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Technology (Read Only) => Computers => Topic started by: Seb on July 27, 2011, 10:03:16 PM

Title: Alright, how do I reformat my computer?
Post by: Seb on July 27, 2011, 10:03:16 PM
Long story short, I fucked up Fallout 3 and I want to play it pretty badly so I put everything worth saving in a few USB drives and plan on reformatting my computer.

Now, do I do this? I don't want to do a system restore, I want a full-fledged reformat. I made a system repair disk but that basically makes your computer boot up to do a system restore. I have a CD with Windows XP SP3, but for some reason my computer refuses to boot from it.
Title: Re: Alright, how do I reformat my computer?
Post by: Supertoaster on July 28, 2011, 07:29:19 AM
you mean you want to wipe everything? do a destructive recovery.

when your comp boots up there should be like F3 opens up blah blah, tell me what yours says
Title: Re: Alright, how do I reformat my computer?
Post by: Seb on July 28, 2011, 07:31:03 AM
Quote from: Supertoaster on July 28, 2011, 07:29:19 AM
you mean you want to wipe everything? do a destructive recovery.

when your comp boots up there should be like F3 opens up blah blah, tell me what yours says

but that sounds

i dunno

destructive

Will I still have my operating system?

/derp
Title: Re: Alright, how do I reformat my computer?
Post by: Cable on July 28, 2011, 07:34:47 AM
Do you have a windows installation disk?

You could just reinstall windows.

Try this:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Alright, how do I reformat my computer?
Post by: Supertoaster on July 28, 2011, 07:37:08 AM
Quote from: SNOIPAH on July 28, 2011, 07:31:03 AM
but that sounds

i dunno

destructive

Will I still have my operating system?

/derp
It depends. Some hard drives have windows on them already and it cant be wiped off and some are just bare hard drives, in that case windows would need to be installed from a cd.
Title: Re: Alright, how do I reformat my computer?
Post by: Seb on July 28, 2011, 07:37:59 AM
Quote from: Cable on July 28, 2011, 07:34:47 AM
Do you have a windows installation disk?

You could just reinstall windows.

Try this:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I don't have a Windows installation disk. I was thinking of torrenting Windows 7 and testing the torrent out on my old computer, but I'd like to hear more of Toaster's idea.

EDIT: Dammit, Toaster. How am I supposed to find out if the hard-drive had Windows on it?
Title: Re: Alright, how do I reformat my computer?
Post by: Peetah on July 28, 2011, 08:45:13 AM
I would say you leave this to a more experienced person.
The wrong executions will leave your computer useless till you get an expert anyways.
Title: Re: Alright, how do I reformat my computer?
Post by: Tomcat on July 28, 2011, 10:19:22 AM
During boot hit F8 or esc


then choose boot from disk
Title: Re: Alright, how do I reformat my computer?
Post by: Seb on July 28, 2011, 10:22:01 AM
Quote from: Tomcat on July 28, 2011, 10:19:22 AM
During boot hit F8 or esc


then choose boot from disk

System Image disks and system repair disks will only let me restore.

And I said it wasn't letting me boot from the Windows XP disk.
Title: Re: Alright, how do I reformat my computer?
Post by: blαh2355 on July 28, 2011, 12:11:18 PM
How to reformat (XP) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKVQ58NpqR8#ws)

 :idk:
Title: Re: Alright, how do I reformat my computer?
Post by: ursus on July 28, 2011, 01:16:54 PM
If you're going to dual boot, download GParted

If you have CP or something you can get into trouble with the law for, use Darik's boot and nuke

if you only need one partition, use the formatting function that comes with install disk
Title: Re: Alright, how do I reformat my computer?
Post by: Hotgreensoldier on July 28, 2011, 01:28:25 PM
Destructive recovery makes it reset to factory defaults, meaning, every single little thing that wasn't on there when it was made, is going to go poof.
Don't worry, it won't damage your computer, just be ready to download a shitload of stuff again.


I know this because I've done it before Dx
Title: Re: Alright, how do I reformat my computer?
Post by: Seb on July 28, 2011, 01:43:18 PM
Quote from: Crash on July 28, 2011, 01:16:54 PM
If you're going to dual boot, download GParted

If you have CP or something you can get into trouble with the law for, use Darik's boot and nuke

if you only need one partition, use the formatting function that comes with install disk

I'm assuming those options save the operating system, so I wouldn't need to reinstall that with the Windows 7 disk I don't have?
Title: Re: Alright, how do I reformat my computer?
Post by: Tomcat on July 28, 2011, 01:46:10 PM
I would use DBnB
Title: Re: Alright, how do I reformat my computer?
Post by: Seb on July 28, 2011, 01:49:04 PM
Quote from: Tomcat on July 28, 2011, 01:46:10 PM
I would use DBnB

exactly

would it save the operating system or not? If unclear, I can always set up my old computer on the kitchen counter and test it out on that.
Title: Re: Alright, how do I reformat my computer?
Post by: Tomcat on July 28, 2011, 01:50:03 PM
Quote from: Smith Wesson on July 28, 2011, 01:49:04 PM
exactly

would it save the operating system or not? If unclear, I can always set up my old computer on the kitchen counter and test it out on that.

It will fucking obliterate your hd


Nothing on it
Title: Re: Alright, how do I reformat my computer?
Post by: » Magic « on July 28, 2011, 02:21:33 PM
Quote from: Tomcat on July 28, 2011, 01:46:10 PM
I would use DBnB

Drop beats not bombs?

What?

Title: Re: Alright, how do I reformat my computer?
Post by: Seb on July 28, 2011, 02:29:38 PM
Quote from: » Magic « on July 28, 2011, 02:21:33 PM
Drop beats not bombs?

What?



Drop kicks, not bombs.
Title: Re: Alright, how do I reformat my computer?
Post by: ursus on July 28, 2011, 02:30:20 PM
Quote from: » Magic « on July 28, 2011, 02:21:33 PM
Drop beats not bombs?

What?

Darik's Boot and Nuke is a utility that OVERWRITES the hard drive using government-standard methods, so that all the data is completely unrecoverable.