that use yet..

Use the tools that XP provides, but be careful.. Disc Cleanup loads with
some options unchecked.. it is best to leave them that way unless you know
exactly what the program will remove.. defrag your system regularly.. a good
program to get is Diskeeper,
http://www.softwareshelf.com/products/diskeeper_singlepage.html .. it is the
full version of XP Defragmenter and can be set to defrag as you go, or
sheduled for any time that suits you..

Use the tools in IE6 to keep temporary internet files and cookies in check..
re. cookies, they will reappear quite quickly, but the occasional clearout
is no bad thing..

I still think that you should take the route whereby you clean your system
rather than re-format.. it saves much time and trouble re-installing
everything and getting back any customizations that you may have made..

A quick recap of my first post to you..

One shot virus remover.. http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/ .. don't save this
program, just run it.. McAfee are continually updating it as new virus
threats emerge, making saved versions out of date fairly quickly..

These three programs can be saved, and updated at any time..

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

Spyware Blaster.. you can save and run this.. after installation, update it
occasionally and reset its defences..

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/

Internet browser hijacks are common enough..

HijackThis is a popular and effective tool, identifying hijackers.. download
it from here..

http://www.spychecker.com/download/download_hijackthis.html

CWShredder will eliminate CoolWebSearch and variants.. there is a free
download here..

CWShredder.. http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html

About:blank.. http://lunatic-skydance.de/mr/soft/SpoonWeg.exe


For other tools in the fight against spyware, visit this website and
bookmark it..

http://www.pchell.com

You must also run a firewall and anti-virus program.. here are some links
for you..

http://www.mcafee.com.. my preference
http://www.symantec.com
http://www.zonealarm.com
http://www.kerio.com
http://www.gate.com
http://www.avast.com
http://www.grisoft.com

Apologies for the long post again.. I hope that it helps you to understand a
little better.. I don't use anything other than what I have listed in this
thread.. my home system is two networked computers.. using the tools
mentioned and a little commom sense, both systems have been running XP since
its inception without problems (other than hard drive failure).. the people
that I support in my locale also use the same tools, and so far, all have a
good computing experience.. I have not had need to re-format any computer
other than maybe the initial visit to upgrade from older versions of
Windows..

Good luck..



--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user
 
Hi Mike
I want to thank you for your time and research and my education of how
complex folders and files can be, and in particular, how programs "share"
different portions from the hard drive, and how dangerous it can be by
jumping in and deleting and corrupting shared files ... that probably saved
me from wiping out everything I have. Hopefully, again, maybe this post will
catch another "newbie's" eye, and save them from a catastrophe.
In RE: to the lengthy threads, don't apologize ... I certainly appreciate
the detail .. in particular, for the learning experience.
I think since I have all of my needed software on the CD's from the pc, and
with your detailed instructions, that I am going to try to do the recovery
and repair route.
It is apparent that you have spent a lot of time on my post, and put it on a
level that "newbies" can understand, and I am grateful to you.
Now, all I need is some "quiet" time without my wife interrupting, or
grandchildren running everywhere ... can you help with that .. lol :)
Not sure when that will be, with my schedule is usually weekends, but don't
assume if I haven't posted right away that I've double-clutched my hard drive.
I will let you know how things progressed.
Again, this "newbie" is grateful.
Robert
 
Robert

Please find enclosed, between parentheses, some quiet time "
".. it is all that I can spare presently.. :)

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user
 
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