|
|
|
REFORMATING a new computer
|
Original Message
|
Name: Sharone
Date: February 13, 2001 at 16:17:28 Pacific
Subject: REFORMATING a new computer
|
Comment: I just bought a new computer about 3 months ago... with windows me on it and LOTS Of other junk I dont want or need. I somehow deleted files and now certain programs wont work.. ALL I GET IS ERROR ERROR OR THE BLUE SCREEN, OR IT FREEEEEEZES OR SOMETHING HAPPENS.. WELL now I just want to start all over.. clean install.. reformat my hard drive. But dont know how to do this can someone help Plzzz ... Thanks so much..
"" a GURL with a BIG headache ""
Report Offensive Message For Removal
|
|
Response Number 1
|
Name: shane
Date: February 13, 2001 at 19:20:57 Pacific
Subject: REFORMATING a new computer |
Reply: (edit)You have my sympathies Sharone. My computer is also 3 months old, with Me. My sister is in a similar position and I'm advising her. I was new to computers (more or less) so I only really know my own method. Obviously you need the Me installation disk.
I got Norton Utilities 4.0 bundled, which is not fully-compatible with Me, however, certain apps run well and I advise using this or similar. 'WipeInfo', set to 'Government Wipe' - an electronic shredder - with 'SpeedDisk' set to 'Wipe Unused Space'.
(You run Speed Disk, which defrags the hard disk, then wipes the part that's full of broken short-cuts, supposedly-deleted files etc).
Go to Add/Remove Programs and uninstall everything but Norton Utilities. Delete as much as you can then run Speed Disk to wipe it 'clean'. Then uninstall Norton.
Put your Me installation disk in and reinstall the full option - mine is called 'format and recover hard drive'.
Then reinstall your VGA (graphics) driver. Reboot. Reinstall Motherboard/mainboard drivers and reboot. Reset your Display Settings, not least because some CD's won't run in low resolution, eg Nero. If you have a CDR-RW reinstall it's drivers so's you can reinstall anything saved on CD.
At this point reinstall Norton Utilities and run the identical program again. Also worth running System Check now, which will correct dozens of problems you didn't know you had. My system runs almost smoothly since using these tools. If you don't have them the proceedure is the same, but without the wiping. It would be worth running Windows' Disk Defragmenter instead, but it's no substitute.
If you do use Norton, wipe via Speed Disk rather than WipeInfo, as the latter can take several hours longer as well as being easily interrupted by other programs, whereby it goes back to the beginning. With this in mind it is worth a). running the crappy Millenium Edition Tour, to stop the pop-up reminder (Programs>Accessories>Entertainment - and which also requires the VGA loaded and the display reset) and b). setting the Power Options (Control Panel>Power Options) to Never, if only temporarily.
Next you'll probably want to get back on the net, so install your antivirus and firewall software, then your modem driver/s. I suggest the first thing you do is get your antivirus software updated, if you didn't manage to save it to disk.
I hope this is of help. E-mail me if you have any questions. Good luck,
Shane
 Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal
|
|
Response Number 2
|
Name: Buster
Date: February 13, 2001 at 21:38:43 Pacific
Subject: REFORMATING a new computer |
Reply: (edit)Hey there...the way I would do it is to make a Windows boot disk by going to Start/Settings/Control Panel/Add Remove Programs/Startup disk. Restart your machine with this disk in the drive, and say start computer without cd-rom support. Type "format c:" at the A prompt. Follow instructions to delete everything and reformat. Once done, start computer with boot disk and Windows CD in drives. Say Start computer with CD-ROM support. Switch to CD by typing "D:" (or whatever letter your CD-ROM is). Type "setup" and follow instructions to install Windows.
Drop me a line if you have any questions. Good Luck! Any experts out there please follow up if I've missed anything.
Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal
|
|
Response Number 4
|
Name: DaBeast
Date: February 14, 2001 at 06:28:11 Pacific
Subject: REFORMATING a new computer
|
Reply: (edit)BEFORE DOING ANYTHING...
1. Back up your data to some portable media!
2. Export your outlook express (Or other email program) address book to a floppy disk or some other portable media.
3. Make a new start up disk.
4. Write down your internet settings including your email settings so you can replace them.
5. Enter your bios screen and write down the data you find there (especially concerning your HD.) These few things can save you hours of headaches. Do them first,then reformat. Good luck.
Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal
|
|
Response Number 5
|
Name: Caroline
Date: February 14, 2001 at 11:30:06 Pacific
Subject: REFORMATING a new computer |
Reply: (edit)Did you get a restore disk & or floppy with your PC (most companies supply them with new pc's)? If so, if you put that in after making a note of your email settings, this will take the pain out of a re-format for you.
Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal
|
Use following form to reply to current message:
|
|
|
