Formatting the HARD drive before doing a clean install.

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• How to format the hard drive and do a clean install of XP?

  I have a legal windows XP profesional version to install and I need advice on how to format the hard disk, the version on it now was apparently a pirate vers.its years since I, did such things and my mind is old so I really need all the steps, a - z,.

  * How can original title - I wipe my hard drive and install win XP Prof? *

  Hi syynbbad,

  In addition to the post of cbarnhorst, please see the following article on how to do a clean install of XP:

  http://support.Microsoft.com/kb/978307

  I hope this helps!

  Debra
  Microsoft Answers Support Engineer
  Visit our Microsoft answers feedback Forum and let us know what you think

• How to reformat the hard drive and do a "clean" install

  A recent virus attack, my computer has lost some files of the operating system.  With the help of the Lim has provided the recovery disk, which offered ' upgrade/repair' or a 'new installation '.  I chose ' install new ', actually I found many of my files are still there - that means that if a virus has escaped "Detection / removal" will always be there.

  Question: How to reformat the hard drive and do a 'fresh install' on a clean hard disk "? ". (I have a drive to Win XP with service pack 3 and a driver disk for the hardware installed on my computer of the regulations.)

  Thanks in advance

  Skip

  Since you have a Dell and a recovery CD and not a recovery Partition, check how many partitions you need by using disk management:

  http://www.theeldergeek.com/disk_management.htm

  In case you have a partition with the operating system and a partition of the utility partition, I would only recommend formatting the partition from the OS. The Partition utility can be very useful.

• My computer won't allow me to access my files on my portable hard disk without error appear "you must format the E: drive before using it. How can I fix this please!

  My computer won't allow me to access my files on my portable hard disk without error appear "you must format the E: drive before using it. How can I fix this please!

  Try to scan your driver with anti-virus, also try to throw the disc looking for this driver and as you try to run the following tools:

  http://support.Microsoft.com/mats/system_maintenance_for_windows/

  http://support.Microsoft.com/mats/windows_file_and_folder_diag/

• Install Windows 8 automatically formats the hard drive? If this isn't the case, I should format it FAT or NTFS drive before installing Win/8?

  Install Windows 8 automatically formats the hard drive?  If this isn't the case, I should format it FAT or NTFS drive before installing Win/8?

  No, this isn't format the hard drive, what's done is put your existing version of Windows in a folder called "windows.old", it indeed erases old files of version and folders, leaving free space on the existing partition "NTFS" (formerly ocupied by your previous version of windows) in which is installed Windows 8.

  And "NTFS" is the only file system that supports Windows 8.

  J W Stuart: http://www.pagestart.com

• Reinstall XP Pro upgrade after formatting the hard drive, the invalid product key

  I'm going through a gateway with xp adding purched proessional xp home. The hard drive has been formatted before the upgrade.  When I get the xp professional product key I get an error message indicating the product key is not valid.  The product key, as I enter corresponds to the product key in the business directory to the i386/unatended.txt xp CD.

  Thank you

  Steve

  * original title - family xp to xp pro upgrade *.

  Hi SteveConley,

  1. have you fully formatted the hard drive?

  2. what type of Windows XP Professional CD? It of an upgrade or clean installation CD?

  As you have formatted the hard disk, you can perform a clean install will impose you an operating system available on the computer to perform an installation upgrade.

  You cannot use the upgrade product key to perform a clean installation.

• Satellite P30: How to format the HARD drive and install a new OS?

  I have a satellite P30 laptop with Windows XP. I plug myself a new OS (namely because I can't find my old recovery CD CD and OS) that I want to do a re-shape full of my system. Reason is that my system has been painfully slower and slower over the last year. I even updated my RAM to 512 MB standard supplied with the machine to 2 GB, but it seems to have had little or no effect. So my questions are:-

  1] where can I get my hands on the restore CD that has all the drivers on this subject, and any recovery CD to reformat my HARD drive?
  [2] in the order in which I will make this reformatting?
  How can [3] after having bought an external HARD drive to keep files that I don't want to lose, I transfer those of before my re - format?

  Any help will be greatly appreciated

  :-)

  Hello

  You received with the laptop Toshiba Recovery CD! Am I wrong?
  So what s the problem?

  Simply insert the CD and try to boot from this CD.
  The restore CD contains all Toshiba drivers, tools and utilities Windows OS + additional software like Win DVD for example.
  The installation will set the laptop to factory settings, but will also format the HARD drive!

  Up to now, we come to the point 3; --> How do I save the data
  If you have purchased a second HDD and connect it to the USB port and transfer all the necessary files on the second HDD
  If you have purchased only the HARD drive, then you will need a USB HDD 2.5 case.

