Hi, I want to format my laptop to see if that will help get my wireless network to operate. What I need to know is can I do a clean format with out the recover disk, then use the recovery disk to install everything? thanks in advance

So what I am understanding you want to do is, Format Everything. Then use the recovery CD? The easiest way to do this is if you have a floppy drive. Go to www.bootdisk.com and download a "Windows 98 SE OEM" boot disk. Let it boot up with the boot disk, with or without cd rom support is not important. If it is a Fat32 drive then just type in format c: and it will start. If it is NTFS then at the a prompt type in F-Disk. The program will start up, select option 4 to delete partitions and then select the option (I believe 4) to delete non dos partitinos. When complete go back to the first screen and select option 1 to set primary dos partition. Follow the steps and when complete restart your system. Leave the diskette in and now when you get to the a prompt you should be able to type in format c: and accomplish your goal. hope this helps. I also have a debug script you can use so let me know if that does not work. -Mario-

These 2 pages may help you Clean install of winXP Clean format and install of WinXp Business as usual

Ok I ended up doing a recovery. so now the computer is all clean but still not connecting to the internal wireless. any Ideas why it won't pick it up? Thanks for any help

are you sure that your laptop has an internal wireless card (not being a smarta$$, I promise) if so, in device manager, is it listed and if so, are there any yellow !! marks to the left of it? If there are no issues with it, make sure the wireless radio is on. each lt has a different hotkey for this ex my tinkpad is fn F5 to turn it on. Look at your manual and see what yours is. Also, make sure that if there is a wireless lan connection already setup in nw properties that it isn't just disabled (rt click on it and see if enable is an option)

Hi Mike, I'm sure there is a wireless in the computer but for some reason it doesn't seem to be showing. It did say wireless in the devise manager but now it only says realtex XXXXX family fast ethernet NIC. Doesn't that mean the wireless didn't go in on the recovery? Sorry I don't no alot about computers just learing. Thanks in advance

Did the Laptop PC come with a built in Wireless Network Adapter or did you buy an external Wireless Network Adapter and installed in one of the Slots later on? If it is a later installation, please post its make and model. If the Laptop came with a factory preinstalled Wireless Adapter, we can find out is details provided you tell us the Laptop Computer's Full name not calling it "My Laptop":-) You can find the make and model of your Laptop, [which includes the Company Name (like Acer/Compaq/Toshiba etc.] followed by a Model Name like [Ferrari/Presario/Tecra etc], and Series number [4005/12XL410/A2-S119 ]on its case & in the Documentation that came with it. With the information we can ask more directed questions and try some troubeshoot to find the casue and possibly fix it:-) M