Reformatting Help!

S

surfing4ever24

New Member
My computer is a good 6 years old. I have not had any major problems with it over that time, but it is really bogged down with about fragments of 3 old operating systems, and countless old and unnesscary files. My brother finally got his new comp and left all his files on here. Now that the computer is mine I wanted to reformat my hard drive and erase EVERYTHING. I don't know which drivers I need to back up though, and I'm afraid I will mess my only comp up.



The comp is
Windows XP professional
Pentium 3(700mhz)
128mb ram
32mb Nvidia geforce2
harmon/kardon speakers
soundblaster sound card
dell monitor
dell/microsoft multimedia keyboard (has hotkeys)
microsoft optical mouse
cd-r/rw and dvdrom drive
Networked with linsys wireless access point router


that's about as much as I could find out, pretty basic but I tried.

Anyways I need help on the process of which I go about erasing everything and getting my operating system back on. I also need to figure out how to backup my files (mostly music) to cd-recordables.


Also, not only do I need to know which drivers to download, Everest is a bit confusing to me (anyone willing to walk me throught the process?). I need to know how to burn them to a cd and then reinstall them later. As once I reformat I won't be able to talk in this until I have installed the drivers and frankly, I'm clueless to the whole reinstalling drivers process. So if anyone would like to walk me through the whole reformatting process that would be extroardinary.

and please, as bad as my computer is, suggesting for me to get a new one is very frustrating because I need info on getting this computer reformatted. Although I would love to have one, I don't have enough money or the skill to build one.

PLEASE HELP!!

Thanks,
John
 
Well what kind of computer is it, is it customized or is it a brand like dell or hp?? I know when i formatted my dell hdd most of the drivers will be on blue disks that came with the computer. The sound card should have drivers on a cd (you mite be able to find drivers online if you cant find disks). The video card should have a cd too if its not integrated video (if it is its on your mobo cd if you built your comp, if its from dell or somthing then its on a cd from them).

The most important driver in my opinion is the network controler or wireless card, because you can dowload most drivers online and to accsess the net your gonna need the drivers for whatever card you use (or in some cases wireless via usb) :rolleyes: . If you cant find your network controler driver, just make shure you download the driver for it online or your in deep shit :eek:

Thats basicaly the only drivers i can think of... Post back on what kind of computer, built or non-built and do you have integrated video.
 
I think I have a video card (almost positive) and its a 6 year old Dell Dimension XPS B733r. Not anything fancy/flashy but it was the thing at the time :)

Thanks,
John
 
The best way of reformatting is basically reinstalling your version of windows. So first, burn everything you want to keep eg.music, work onto cd's or transfer them to another computer if possible. Then restart your computer and enter the bios. Change your boot up sequence to make your cd drive boot up first. Make sure you have the cd key ready. Insert your windows cd and it will ask you things about which part to partition. This should be pretty simple, as I did it without any help. The it will reinstall windows and ask for your cd key,m musernames...etc.

Hope that helps :)
 
Make sure you have the cd key ready.
Click to expand...
you wont need a cd-key until after youve installed windows and just need to activate it.

Save all the info u need, like Shiwen said. When you get into the windows setup, continue installing a fresh copy of windows, contunue util it gets to screen on which partion u want to install windows on, choose the one thats already written on, then on the next screen choose format partion (not the quick one), and continue the setup and the windows setup will format the partion for you.

If you dont want to format that way, you can go into the command prompt, and type "format c:" then wen prompted type "y" then continue and it will format that way. Its easier to do it thru the windows setup in my opinion tho, cuz the setup does it for u...
 
you wont need a cd-key until after youve installed windows and just need to activate it.
Click to expand...
doesn't it ask you when you're installing.

If you dont want to format that way, you can go into the command prompt, and type "format c:" then wen prompted type "y" then continue
Click to expand...
you wont be able to format from command prompt, you'll still be in windows. You need to boot from a floopy disk or cd to dos, and format from there.
But your right. Its easies just to use the windows format when you boot from the install disk
 
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