How to format?

Hi everyone

Newbie question:


I would like to know how to format my hard drive if need be in the future.

I have taken it in to computer shop once in the past to have this done, but i would like to learn how to do it myself.

Could someone explain or direct me to a link to show me the easiest and best way to format and also how to reload my Win XP, drivers, programs,etc.

Thank You




snowbound

 

I have found that it is so much easier if you use an app made just for formating and partitoning. I use partition magic 7.0 and 8.0. I had 7.0 and bought 8.0 but I like 7.0 about as well. These apps make it very easy to format a hdd. There are other programs out there maybe someone can tell you about them but I do like these. I hope this helped.

http://www.powerquest.com/partitionmagic/

You can format your hdd to ntfs,linux,fat,fat32 and so on very easily

 

For starters, what kind of computer do you have? Is it a Dell or Gateway, or another that came with a restore disk, drivers, etc?

Partition Magic is great and I highly suggest it, but I have always used it after I had the OS installed. I think there is a bootable version of PM that allows you to start from scratch, but I am not familiar with using it that way.

Before you do anything, and this should be the case anyway - make sure you backup all your documents, bookmarks, passwords, email and attachments, etc. etc.Check, then double check. They should be backed up on a CD if possible, but floppies may work if you make two of each as they are not so reliable. Once you format, what was on C:\ is history.

One possible alternative is if you have a large harddrive, you can use Partition magic to make another partition to store images on and use an imaging program to backup your C: drive. An alternate hard drive for storage is even better. If the install you are using now is good, then backing it up as an image is a lot less painfull than formating and reinstalling everything.

If you value what you have on your computer, then imaging is a must in my book. I just lost a hard drive and got a new Dell with XP Home. I hated it so I formatted and put Win2k SP4 on. Took me two days to get everything going again. With an image, I can now restore my entire C: drive in 5 minutes.

 

Pm has a two floppy set you make off the program that you can use to start with an empty hdd disc. I have not used it but it should work alright. But root is right. Back up, back up, back up. The secret to on ocasion keeping your sanity.

 

Nice to know information bigc. I must admit I have not explored all the uses of PM and I really do like the 8.0 version.

 

Hi guys

I have to admit i know nothing of how to partition a hard drive. I have never done it. I use my comp just for recreation and trying to learn all these wonderful things u guys post about here at wilders.

From what i can make of it PM looks like something i should be investing in.

I never even backed up my hard drive before

I have read posts here(especially from u root) that say this is essential in case of problems.
I'm not even sure how to do it.

The only thing i have done is copied some of my apps. to CD.

I like the idea of an image program to back up everything instead of formatting.

If u make a partition and create an image of your hard drive to it this will take the place of formatting in case of catastrophic problems?

Oh root,

My comp is Dell, dimension 8200, 80g hard drive with restore disk, drivers and programs.

Any more information u can give me will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a lot guys




snowbound

 

Hi LWM

That's how i feel too. When i had my comp formatted it took me a long time to get everything back to how it was before i had problems.

From what i see on Jan's thread, TI looks like a top notch image programme that like u say, is easy to use.

Very reasonably priced too.

I really like the startup recovery manager option.

Looks like no matter what has happened i would always able to restore everthing back to how it was.

Have u had any problems with this programme LWM?

If i am not mistaken u have XP too right?

If everything is well, i think this is the app. i will use instead of formatting in the future.




snowbound

 

Don't u just hate when that happens!

Believe me i have wasted more CD's than i care to remember!(mostly from my own dumb mistakes )

I see Acadia is running Win98se so maybe the problem he is having is exclusive to that o/s. I hope he gets it straightened out.

I see also that some people(including yourself) are apprehensive about the upgrade fee. It does seem a little high.

I noticed a lot of app. upgrades now are getting a little pricey.

Seems like someday the "free upgrade for life" will be no more.

Thank u LWM, root and bigc.

I think i will try TI. I just love those quality apps. that are user friendly for people like me!

Thanks again guys,
great advice as usual



snowbound

 

True Image is a place ot start. Backing up to CDs uses a lot of CDs if you do it often and thats why I like to use a seperate partition on my main drive. You have plenty of room on your drive to do that to, but it does not protect you in case of a hard drive failure. That is why I also copy my images to another drive now.
Depending on your financial situation, you have options at least. CDs are faily cheap.
To me probably the ideal situation would be a USB2 external hard drive to store images on in case of hard drive failure. I have a spare computer so I use that instead of an external drive.

To answer your original question, I believe Dells restore disk has the option to format and then reinstall the OS, but I haven't done that before, so I'm just going by something I read somewhere one time. Your driver CD would come in handy too if you needed to go that route.

Trust me, imaging saves a lot of heartache. Especially if it's recent. Forgot to mention. With version 7 of TI, you can schedule to do incremental backups each day or night, so you always have a recent image.

 

I should not have said this. It sounds like i'm blaming a whole system for what probably is some conflict with another programme.

All i have ever done with my restore CD is a couple of repairs to XP in the past. The last time i did it my registry got corrupted so that is when i decided to format.I didn't want to chance it myself so i paid the 40 bucks to have it done.

That external hard drive sounds like a really good idea root, thanks.

That way u are covered no matter what happens.

I guess the price would vary widely depending on size and manufacturer.

Well, something else to spend my hard earned money on!





snowbound

 

Indeed money can be a very precious commodity. Before you buy, shop around. New Egg has some good prices sometimes as well as Fat Wallet Forum and Anandtech Forum can clue you in on good deals.
There are other places to shop of course such as froogle, Best Buy and Circuit City.

 

When you just want to format and reinstall XP, you can boot the computer with the XP CD and then, after confirming you want a new install (instead of a repair), you have an option to format your HD.
Dolf

 

Hi Dollefie

I didn't know u could format from the XP CD. I thought the CD was only for repair or clean install.

That's good to know in case i ever do decide to format the hdd.

Would u happen to know of a link to get instuctions on this procedure? Or is it self explanatory from the CD?

Thanks Dollefie



snowbound

 

Hi snowbound,

Start here:
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/expertzone/columns/honeycutt/02october07.asp

Which links to http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=313348

Regards,

Pieter

 

Thanks Pieter

It is a very good read.


Merry Christmas to u and your family.





snowbound

 

If you choose for a clean install, you will get an option to have the HD formatted first.
Dolf
edit: I missed Pieter's links