[delon]

i need to fully format my pc
which includes :

• erase all the data on the hard disk
• then create new disks on the hard drive
• and then install a fresh new copy of windows

now how do i do that.

[marshian]

I think you'll need to boot into some bootable disk (cd, floppy, other hd, ...) because you won't be able to fully access your main disk when you're working on that one... Then you have to remove all partitions from your hd, and format it. Finally just reinstall windows and you're ready.
If you don't have a bootable disk at all, you could download the Ubuntu live cd-thingie and use that to boot up (the advantage is that you still have an os, while you don't need your main hd.)
Here is where you can download the Ubuntu live cd: http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

[TechAsh]

Just insert your Windows install CD, and reboot your PC, then it should ask you whether you want to boot from the CD (You do want to). Once the CD has loaded, you can delete all you partitions and re-create them, then install Windows (All from the one CD).

[delon]

thanks, Techash and Marshian.

[marshian]

Originally Posted by TechAsh

Just insert your Windows install CD, and reboot your PC, then it should ask you whether you want to boot from the CD (You do want to). Once the CD has loaded, you can delete all you partitions and re-create them, then install Windows (All from the one CD).

lol, I didn't know that thing was bootable xD

[like2program]

@Delon+TechAsh

If you want to make sure that your data is secure I would suggest you do not select any quick format options available and go for a full format. Otherwise this is a perfect explanation.


@Marshian

Originally Posted by marshian

lol, I didn't know that thing was bootable xD

If you didn't know it was bootable then how did you install your OS?

[CruveniumGX4]

Remember to backup your drivers.

[marshian]

@like2program
If you didn't know it was bootable then how did you install your OS?

There's bootable and bootable...
Bootable as in you can start your pc and run on the cd and do nothing but installing Window's newest piece of junk
and
Bootable as in you can start your pc and run on that cd and use an OS that can do more than installing an OS...

I thought window's cd was the first kind of bootable cd...