Reformating

[-(PK)-DarkIllusion]

OK, i'm thinking of reformating my pc's HD and do a Fresh Install of windows. right now, i guess my pc is running slow as a turtle.(better than other people's but i think its slow) any1 here care to share how to do it,etc? i'd rather ask you guys out there who know this stuff instead of reading and not understadning it on some guide.

[Eternal-Souljah]

Re: Reformating

Okay what you do is put your Windows Xp disc in your disc drive, wait for it to load choose install Windows Xp, it will go to a screen with alot of steps, there should be a pulldown menu, select ''new installation (advanced)'' then it will do its thing, wiping your harddrive then re-installing Windows.

With Windows Xp its pretty simple.

[Neat_Hedgehog]

Re: Reformating

Do you have multiple drive partitions (C, D, E, etc...) with one exclusively for the OS? That's how I've got mine. Much easier than backing up 500gb of stuff every time I need to reinstall an OS.

I don't know how others will say to do it, but I've always just made a boot disk from the OS, popped it in, reset the comp, then at the menu selected "command prompt," and when I get to the prompt just go "format C:\" and that's it.

It's easier if you're using XP, though. You can do it just by using the install disk from windows, I believe.

[-(PK)-DarkIllusion]

Re: Reformating

ah.. ok thx, but after that is done, what about drivers. in what order should i re-installl 'em

Edit:no i only have one HD, i dont really mind erasing it all, cuz some of this stuff is crap, & i can always dl 'em later afterwards

[Neat_Hedgehog]

Re: Reformating

Driver order shouldn't matter too much, but it always has been a little funny on mine. Generally on a new system I go:

Mobo drivers (chipset drivers, USB port controllers, etc...)
Monitor
Video card
Sound card

And then after that it's just a matter of which disks I find first (scanner, printer, accessories)

[Eternal-Souljah]

Re: Reformating

Dark Illusion, I'll send you a copy of a program that will divide your harddrive into another partion so it won't wipe it, keeping your stuff backed up.

Anyway you just install drivers from a disc, or use the net to install them, nvidia.com etc.

[-(PK)-DarkIllusion]

Re: Reformating

Windows XP should only be one disk right? i bought my pc custom made, and they gave me a recovery disk(just one) its pro btw and yeah.. got a disk full of drivers that they sent me also with the comp.

[sackynut]

Re: Reformating

make sure you reformat, and not just reinstall windows.

[Eternal-Souljah]

Re: Reformating

Windows XP should only be one disk right? i bought my pc custom made, and they gave me a recovery disk(just one) its pro btw and yeah.. got a disk full of drivers that they sent me also with the comp.

First off the WinXP disc should be labeled and have a shiney hologram type effect on it, also the cd-key should be on the side/back/top of your computer or on the disc.

2nd of all the driver discs they gave you will most likely be out dated, but install all of them if you like, then just update from the gfx etc websites.

Recovery disc is used for restoring your computer back to factory settings, like when it was first built etc, so say you got a virus, you just system restore to a past date.

[-(PK)-DarkIllusion]

Re: Reformating

Okay what you do is put your Windows Xp disc in your disc drive, wait for it to load choose install Windows Xp, it will go to a screen with alot of steps, there should be a pulldown menu, select ''new installation (advanced)'' then it will do its thing, wiping your harddrive then re-installing Windows.

With Windows Xp its pretty simple.

but acording to this i just have to reinstall windows, and it'll do its thing. meaning reformating... i'm confused now what?
sackynut how to i reformat than?

[CaptJordus]

Re: Reformating

Driver order shouldn't matter too much, but it always has been a little funny on mine. Generally on a new system I go:

Mobo drivers (chipset drivers, USB port controllers, etc...)
Monitor
Video card
Sound card

And then after that it's just a matter of which disks I find first (scanner, printer, accessories)

The chipset driver should ALWAYS be first and any onboard devices/controllers should ALWAYS follow immediately.

Then you install peripheral device drivers (AGP,PCI, PCIE, etc)

[Eternal-Souljah]

Re: Reformating

but acording to this i just have to reinstall windows, and it'll do its thing. meaning reformating... i'm confused now what?

Yeah thats what you do, but the other guy headshog I think, the way he told you is another way of doing it, whatever way you want, the way I said is easier for you, mainly because its the first time your doing it, yes it reformats and installs windows, you do nothing else. The way I told you is easier, the way he told you is slightly more complicated.

The chipset driver should ALWAYS be first and any onboard devices/controllers should ALWAYS follow immediately.

Then you install peripheral device drivers (AGP,PCI, PCIE, etc)

I don't have any of the drivers, so if I reformat do I would just got to my Mobo etc website and get them there?

[-(PK)-DarkIllusion]

Re: Reformating

ah.... ok thx Souljah. anywayz.. when i put in the cd i get this

[Neat_Hedgehog]

Re: Reformating

The way I mentioned is for if he didn't have XP, since he didn't mention whether he did or not in the original post. I guess most people do these days, though. It's what I'd always do for my old 98SE and ME installs.

@ CaptJordus: What I should have said was probably more like "Driver order shouldn't matter too much, except for the chipset, which comes first." That's what I meant, anyway. That's why I put it first in the list.<br>

[Eternal-Souljah]

Re: Reformating

ah.... ok thx Souljah. anywayz.. when i put in the cd i get this

Nvm, found that doesn't completly wipe the HD.

Do it this way, I found a guide for you.

http://www.cyberwalker.net/faqs/reinstall-reformat-winxp/index.html#reinstallxp