How do you reformat a computer? What are the steps that need to be taken? I know if you reformat a computer everything is wiped out so how do I re-install everything? I have a system restoration disk and my Windows disk, do I need both of those or just one of them? If somebody could please list all the steps that would be very helpful, thanks.
Make sure to SAVE stuff. I had a pro do it and he still screwed up; I lost my entire OE address book and my mail folders which numbered in the hundreds. BE CAREFUL !!
not to be an @ss... but I think you want to reformat your hard drive. maybe this site can help http://www.cyberwalker.net/faqs/how-tos/reinstall-faq.html I just did a search on Yahoo for "reformat hard drive" and came up with a few results... Yahoo Search Results oh, and if you do want to reformat your HD and still have access to your files, save everything you'll need... sometimes purchasing a new hard drive is a lot easier than reformatting, but you'll still need to save stuff you want... Good Luck, rH
I reformatted through Dell. Unbelievable headache. I may have to do it again because I've been getting a "rundll" error. Something abotu "kernel32" or something. Why do people reformat?
Look through these yahoo clubs and good luck! http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/dir/Computers___Internet/Technical_Support
do you have a virus or virus protection software? I know the sircam virus affected the rundll32 file... rH
I would suggest to reload Windows if you get into this situation again. You can usually go to C:\Windows\Options\Cabs and double-click setup.exe. This will reload all of your windows stuff without wiping out any of your personal files. It will also remember the programs you have loaded.
it is if you have the option selected not to scan the recycle bin... also the nimda virus and it's variations effect some .dll files see info on this cnn link: http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/internet/10/31/new.nimda.idg/index.html good luck rH
OK, I have decided to try to reformat my hard drive but I have a couple of questions before I do it. I have ICQ and would like to keep my friend list without having to add everybody back like I did last time. So how do I save my ICQ and load it to my hard drive when my computer is finished reformatting. This is what I did last time and it didn't work: Last time I got my hard drive reformatted then downloaded and installed ICQ. After installation I tried loading my files, which I burned to a CD, back to my ICQ folder and after that I tried to access ICQ and it gave me some type of error message and wouldn't let me access ICQ. Does anybody know how to do this??? Besides ICQ I really don't have anything else I would like to save so whatever I lose during the reformat it won't be that big a deal, unless you guys know something I don't.
Before you reformat, download & install the newest version of ICQ. It saves your contact list online, so all you have to do is reinstall and relogin and your list comes back.
Thanks Moon, I also have one more queston. What about my hardware drivers. I have a CD titled "System Restoration CD" and it says the disk contains hardware drivers, online documentation, and limited software applications. When am I suppose to use this, if ay all???
In the final stages of your win reinstallation, windows will be analyzing your hardware and looking for specific drivers for each. Most of the time it will either use one it already has or a generic driver. If it can't find one then it will ask for one...that's when you can use the disk. One thing you'll probably need to do is check out the web for updated drivers once your up & running since I'm sure there's probably been new ones made since your disk came out. Also...some older hardware might not be detected by windows, youl may have to use the disk to install those properly.
My computer came pre-assembled from Gateway. So I'm not sure of some of the manufacturers of my components in my computer. What should I do about those?
If your going back with the same OS that you had in the beginning, the disk you have is going to have all the drivers that you need on it. Windows may ask for them..it may not. But that should be enough to get the system up and running, then you can update them as you go along. If you go to "Control Panel....System....Device Manager" it will bring up a list of all the hardware on your machine. The only things you might have issues on would be your graphics card, sound card, mouse, modem, & network adapter. Take note of the manufacturer and model number of each of these. You should be able to print a listing of all of everything if you want.
OK I have reformatted my hard drive and set everything back up but I am having a minute problem. When I access the Internet, pictures appear blurry or fuzzy looking and not clear at all. How do I fix this, if any of you know?
Let me change the statement above, all photos appear blurry and fuzzy on my computer. Even ones that I open from a floppy disk or CD. Anybody know what I need to do???
