Alright. I have a lot of useless junk on my computer. I've defragged a lot and deleted so many programs, it's ridiculous. I'm thinking I just want to wipe my entire computer clean and start fresh. I've saved a few of the most important files on an external hard drive, so I'm not worried about that. The thing is, I don't know how to wipe my computer clean. I'm as computer illiterate as they come, so I don't know how.
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Wiping My Computer
- Thread starter luke
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if you still have the windows disc, set the boot up to make the disc load at the next you turn on the computer and then you do recovery(?(I'm not really sure, all I have is a bunch of acer discs that when you select recovery you format)) and that should format your computer to a fresh new start
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- Age 117
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technically if you can find a download for your OS online you could burn a new installation disc, just remember to use the serial number that should be located on the Windows Geniune sticker on either the back side or under side of your computer.
Or you could go the completely legit way and request a new CD from Microsoft.
as for the actual wipe, itself. that's pretty easy once you boot into the CD/DvD. when it comes to a part about Partitions just delete all partitions and create 1 new one from the empty space (this is if you want to wipe the drive entirely). after reformatting the disc the install should take place and you will be booting into your newly refreshed OS in about an hour and a half, or less.
Or you could go the completely legit way and request a new CD from Microsoft.
as for the actual wipe, itself. that's pretty easy once you boot into the CD/DvD. when it comes to a part about Partitions just delete all partitions and create 1 new one from the empty space (this is if you want to wipe the drive entirely). after reformatting the disc the install should take place and you will be booting into your newly refreshed OS in about an hour and a half, or less.
Last edited:
Chibi-chan
The Freshmaker!
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No, the only you can do online is order a disk.
If you have Vista currently: Open System Restore by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking All Programs, clicking Accessories, clicking System Tools, and then clicking System Restore.
If you have XP: Click Start, click Control Panel, click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System. In the System Properties dialog box, on the System Restore tab, use the slider to increase the allocated disk space, and then click OK.
If you have an HP computer:From the Windows XP desktop, click Start, All Programs, and then HP Tools. Select HP PC System Recovery. The Recovery screen will appear with the question Do you really want to start HP PC System Recovery? Click Yes, to continue the recovery process. When the Recovery screen appears, click Next, and then click Yes to perform a normal, non-destructive recovery.
All of these options will completely erase everything you have on your computer except for the files it came with D: So...if you had XP and upgraded to Vista, you'll only have XP again. I recently had to start from scratch because I broke my own computer and I'm really not missing the majority of files I lost XD; Just make sure you backup the files you need.
If you have Vista currently: Open System Restore by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking All Programs, clicking Accessories, clicking System Tools, and then clicking System Restore.
If you have XP: Click Start, click Control Panel, click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System. In the System Properties dialog box, on the System Restore tab, use the slider to increase the allocated disk space, and then click OK.
If you have an HP computer:From the Windows XP desktop, click Start, All Programs, and then HP Tools. Select HP PC System Recovery. The Recovery screen will appear with the question Do you really want to start HP PC System Recovery? Click Yes, to continue the recovery process. When the Recovery screen appears, click Next, and then click Yes to perform a normal, non-destructive recovery.
All of these options will completely erase everything you have on your computer except for the files it came with D: So...if you had XP and upgraded to Vista, you'll only have XP again. I recently had to start from scratch because I broke my own computer and I'm really not missing the majority of files I lost XD; Just make sure you backup the files you need.
Joey the Cockroach
Dino Crisis will never die!!!!
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Does your computer have System Recovery? You could always try that, and it will go back to when you first bought it. If not, then I don't know.
I won't be telling you anything new in terms of actually going about getting a new disk - that has already been pretty well covered. I just want to point out that System Restore will not do what you're looking for. System Restore uses "checkpoints" that it creates to restore critical settings that may become damaged - things like your registry and certain aspects of the Program Files folder. Basically, it's a simplified way to completely back out a change you may have made like installing some software that ended up also giving you a virus. It will never touch any of your actual files though.