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November 22, 2006 at 4:00 pm #2249458
Cleaning your computer
Lockedby nyrangers424 · about 17 years, 4 months ago
Is there any possible way I can delete all my files and clean out my computer entirly so that it was when I bought it new? I want to completly wipe everything and start from scratch.
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November 22, 2006 at 4:12 pm #3290358
well, 2 ways
by w2ktechman · about 17 years, 4 months ago
In reply to Cleaning your computer
You can fdisk/format your HDD, then re-install
or you can replace the registry keys (backup)which should put it back to the state of when the OS was first installed.
I personally prefer the first way, and add that I prefer to do a drive scrub first to clean off all data-
November 22, 2006 at 5:18 pm #3290354
re
by nyrangers424 · about 17 years, 4 months ago
In reply to well, 2 ways
How can I go about doing the 1st method? Is there a website with a step by step procedure? Im not really fimaliar with computers, I just know that I have a virus and need to clean out my machine
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November 24, 2006 at 12:59 pm #3290443
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November 22, 2006 at 5:44 pm #3290343
Insert your Windows XP CD and boot from it
by georgeou · about 17 years, 4 months ago
In reply to Cleaning your computer
When you first install Windows, there is an option to nuke the partitions and create new ones. Delete all the partitions and create new ones. For XP, I personally like to use an 8 to 16 GB partition, and the rest for a large data partition.
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November 22, 2006 at 10:24 pm #3290317
cleanest way
by quaint_data · about 17 years, 4 months ago
In reply to Cleaning your computer
Yeah sure can, if you really want clean, the regestry and all those hidden places of windows never really get cleaned out unless you delete the partition and clean install windows. then you have to reset the bios to factory defaults.
An easier way is to buy a new hdd keep this one and slave it.
Here ‘s how I do this:
I add the new hdd as a slave first,
unpartitioned, but windows will see it as raw, go to control panel administrative tools computer manager disc managr here you can see the new hdd now partition it/format it using the wizard NTFS. once its done it will tell you.
Take it out and swap them.
Do you know about changing the jumper to slave and master?
Set the bios to boot from cd first boot order?
Install xp straight onto the newly formatted hdd.
Now you have two booting hdd old as slave and new clean.
You can delete most things off the old now, and can also import your old emails from it too.
Hope this helps you.-
November 23, 2006 at 6:35 am #3290274
But that won’t eliminate viruses.
by stress junkie · about 17 years, 4 months ago
In reply to cleanest way
That’s a good method for making a backup boot disk. It won’t get rid of viruses.
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November 23, 2006 at 7:37 pm #3290209
George had the right idea
by danlm · about 17 years, 4 months ago
In reply to cleanest way
Here’s a url that might help.
[url]http://www.jrwhipple.com/sup_startover_xp.html[/url]I looked through it quickly, and it had all the things listed that I would worry about.
Make sure you have all your computers cd’s.(drivers/programs).
Backup any data you can.
Make sure you have the cd’s for any other programs you might have installed.Then it walks you through what to expect.
PRINT IT OFF FIRST. Lol, seriously. print it off, look through it. If you don’t have all your cd’s. Then dont reformat and reinstall yet. You will need to find the stuff you are missing.
Dan
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November 23, 2006 at 8:14 am #3290260
replace………
by awvangastel · about 17 years, 4 months ago
In reply to Cleaning your computer
replace Your harddrive and destroy it(10,000 Celsius required) put in a new one!
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November 23, 2006 at 7:25 pm #3290211
Back up your data
by ni70 · about 17 years, 4 months ago
In reply to Cleaning your computer
Then use DBAN to wipe your drive clean from http://dban.sourceforge.net/. DBAN is an acronym for Darik’s Boot & Nuke. Once you’ve nuked your hard drive, reinstall Windows. Make sure you have all your device CDs for drivers. Good luck! Oh by the way, DBAN is free!
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November 26, 2006 at 12:45 am #3290097
What I Would Do…
by borginva · about 17 years, 4 months ago
In reply to Cleaning your computer
If I felt the need to do so…
Since I keep all personal files (which includes software, games, documents, drivers, etc) in my own directory (not this MY DOCUMENTS trash), I would backup all my stuff (CD/DVD/2nd drive). One directory easy!
Use a boot disk of mine and FDISK. Wipe the drive and reformat it.
Install the new OS clean.
You can also put in your Windows CD and should be able to boot from it and do a format and clean install.
Now I have done this many times before as I have these items: W98 boot disk with FDISK, regular boot disk with FDISK, WXP SP2 slipstream CD.
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