Formatting my PC

[darkmagic]

I was thinking of formatting my PC because they are so many programs that are on the installed list but are no longer on my computer [I used to just delete all the folders, lol] and so much crap on my computer.

I am running XP and when you right click the C Drive and press format it comes up with the menu for formatting....

Anyway, once this is done will everything be gone? I don't have to re-install my OS though do I?

Also.... another reason why I am formatting my computer is because my 30day trial for 3D Studio Max ran out and all the actervation codes are screwed up, but if my OS is left as it is will this still be like it after the formatting?

THANKS!

[=NukeBlaze=]

If you format your harddrive, eveything will be gone, operating system and all.

Windows XP makes it vey easy to do though. Restart you computer with your windows XP CD in the CD-Drive. Most computers are already set to boot via- CD before harrddrive, if not you will have to access your system BIOS to set it.

If you have a computer from a larger computer company, they probably gave you ther own recovery disks. Place whatever you have in the CD tray, and reboot with it in.

WARNING< WARNING! DANGER! DANGER!-------------------------------------------
+++++FORMATTING DELETES ALL INFORMATION FROM YOUR HARDDRIVE FOREVER! (There is an exception, but this is neither time nor place!) IF YOU CHOOSE THE REPAIR FEATURE, YOU DATA WILL BE RETAINED AND CORE SYSTEM FILES WILL BE REPLACED! FOR THIS SITUATION, I RECCOMEND A FORMAT THEN RE-INSTALL. BEFORE YOU REINSTALL, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL DATA YOU WILL NEED BACKED UP, AND THAT YOU HAVE THE NESSACARY SOFTWARE FOR YOUR COMPUTER PARTS, Modem \video \ etc. \ READY TO INSTALL AFTER WINDOWS IS DONE. IF YOU HAVE A COMPUTER FROM A LARGE COMPANY, THEY GAVE YOU A DISK THAT HAS THESE PROGRAMS ALREADY ON IT, MOST LIKLY THE SECOND DISK TO YOUR MAIN OPERATING SYSTEM CD. IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE FOLLOWING CONTINUE AT OWN RISK!


If windows console, do the following:

++Boot from the CD
++Wait a few minutes for the CD to load.
++Delete allof the Partitions
++Create one Partition
++Format the Partition with Fat 32 or NTFS. (NTFS is a bit more secure, Fat32 more compatable)
++Once it is done formatting, the CD will copy the installations files to the HDD
++The computer will reboot
++Make sure to boot from your Harddrive and not your CD this time.
++Run the Windows Install

[darkmagic]

I think I will just buy a new PC....

.....or a removable hard disc drive to backup all my stuff. :)

Thanks nukes.

[=NukeBlaze=]

Do you have the operating system CDs? It really is not that bad ofa processes if you do and back everything up you want on CDs.

[r33hash]

Sounds way to strenuous and confusing to me. I would jack something up. I know I would. BTW, whats the benifit of doing this to your comp?

[Peter]

My dads getting a dell PC soon, and I checked out this thread. I'm going to use this fairly new PC in our spare room, and i was also considering formatting it sort of for the hell of it. There is a lot of shit on here. Nuke, this HP gave us us no recovery CD's. However, everything including the OS is backed up on a D:, so all I'd have to do is format the C: and then go intop recovery mode and send all everything from the D: to the C: right?

[=NukeBlaze=]

HP always included OS CDs. You may want to check for them in your paper works.

I am asssuming your are running XP and have one Harddrive partitioned into two?

[Peter]

Nope, no Starting CD's for us. This is a really cheap base unit though, which might be understandable. Yeah, its partitioned into a 35GB storage and a 5GB system

[=NukeBlaze=]

I would reccomend a full reinstall and format if you are going to go that route. Windows does not always take kindly to removing all of its programs that is has written into the registry.

The only problem is that you don't have an OS CD.................

The only things I can say is either manually uninstall when you want gone and get a reg cleaner program, usually ACE UTILITIES from www.download.com workds well. Then run the normal anti-virus/spyware programs in safe mode.

[Cobra Commander]

I work for HP, what kind of HP PC is it? Did you buy it second hand? From a rent to own center, or off ebay or something? We always hand out Recovery CD's with our PC's if for some reason yours was not there after buying a new PC, then call the support line, which i can supply for ya depending on what type of HP you own.

[MrX]

Sounds way to strenuous and confusing to me. I would jack something up. I know I would. BTW, whats the benifit of doing this to your comp?
It makes your computer run at top speed^_^ i have an old comp so i do this often.