erase my hard drive

clive_pearce June 22, 2010 at 10:37:35

Set the boot order in the BIOS to boot from cd, then reinstall using the recovery disk.

mavis007 June 22, 2010 at 12:00:57

... more info for acer recovery @ link below: http://www.computing.net/answers/dr... . ... Posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/... Grrrr... ...im

jefro June 22, 2010 at 14:09:34

Some recovery disks are not bootable. They may need a special hot key at boot to access a hard drive area just for repairing the OS. I support the 'Everybody Draw Mohammed Day'. A religion doesn't deny my freedom.

DAVEINCAPS June 22, 2010 at 21:45:03

It might boot to safe mode (F8 before the OS starts loading). If so, do that and then a system restore. You're not really green until you're soylent green.

the computer is frozen and I cannot get to the bios to change the order. I have tried the del, tab, F8, F2, F11 and F12 keys and nothing happens it just goes back to the black screen and tries to boot up again and fails. I hear the cd run but then it stops...how do I erase the hard drive? any help would be greatly appreciated =0)

DAVEINCAPS June 23, 2010 at 13:56:18

It's best not to guess which key gets you into setup. Check your manual. You need to press the proper key at the proper time. If you really can't get into bios setup then it's not a software problem on the hard drive since getting into setup occurs before the OS on the hard drive starts to boot up. And if you can't boot up with anything, how are you going to load a program to wipe the drive? I suppose you could temporarily disconnect the hard drive and see what happens. If there was a hardware problem with the hard drive, disconnecting it should at least allow you to get into setup to change the boot order. You're not really green until you're soylent green.

mavis007 June 23, 2010 at 14:01:06

... even with the hard drive removed you should still be able to enter your bios! ... does it make any beeps? If so how many long/short? . ... Posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/... Grrrr... ...im

OtheHill June 23, 2010 at 14:02:25

I agree with DAVE. The update isn't your problem. If you are performing a hot reboot then try shutting down for a minute and then see if you can enter the BIOS (setup) screens. If that isn't possible then you have a hardware issue for sure. Remove any CD/DVD disks while trying that. The keystroke/s you need should be displayed when the first screens appear.

JoseyWales June 23, 2010 at 14:11:48

Is it an eMachine EL-1200?: http://support.gateway.com/emachine... Restart it, hold down F10 to get into boot menu, or F1 key to get into BIOS. If it's still freezing, sounds like a hardware issue. http://support.gateway.com/emachine...

jefro June 23, 2010 at 18:01:45

Guess you could remove ac power plug and press the on button a few times. Then replace ac power and then try to access bios again. I support the 'Everybody Draw Mohammed Day'. A religion doesn't deny my freedom.