Formatting Question?

C

crankshaft

New Member
Hey All! I'm Chris, and I'm new here..

I'll start off by saying I'm not a computer genius, but I know how to use it, and I've been trying to teach myself more about it. So far I've managed to track down the information I need, and figure things out, as far as keeping things running fast, and clean.

What I'm trying to learn now is how to format my computer. completely wipe it out, and start over. (it currently doesn't need it, but I'd still like to learn..)

If anyone would like to give me some step by step details on the process I'd really appreciate it, but the part that I'm really not sure of, is the boot disks. I'm running Windows 7 Ultimate, and I don't have the c.d.'s it came installed on my laptop. Do I need to buy the actual windows 7 c.d.'s, or can I somehow create the boot disks myself from my system?

I know this is probably pretty simple to most of you, but I'm just learning, and I'd really appreciate any insight anyone might have for me..

Thanks a lot in advance!

Chris.
 
If the computer didn't come with recovery cd's then it has a recovery partition that you would boot into at startup. Read through the owners manual and it will tell you how to do it. Basically find where it says "how to reinstall the operating system when system crashes" or something similar.
 
Was this done?
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/5409/create-a-system-repair-disc-in-windows-7/

If not, suggest you go here
http://neosmart.net/blog/2009/windows-7-system-repair-discs/

[note: you will eventually want EasyBCD, so download it, too, while at NeoSmart site]

Next time, do #1 first to avoid this problem.

Does the machine have a small partition (~200MB) then a C:\ partition and a "hidden" recovery partition? If you have no clue, get gparted and look at your hard drive.

Another utility needed is SystemRescueCD, download it, also.

-- just to get you going!
 
Hey, thanks a lot, I believe my laptop does have a partition named "System Reserved" and its 100MB.

I read the articles, and created a system repair disk, as well as downloaded the programs you suggested..

As for recovery disks, The laptop is a couple years old, it originally had Windows Vista on it.. My hard drive crashed and needed to be replaced, the guy I had fix the hard drive installed Windows 7 Ultimate for me, so I have no recovery disks or anything..

The next time my computer acts up I could easily give it to him to fix for me again, but I'd like to learn it for myself.. Just a challenge and a cheap way to pass the time while I'm off work..

Thanks again, any other info would be great!

Chris.
 
crankshaft said:
Hey, thanks a lot, I believe my laptop does have a partition named "System Reserved" and its 100MB.

I read the articles, and created a system repair disk, as well as downloaded the programs you suggested..

As for recovery disks, The laptop is a couple years old, it originally had Windows Vista on it.. My hard drive crashed and needed to be replaced, the guy I had fix the hard drive installed Windows 7 Ultimate for me, so I have no recovery disks or anything..

The next time my computer acts up I could easily give it to him to fix for me again, but I'd like to learn it for myself.. Just a challenge and a cheap way to pass the time while I'm off work..

Thanks again, any other info would be great!

Chris.
Click to expand...

Whoever installed windows 7 for you should have given you the reinstallation dvd or It's very possible that you have a non genuine OS installed. The same product key can only be installed on one machine at any given time depending on the type of license it is.
 
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