Reformatting Windows..

[Stu]

My laptop has some problems and I'd like to reformat it. A friend supplied me with a Windows XP CD and I have my original Drivers/Applications CD for the laptop. Is this all I need to reformat it?

I don't know a lot about computers, I have basic skills but not much beyond that. Is it a bad idea for me to tackle this myself? Could I harm my computer in any way if I don't do something properly?

Any advice is appreciated.

Stu

[Charlie]

Pretty much.

Save anything you need/want, pop the XP CD in and boot from it. Follow the prompts, and have it do a full format/chkdsk on the drive.

Be sure to run all your updates and service packs right after you install. An unpatched XP box is a scary thing.

-Charlie

[Matto]

Laptops are a bit more complicated than desktop PCs. They have a lot of specialized drivers so there is a slight chance just poping the xp cd in will give you a few problems, but nothing that won't be easy to fix.

There is no chance that your going to do any permanent damage reformating unless you drop it or somthing :?

[Charlie]

Laptops are a bit more complicated than desktop PCs. They have a lot of specialized drivers so there is a slight chance just poping the xp cd in will give you a few problems, but nothing that won't be easy to fix.

There is no chance that your going to do any permanent damage reformating unless you drop it or somthing :?

If it's a pretty run of the mill laptop he should be fine. As long as the ethernet card loads, he can wallow around in 640x480 mode and click "windows update", to where it should pull down all the drivers.

-Charlie

[Stu]

Alright, I guess I'll give it a shot. I heard it's a good idea to disconnect the internet connection before reformatting, ideas?

Will do on the updates.

[royalflush313]

I never figured out how to do it with other versions, but re-formatting with XP is really easy, so don't worry too much about it. Pretty much, like Charlie said, all you do is pop in the Windows XP disc and there will be easy to follow instructions.

If it makes you feel any better, I had a old Gateway laptop equipped with another language of Windows 98, and I changed it into an English version of XP without any prior experience, and without any problems.

Is it true that if you are connected to the internet, Windows can check to see that the serial number you use on the system has been used/abused before or not? If so, if you are borrowing the disc from a friend, maybe it's best that you aren't connected.

[Stu]

I never figured out how to do it with other versions, but re-formatting with XP is really easy, so don't worry too much about it. Pretty much, like Charlie said, all you do is pop in the Windows XP disc and there will be easy to follow instructions.

If it makes you feel any better, I had a old Gateway laptop equipped with another language of Windows 98, and I changed it into an English version of XP without any prior experience, and without any problems.

Is it true that if you are connected to the internet, Windows can check to see that the serial number you use on the system has been used/abused before or not? If so, if you are borrowing the disc from a friend, maybe it's best that you aren't connected.

Thanks Hiro--

I'll post up later (hopefully) once I get this thing reformatted.

[Stu]

Sweet, it worked. :)

[Digitalwave]

Is it true that if you are connected to the internet, Windows can check to see that the serial number you use on the system has been used/abused before or not? If so, if you are borrowing the disc from a friend, maybe it's best that you aren't connected.

You have to report the installation one way or another, otherwise Windows won't work after 30 days. Thankfully, XP Pro is only $12 at my campus book store.

[BMW BMXER]

You have to report the installation one way or another, otherwise Windows won't work after 30 days. Thankfully, XP Pro is only $12 at my campus book store.

Ya, I just call them up and be like hey, I reformated again and my shit dont work.

[Stu]

So I reformatted it and basicly, my shit still don't work. I still get the popups i got in the past, and under Program Files in windows explorer....all the problematic programs are still there, and the computer won't let me delete them.

Did I do something wrong when I reformatted? I was under the impression that it would wipe everything out of the computer and start it from scratch. It did delete all my documents, applications, etc, but all my old programs are still in 'Program Files'...

i dont know what to do with this thing

[Digitalwave]

I don't think you did a complete reformat.

And Charlie is right when he says IE isn't bad. Before I was running an outdated IE with Service Pack one, but now with SP2 and all the latest Windows updates, I haven't gotten a popup in IE yet. Maybe you just need to go to less pr0n sites.

[Stu]

I don't think you did a complete reformat.

And Charlie is right when he says IE isn't bad. Before I was running an outdated IE with Service Pack one, but now with SP2 and all the latest Windows updates, I haven't gotten a popup in IE yet. Maybe you just need to go to less pr0n sites.

How do you do a complete reformat?
Should I get the latest version of IE?

[PeterCip]

I don't think you did a complete reformat.

And Charlie is right when he says IE isn't bad. Before I was running an outdated IE with Service Pack one, but now with SP2 and all the latest Windows updates, I haven't gotten a popup in IE yet. Maybe you just need to go to less pr0n sites.

How do you do a complete reformat?
Should I get the latest version of IE?

when prompted, delete the partition.. then create a new partition and format the disk. you must boot from the cd.. and don't do a repair.
Send the laptop to me and i will do it for 8 bucks.

[Stu]

I don't think you did a complete reformat.

And Charlie is right when he says IE isn't bad. Before I was running an outdated IE with Service Pack one, but now with SP2 and all the latest Windows updates, I haven't gotten a popup in IE yet. Maybe you just need to go to less pr0n sites.

How do you do a complete reformat?
Should I get the latest version of IE?

when prompted, delete the partition.. then create a new partition and format the disk. you must boot from the cd.. and don't do a repair.
Send the laptop to me and i will do it for 8 bucks.

ah, ok, I reused the existing partition. I may try it again. If that fails, I got eight bucks in your name.

stu