First Format

[Taffy]

Right, I've got my virus stil and decided that, seeing as my last exam is on Friday, I shall format my hard drive on the Saturday. It's my first one, so I've no idea what to do. I've got my original Windows disk, so do I just put that in and re-install Windows to wipe it clean, or do I do something else? I'm a complete n00b I know, but help would be mucho appreciated. And if I can get it done in time I shall be gaming with some people online by the night-time with any luck Maybe a bit of Civ IV?

 

[Wol]

Which windows install is it?

I know XP setup has a thing where you choose the partition you want to install on, and you can delete / create / format partitions there as you please which will do it. Dont need to do anything beforehand.

 

[PsiSoldier]

Boot from disk
Erase partition(s)
Create new partition(s) in the raw space
Install on one of said partitions
Wait 9 years for XP to install and configure

Full reformatting does a disk check, and that's the only difference from the "quick" one IIRC (correct me if I'm wrong)

EDIT: proofs what I'm saying won't blow your pc up.

If you really want to format your hard drive...

You can't... at least not while you're running Windows. You'll have to reboot from the Windows XP installation CD, because you can't format the drive on which Windows is running. But first you'll probably want to back up your hard drive, or at least part of it. For help with that, see Backing Up Your Files and explore the various options for backing up your personal files.

Okay, back to reformatting... when the install disk boots up, press ENTER at the "Welcome to Setup" screen. If prompted to do so, press F8 to agree to the license. Next, you’ll see a message asking if you want to repair your existing installtion. You don't, so press ESC to bypass the repair option.

Now select the partition where Windows is installed, then press D to delete it. Press L to confirm the delete. Okay, it's time to create and format a new partition. Select the unpartitioned space and press C to create a new partition. Allot the maximum amount of space available, then press Enter.

Now select the partition you’ve just created, and format it. Choose the NTFS option, go for the "quick format" then sit and wait. When the new partition is formatted, you're ready to (re)install Windows. Depending on your hardware, you may also need to re-install some software drivers to support a modem, router, printer or other devices. Make sure that you have the driver CDs handy in advance. Don't forget to reinstall your anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and be sure to visit Windows Update as soon as possible to ensure that you have all the latest security fixes.

EDIT 2: I fail at hyperlinking quote names.

 

[thatbloke]

Having had a little google, I found this guide that seems to explain it quite well (at least to me, but I've done this quite a few times before )

http://lifehacker.com/software/wind...nd-install-windows-xp-from-scratch-157578.php

Read it all through and see if there is anything there that you do not understand. Once you format your drive, that's it. Everything that is on it will be gone, so you absolutely have to make sure that ANYTHING you do not want to lose is backed up, preferably to a reliable external drive.

Booting from CD is also important, make sure you know how to set your BIOS to boot from CD - some more modern BIOS's will allow you to switch it on a once-only basis by pressing a special key (like F12 or F8) when the BIOS screen is up. If that option is not available to you, you will then have to go and change the boot order inside the BIOS screen yourself that way, but this will do it permanantly so when it boots after doing all the bits it needs from the CD, don't boot into the CD for a second time as it will need to boot from the Hard Drive to finish setting itself up. Leave the CD in the drive though

 

[PsiSoldier]

Ohhh! One question; do you know what virus it is you have? Some can replace your boot loader thus becoming imune to formatting. Best to check first, so you can take action acordingly.

EDIT: Eh, it might be master boot record? Or something... blagh.

 

[Taffy]

Well I have Vista, so I'm not sure what to do still? I don't know what BIOS is lol I'm such a retard with computers.

Also Psi, it's m.exe. Weirdly, I ran a scan last night and it turned up nothing other than the usual cookies. Also, my computer seems to be running a lot smoother now. Maybe it's just a one-day glitch, I'm not sure. I also scanned my ipod, as I recall m.exe being detected on there before, but AVG found nothing. AVG may possibly have found a way to delete it?

 

[thatbloke]

ooooh, with Vista it's much easier as you get a nice shiny GUI to do it all from even when booting from the CD.

You will have to boot your system using the CD, you won't be able to do a full re-install unless you do it this way because if windows is already running then it cannot overwrite itself when it is running.

The BIOS is the very first thing in your computer that will run when you turn it on. When you first turn it on you should see some kind of screen that will do a memory check, and detect what drives you have connected. Either that, or you might have a BIOS that displays a fullscreen logo of some description instead.

Either way, when you first turn the power on there should be an option somewhere to "Press F1 to enter setup" - or something similar. The key may be different, normally it's either F1 or the delete key but once in there you need to locate the options for the boot order and make sure your DVD drive is first.


Another thing - have you got a proper Vista disk or is it perhaps a "recovery disk" that may have come with your computer if you bought a pre-built system?

 

[Taffy]

ooooh, with Vista it's much easier as you get a nice shiny GUI to do it all from even when booting from the CD.

You will have to boot your system using the CD, you won't be able to do a full re-install unless you do it this way because if windows is already running then it cannot overwrite itself when it is running.

The BIOS is the very first thing in your computer that will run when you turn it on. When you first turn it on you should see some kind of screen that will do a memory check, and detect what drives you have connected. Either that, or you might have a BIOS that displays a fullscreen logo of some description instead.

