why can't i figure out how to... (computer question!)
Posted by hespedal on Aug 15, 2008 · Member since Mar 2006 · 5259 posts
wipe my hard drive? my computer is funky so i out all of my pictures and music onto an external and i have a 'recovery partition' of my hard drive. all i need to do is actually wipe my c drive and i don't know how! help!
P said to google it b/c it's different based on what computer you have.......you press a different button (according to computer) when you start up.
P said to google it b/c it's different based on what computer you have.......you press a different button (according to computer) when you start up.
that's what i did before asking on here and they gave me a ton of advice about backing up my stuff and none about the actual process. so annoying!
Ok, what computer do you have?
do you want to reformat your hard drive? that's the only way I know of to clean it out completely...
http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic53502.html
I think I used this tut when I reformatted my old hp laptop...is this what you're looking for?
well... i have a couple partitions and one is the "back-up" running software or whatever so i just want to wipe my c drive.
i have a gateway laptop with windows vista? is that what you meant?
do you want to reformat your hard drive? that's the only way I know of to clean it out completely...
http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic53502.html
I think I used this tut when I reformatted my old hp laptop...is this what you're looking for?
maybe if i make my own back up cd i can do this? maybe that is what i am supposed to do...
do you want to reformat your hard drive? that's the only way I know of to clean it out completely...
http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic53502.html
I think I used this tut when I reformatted my old hp laptop...is this what you're looking for?
maybe if i make my own back up cd i can do this? maybe that is what i am supposed to do...
well, when I did it, I had all of my personal stuff backed up on an external...but you'll want to make sure you have your Windows or whatever OS CDs so you can reinstall them.
words from P: "she doesn't need a recovery partition then. All she has to do......I'm trying to remember......." Ok, he said he can explain it all, but it's all on this site: http://lifehacker.com/software/windows/geek-2-live-how-to-format-your-hard-drive-and-install-windows-xp-from-scratch-157578.php
He says this is what you need to do...what it says on that site..you have to do that. You have to format-erase everything, or nothing..you're going to have to re-install windows. So, you have to have all the stuff it says on that site..at the beginning. He says this is what you need to do........but I dunno. ??? ??? ??? ???
if you have a windows disc, you put that in and re-install. during the install process it will give you the option to format the partition that you want to. you don't have to format all partitions, just whatever ones you want to. if you plan on using some gateway recovery disc or something it may be different-- it may just format and right over the system partition, or it may mess with all partitions. but if you have a recovery partition, you may be able to boot to it and wipe the system partition clean. like someone said, check for boot options when you first turn your computer on. it's usually F10 or F12 or another one of the function keys. there may be an option to boot into the recovery mode or whatever.
if all your data that you want is on the external drive, you can do it either of those ways, as it won't mess with the external drive (especially if you don't have it plugged in).
a soft, lint free cloth?
:-D :-D :-D OMG, I am dying here!!! :-D :-D :-D