NOTE!!! Formatting your computer wipes ALL files from your hard drive !!! This should be used as a last resort, and you should think VERY carefully about what files you might lose if you do this... there is NO going back! Well seeing as so many people are wondering how to reformat these days, here is a simple step by step guide. This was originally posted in the FAQ section, but it is not getting seen, as many still wonder how to do it. Disclaimer : I am not responsible for any errors done during the reformatting process. From my personal experience, this is how to reformat a computer under Windows 95/98/Xp. If anyone would like to write a guide for me to include in this for any other operating systems, feel free, and pm it to me. Thanks. Reformatting Your Computer In Windows XP Before you Reformat: You may want to save any wanted files to disk, but only if necessary. Also make sure you have and know where all your driver disks are, and your windows xp cd. You may also want to create a backup of the whole c drive, just incase. Begin: Pop in your windows xp cd, and press F8 to boot from it. You will then be asked what you wish to do with the cd, where you will click the advanced option. You will then be shown a screen, and there will be a box. Inside of the box will say c:\whatever your comp name was. Highlight and delete this partition. Create a new partition on C:\ once again. Now it will want to format the partition, and will give you four options. Either one will do fine. After some long waited time, windows xp will finally begin to install. Follow the on screen instructions, and you should be fine You are now done formatting your computer!! Arn't you happy Reformatting Your Computer In Windows 95/98 Before you reformat: First you will want to create a boot disk. To do this, insert a blank floppy into the a drive, and go to start>controlpanel>add/remove programs>create startupdisk. Follow the onscreen instructions and you should be fine. Begin: Now to begin, you want to get into MS DOS. To do this click start>menu>shutdown>restart in ms dos. When it restarts, you will be at a black screen, which reads : C:\Windows\ After that second \ type CD, or CD\ That will go down, and you will see entered now C:\ Type Format C: You will then proceed to install. At the new screen, type whatever the system is of your new computer (your choice) Now you will restart your computer, and put your previously made windows boot disk in the a drive. While your computer now boots up from this floppy disk, insert your windows 98 cd into the drive. This will prompt you to startup with the cd, which is what you want to do. While the cd is installing windows, remove the floppy. Follow the on screen instructions and you should be just fine. Notes for future use: Also remember, to prevent this from re-occuring in the future (reformatting is such a pain) you can do the following : Download Ad-aware to remove spyware from the computer. A scan should be done weekly, and once a month in safe mode. http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/ Purchase Norton Antivirus 2001, 2003, or 2004. Don't bother for 2002, it can be a pain, due to some bugs in its system. Do a weekly scan, or 3 a month. Local Hardware and Computer Stores If you are short on cash, download AVG virus scanner, or use trendmicro. http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php Update all drivers from time to time. This can be done by clicking Start>ControlPanel>System>Hardware>DeviceManager>Update Driver Make sure your computer is up to date with windows update. http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp And last, make sure to never download any hacks, cracks, serials, keyloggers, keygens etc. In my opinion, Kazaa should be renamed to Hacker Central, so just watch out. Small files like music cannot harm you too bad, but it still can contain spyware etc. So I would not reccomend it. Goodluck, BMW EDIT: added a wee note at the top, just to be sure ;) grin.