Either way, when you first turn the power on there should be an option somewhere to "Press F1 to enter setup" - or something similar. The key may be different, normally it's either F1 or the delete key but once in there you need to locate the options for the boot order and make sure your DVD drive is first.


Another thing - have you got a proper Vista disk or is it perhaps a "recovery disk" that may have come with your computer if you bought a pre-built system?

Well that sounds much easier Yeah it's a recovery disk, courtesy of Dell. Does it make any difference? I also have original drivers and stuff on a seperate CD if that was going to be an issue.

 

[thatbloke]

Well that sounds much easier Yeah it's a recovery disk, courtesy of Dell. Does it make any difference? I also have original drivers and stuff on a seperate CD if that was going to be an issue.

If its a recovery disk then it will be different, Dell will have their own recovery process for doing it, rather than it being the standard windows Vista install. As such, I can't provide you with step-by step instructions but it should be a case of putting the disk in, booting from it, then following the on-screen instructions to perform a full recovery of your system.

 

[Taffy]

If its a recovery disk then it will be different, Dell will have their own recovery process for doing it, rather than it being the standard windows Vista install. As such, I can't provide you with step-by step instructions but it should be a case of putting the disk in, booting from it, then following the on-screen instructions to perform a full recovery of your system.

Well I just put it in and it comes up with a Windows thing and gives me the option to install Windows. Also, on the disk it says 'use this DVD only to reinstall the operating system on a Dell PC' so I'm guessing I should be alright to go ahead and do it?

 

[thatbloke]

Well I just put it in and it comes up with a Windows thing and gives me the option to install Windows. Also, on the disk it says 'use this DVD only to reinstall the operating system on a Dell PC' so I'm guessing I should be alright to go ahead and do it?

yes.

Double and Triple check that you have everything you need off that hard drive backed up.

Then check it again.

Then make sure the files in their backed up location can be read by a different system.

Then check again

 

[Taffy]

yes.

Double and Triple check that you have everything you need off that hard drive backed up.

Then check it again.

Then make sure the files in their backed up location can be read by a different system.

Then check again

I don't have anything I particularly want to backup. I'm perfectly happy to spend a day re-installing all the stuff that doesn't come with Windows. Is there anything that I should be backing up that's imperative to the computer still working once I've re-installed Vista?

 

[Nanor]

Graphics card drivers and drivers for your modem. Everything else can be obtained via the interwebs.

 

[Taffy]

Graphics card drivers and drivers for your modem. Everything else can be obtained via the interwebs.

I'm plugged into a router, rather than a modem so I don't have any drivers for that. Plus I've got a disk with all the standard drivers on from Dell anyway, so I'll use that instead. I haven't got anything external to put stuff from my HD onto so I can't really back up lol.

 

[thatbloke]

I don't have anything I particularly want to backup. I'm perfectly happy to spend a day re-installing all the stuff that doesn't come with Windows. Is there anything that I should be backing up that's imperative to the computer still working once I've re-installed Vista?

I'm thinking stuff more like photos, documents, etc. that you may not want to lose

also, Vista is very good with finding some kind of intermediate driver it can use that will allow it to use hardware in at least a basic mode until you can get online and get the proper drivers, etc.

But the fact that you have a Dell recovery disk means that it will have all of the drivers you need on there already, unless of course you have changed your hardware since you got the PC

 

[Taffy]

I'm thinking stuff more like photos, documents, etc. that you may not want to lose

also, Vista is very good with finding some kind of intermediate driver it can use that will allow it to use hardware in at least a basic mode until you can get online and get the proper drivers, etc.

But the fact that you have a Dell recovery disk means that it will have all of the drivers you need on there already, unless of course you have changed your hardware since you got the PC

Eh, all my photos are on the the book of faces anyway so I can get them back easily enough That's about all I've got on here, aside from a few films that I've already watched and games that I can re-install. I'm gonna go ahead and do this thang now then. Do you know how long it will take for Vista to re-install?

 

[Thunder]

Make sure you've got the drivers of your network card backed up. Just in case. If you've got that, then you can pretty much re-download everything else.

 

[Taffy]

Make sure you've got the drivers of your network card backed up. Just in case. If you've got that, then you can pretty much re-download everything else.

What's a network card, how do I tell if I have one and where do I find the drivers? Lol, I am an absolute rookie

 

[Taffy]

Also, I just noticed that I have a recovery Drive (D). I had no idea I had that. Will that have all the drivers etc. on it that came with the computer already?

 

[Zooggy]

Ahey,

What's a network card, how do I tell if I have one and where do I find the drivers?

A network card is what your computer uses to talk to the router, and thence, to the interwebz.

You have one.

The drivers should be on your Dell CD. Even if they're not, in this day and age, it is exceedingly unlikely that Vista won't know what to do with your network card right off the bat.

If you were knowledgeable about network card drivers, I'd say yeah, go ahead and rip them out, just so you can guarantee that you have them. Since you're not, I'd say the hassle of learning where the hell the drivers are and how you can rip them and re-install them after the format is probably not worth the extra tenths of percent of probability that things might, in some obscure way, go awry,

In other words, even though it was good advice, I still say, don't worry about it and just go for it.

Cheers,
J.