How do I reformat hard drive?

[Sab]

As per title, how do I reformat the hard-drive?

I am currently running Windows XP Home which has been upgraded from Windows Millenium (Me). The internet connection works fine but I cannot download anything from the internet. Also Itunes is messed up and I cannot open it up by clicking on it and Windows Media player will not work.

I need step by step instructions please and I do have the Me setup floppy disc.

I used to have Norton Internet Security and Spysweeper.

Thanks in advance.

[Mylo]

Have you tried using a Win XP system restore?

[Sab]

Hi Mylo. Thanks for your reply.

I am not aware of this product. Please can you help me by explaining what it is and where I can get hold of it. Thanks!

[Mylo]

press the windows button, go to programs, then to accessories, system tools, system restore

[leej]

Click on start....click help and support....click undo changes with system restore...then go back to a date your pc was ok.

[Dom996]

If you have contracted some sort of Virus, system restore will roll it back but invariably the virus will still be there and will reappear again. Many in the know switch system restore off as it is a target area for a virus to spread to.

Boot from the XP CD and follow the options. Go straight for a new install and reformat. If the machine is full of bugs a clean install is the only option, not an upgrade from ME.

Finally if you are on broadband, buy a router, even if you only use one machine. This hardware firewalls your individual PCs IP against the internet. Finally ditch Norton and go for Kaspersky Antivirus. http://www.kaspersky.com/kav6

[Ayub]

Originally Posted by Sab

As per title, how do I reformat the hard-drive?

I am currently running Windows XP Home which has been upgraded from Windows Millenium (Me). The internet connection works fine but I cannot download anything from the internet. Also Itunes is messed up and I cannot open it up by clicking on it and Windows Media player will not work.

I need step by step instructions please and I do have the Me setup floppy disc.

I used to have Norton Internet Security and Spysweeper.

Thanks in advance.

if you go to :

start/control panel/add remove programs and within there you can create a start up disk

[Sab]

Hi there Ayub. Do you mean that I can create a Windows XP Home start up disc by doing what you say? Also I am unsure how to make the XP Home start set up disc, please can you help me further as I cannot see it mentioned.

Thanks for your help guys. I tried system restore last night and it did work. I also got Itunes working again without losing my 5000 songs - Thank God!

However I still can not download anything from the Internet and Windows Media Player still does not work.

Probably installing Xp Home again will make things perfect - from the XP start up disc.

[overkill]

Sab, did you do a clean install or upgrade over ME? This is a dodgy way of doing things as despite MS assurances it usually leads to a series of headaches. A clean install is the best way of doing it. I use Partition Magic to setup HDD's and partition them so that I can use multi operating systems. That way if one dies (as XP has twice!) I can save any info from the working OS (Windows 2k).

But, back on topic. If you want to re-format you can do so using either the software that came with the HDD, Ie Seatools or whatever, use a DOS disc or use something like PM. If you have the XP disc, that can format the HDD for you on intial setup. You then have a clean disc and you can just start installing again from scratch.

[Singh400]

Because I'm not too familiar with re-formatting a hard drive via ME. I found this link for ya:

http://www.cyberwalker.net/columns/sep00/210900.html

Step by step instructions. Easy as pie.

[Uridium]

Is your Windows XP CD a full version or does it say "Upgrade" on it?

If it is an upgrade version I'm afraid you'll have to re-install ME first then use the XP upgrade CD to re-install XP over the top. Not ideal

If it's not an upgrade version you can just stick the XP CD in the Drive, boot the PC up and XP setup will start (you may need to change the boot device order in your PC BIOS - normally hit F12 or Delete at start up) The setup process will prompt you with an option to re-format you hard disc during the process

You mentioned that you have 5000+ songs on your PC though? you are aware that if you format the disk you will lose all of these if you don't have a seperate backup disc? or are these on a second hard disc inside your PC?

[Sab]

uridium - I have the Itunes on the D drive so if I format the hard drive this should not be affected - right? I thought reformatting the hard drive only affected the C drive?

Yes, I will have to install Me first then upgrade to XP Home sadly guys.

Singh400 - thanks for the link. I will use this to help me if it can as I have to reinstall Me first then upgrade to XP Home.

[Singh400]

Just go and buy XP Home Full version. It's quite cheap IIRC.

[Seth Gecko]

Originally Posted by Sab

Yes, I will have to install Me first then upgrade to XP Home sadly guys.

You might not need to. Some versions of Windows will allow you to boot up from the disc and then ask you to insert the disc for the old version of Windows to validate that you can upgrade.

I'd suggest checking that out first.

[Mylo]

Assuming the D drive is a separate physical drive, I'd try this.

Open the case and disconnect the second drives IDE cable.

Boot the machine normally and try an over write of the XP install. Then assuming you can set up your ISP software log onto the MS website and download every single update the machine requires. Once that is all done check media player etc are working, reinstall Itunes and then shutdown and reconnect the second drives cables and reboot.