Does anyone know how to clear a hard drive and start from nothing?
By cipher2004
@cipher2004 (1183)
United States
June 11, 2007 2:19pm CST
I got hit by some stupid virus I can't seem to shake.I can get to my outlook express but can't delete any mail.Sometimes I can't even get to it.I reinstalled windows,reinstalled comcast internet.I also tried to recover from an earlier date,scan disksystenm restore.It won't let me.System restore will only let me recover the month if June. I can't even get online support!I called IBM and my internet service for help.They both said that the best thing to do is wipe out my hard drive and start over.I did this once before but I can't remember what it is to put in at dos prompt.Pleae help.This is driving me nuts!
5 people like this
4 responses
@darkmasterblast (119)
• Pakistan
11 Jun 07
did you mean to format your drive?i did not get what about you talking give me some point which operatig system your installing and where you got problem in Dos.for format is simple command c:format c: .....and for to format totally your drive use command c:fdisk...it is in win98 and winXp and win2k give you gragical supprot to do that things.and linux redhat and ubuntu also can be easliy formated with in installing process.
2 people like this
@cipher2004 (1183)
• United States
11 Jun 07
I would like to get rid of everything on my computer and start from scratch.I am using windows me.I am so computer illiterate I am blonde and polish.LOL.I will try formatting.Thanx.
1 person likes this
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
13 Jun 07
I can't answerr your question but have one related. Can you reinstall windows XP and not loose the files for a dsl hook up or the wireless information for other computers on the main computer.
@cipher2004 (1183)
• United States
15 Jun 07
I reinstalled windows millineum and did not lose anything.But I don't want to say yes.You might want to ask someone else.
1 person likes this
@cipher2004 (1183)
• United States
15 Jun 07
Yes it did take me awhile.I was trying to book a vacation,babysit,get a car sold and fix this stupid computer the past few days.Sorry.
1 person likes this
@ranjeetkolarkar (1595)
• India
16 Jun 07
yeah, i have done it quite a number of times for myself as well as for my friends......
reinstalling windows wont help. you will have to format the hard disk which can be done by the windows installer cd itself.
when you boot using the windows bootable cd, it will ask if you want to format the hard disk or install without formating. There you will have to choose to format the disk and the cd will do it all.
to get a backup of the data, you would need to attach your hard drive to another pc, take the backup of the wanted files and then format your hard disk and install windows afresh.
@cipher2004 (1183)
• United States
16 Jun 07
Thanks for your help.If all else fails I will try this.
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
2 Aug 07
Been there...You'll probably need to reformat but make sure you have all your start up discs and keys b/c it wipes everything out. Also if you haven't backed up your files, pics ect. you will lose them. I haven't had to do one in awhile thankfully but hubby just had to do one to get rid of a pesky bug. You also might want to look into a good Anti Virus program if you don't have one. I use Avast. Good luck.
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