  Best regards

• Windows xp Setup cannot format the hard drive

  Original title: windows xp installation

  I had to change hard drives, I went to load my copy of microsoft windows xp and it tells me it cannot format the HDD how many times can we use the xp disc? Or whats wrong?

  Hi Joshua6495,

  What is the full error message that you receive?

  See the article below, which deals with a similar question

  During installation, you are unable to format a Partition with a file Allocation Table Format

  http://support.Microsoft.com/kb/301340/

  You can use the Windows XP installation disc as many times as you want on the same computer

  Note: All programs on the computer and the data will be lost if you format the hard drive. It is recommended to make a backup of your data before performing any Installation of Windows.

  Thanks and greetings

  Ajay K

  Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Visit our Microsoft answers feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

• How can I boot from the Windows 7 Installation CD so that I can reformat the hard drive before reinstalling Windows 7?

  How can I boot from the Windows 7 Installation CD so that I can reformat the hard drive before reinstalling Windows 7?  I have already reinstalled Windows 7 from the CD, but that has not solved my problems.  When I put the factory CD in my CD player, it won't always boot from the CD.  When I put my Windows 7 Ultimate CD in the CD drive, it doesn't always start from the CD.         I realize that the reformatting is not always necessary, but I caught a few viruses (despite anti-virus running) and I need to start with a clean hard drive.

  On Friday, January 9, 2015 14:30:32 + 0000, BlueKodak wrote:

  How can I boot from the Windows 7 Installation CD so that I can reformat the hard drive before reinstalling Windows 7?  I have already reinstalled Windows 7 from the CD, but that has not solved my problems.  When I put the factory CD in my CD player, it won't always boot from the CD.  When I put my Windows 7 Ultimate CD in the CD drive, it doesn't always start from the CD.

  You must go into the BIOS and change the boot on CD order
  first push.

  How to get into your BIOS? It is not dependent on Windows, but on what he
  motherboard/BIOS card that you have. In fact, you need access to the
  BIOS before Windows begins to start. A common method is to press
  the key delete when you turn on first, but this is not necessarily true
  for your computer. Watch the display carefully when you start first;
  There is often a message here to tell you what to do. If this is not the case, check
  your system documentation or check with your provider.

• Need to re - format the hard drive of the constant problems marketing and stay operating in car

  Product: HP Pavilion Media Center M8200n

  Product # GN551AA #ABA

  Serial No. [edited personal product info]

  Operating system: XP upgraded to Windows 7

  Several months ago, I started getting blue screens and freezes and then start at the beginning, etc.. I finally got in a single day and immediately backed up everything on my remote hard drive. I think it would be better to re - format the hard drive and start over. Something keeps sending me blue screens and freeze me. Please help... an elderly person who is not completely computer illiterate, but not so tech savvy!

  W. b. Smith

  CONGRATULATIONS TO DAVE860... ALL THIS IS THANKS TO YOU!

  I remember you said something about Norton does not fully with upgrades. So I removed Norton System and replaced with Security Essentials and all worked fine for 4 weeks now underway.

  Your help so greatly appreciated. Ironically, according to my friends, they have been seen ice problems and I told her about Norton and upgrade system I have. Seems that they had upgraded from Vista to XP. They have deleted Norton and installed another security system and all is well.

  New big giant Bravo to you, Dave.

  Thank you.

• I got a message that my Windows 7 is not genuine. What steps to follow to format the hard drive and install Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit?

  I took my office for repairs after that my motherboard has given. I did an upgrade and the repairman had my re - installed Windows. I know evil to fix my Internet security software and discovered a list of other problems with missing or corrupt files. After inspecting my system, I discovered that the repairman installed Windows with a product key is counterfeit.

  I have my legitimate Windows 7 Home premium disc and product key. How to re - install Windows 7, because windows fitted by repairer are Home Premium 32 Bit, and Windows I have are Home Premium 64 Bit.
  I would like to do a full install of Windows, I backed up all my data and have all the product keys of software installed on my desktop. What steps to follow to format the hard drive and install Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit?

  Boot from the DVD 64 bit Windows 7

  To learn how to change your BIOS options to boot from the DVD drive, the following tutorial:

  http://notebooks.com/2011/05/05/How-to-load-BIOS-and-change-boot-configuration/

  Click Install now

  Accept the license agreement

  When the option is displayed to select a type of installation, click (Custom advanced)

  Click on drive Options

  Select the disc/s click on Delete

  Click new

  Click on apply

  Click OK

  Click Format, and then click next to proceed with the installation

  Skip entering your product key Windows 7 and complete the installation.

  When you reach the desktop, click Start, right-click on computer

  Click on properties

  Scroll down to the Windows Activation

  Click the link x days before activation.

  Click on the link that says: "show me other ways to activate.

  Enter the product key

  Click next

  Select the Activation of the phone

  Click Next when you enter your key page

  Select your country

  Click Next, call the number listed

  Be sure to explain your situation to the Appeals Officer.

  Provide the installation generated when ID requested by the call agent

  They give a confirmation ID in return, enter it

  Click next to complete the activation.

  If you have problems, use the phone activation:

  How to activate Windows 7 manually (activate by phone)
   
  1) click Start and in the search for box type: slui.exe 4
   
  (2) press the ENTER"" key.
   
  (3) select your "country" in the list.
   
  (4) choose the option "activate phone".
   
  (5) stay on the phone (do not select/press all options) and wait for a person to help you with the activation.
   
  (6) explain your problem clearly to the support person.
   
  http://support.Microsoft.com/kb/950929/en-us

• Can I install Windows 7 Professional on my Windows 7 Home Premium without formatting the hard drive?

  I have a genuine copy of Windows 7 Professional, I would like to install on my laptop, but I'm afraid to do that because I don't want to format the hard drive and lose all my files, programs, etc. Is it possible to install it without formatting the hard drive and lose all my data? Thank you.

  If the license for Windows 7 Professional, you have access to is a retail version update or complete, you can use the product key and the Express upgrade to Windows 7 Edition Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional. First of all, check that the edition of Windows 7, you are upgrading is already enabled (if it isn't, you will encounter complications and that you might start all by performing a clean installation). Click Start, type Anytime Upgrade, click on the option enter a key, enter the key of Windows 7 Professional on demand, click Next, wait while checking the key, accept the license agreement, click on upgrade, wait while the software upgrades, (it may take 10 minutes or more depending on the if updates are required) your computer restarts automatically, after the reboot, Windows 7 will notify you updating the computer, the computer will restart once more automatically and will be completed the upgrade, a window will appear notifying the upgrade was successful and your computer is ready to use, click Close, you should be upgraded to Windows 7 Professional your files, programs and settings retained.

• Have formatted the hard drive how do I retriev my FAVORITES

  I format the hard drive from my pc, but I want to keep my favorites. How can I save them in order to keep everything for later use?

  The profile is a file that store your personal information in a safe place

  • https://support.Mozilla.com/en-us/KB/profiles
  • here explain how to make a backup of https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Backing%20up%20your%20information profile
  • here explain how to restore

  https://support.Mozilla.com/en-us/KB/recovering%20important%20data%20from%20an%20old%20Profile

• Satellite Pro A40: Is it possible to format the HARD drive without disk

  I am passing on a Satellite Pro A40 to a brother. It is in very good condition, but has slowed down over the years. I want to get rid of my data (I have on a new machine) and speed up the system by formatting the hard drive.

  The machine didn't come with a disc for Windows XP, or a recovery CD (just a CD "tools and utilities"). I'm sure the drive HARD will be partitioned, and I can format the drive without such a disc.

  If this is true, how should I do?
  Thank you.

  Hello

  I can't believe that you do not have recovery media.
  The laptop must be supplied with recovery CD, Tools & Utilities CD, and WinDVD.

  But back to your question;
  If you insert a new HARD disk, you will need to use the Toshiba Recovery CD or the original CD of Microsoft Windows to install the operating system.
  The new drive is not partitioned HARD and doesn't have any OS pre-installed!

  If you n t have the original CD of Microsoft OS you can contact the service provider allowed in your country and you can order it.

  I hope I could help

  Good bye

• came loaded with Windows Vista Home Premium. Recently, I reformatted the hard drive and did a clean installation of Windows 7 Professional. I have no games. No solitaire, Minesweeper, no nothing.

  original title: lack of games
  I have an Acer Aspire PC. It came loaded with Windows Vista Home Premium. Recently, I reformatted the hard drive and did a clean installation of Windows 7 Professional.

  I have no games. No solitaire, Minesweeper, no nothing.
  How can I, without seeking to erase and reinstall again?

  To activate the built-in Windows 7 games:

  1. click on Start (lower-left) and then on Control Panel.

  2. click on programs and features.

  3. on the left side of the screen, click on 'Windows turn features on or off".

  4. find the entry called games & check the box next to it.

  5. click on OK.

  6 reset.

  If the games box is already checked, uncheck the box , click OK, restart, then do steps 1-6 above.