Another Computer Question.

[AJ]

I have gone though and reinstalled windows on several occasions to try and clean shit up, but no matter what I can always find old files and thus always continue to get pop up ads with programs like IE. I don't use IE for everyday shit anymore, but online classes that I have aren't compatable with Firefox.

I want to be able to have EVERYTHING on my comp whipped out. So it's like getting the computer brand new from Dell.

[Jakey]

I'm not much of a computer guy but isn't there a difference between reinstalling Windows and reformatting your HD? I had a buddy of mine reformat my computer a couple months back and it cleaned up my hard drive immensely. All I did was transfer everything I wanted saved to an external hard drive.

[JET]

Well, it won't wipe everything but SP2 blocks ALL pop-ups. It is really sweet and I haven't had an issue with either my home computer (XP home), laptop (XP pro) or work computer (XP home).

[Raptor]

If you re-install windows without formatting the hard drive it only overwrites the files it is installing, it doesn't go through and erase stuff that shouldn't be there or cookie files or otherwise. Formatting is the right way to reinstall in the case you are describing. Back up whatever files you consider important and if you want to make sure there is no question, go to a command prompt and type format C: let it finish and you will have a freshened disk ready to install windows like it was never there.

[AJ]

Well here I go, should be back online in a hour or so hopefully.

[AJ]

Ok, it wouldn't let me run that. Gave me some error about the volume being in use by another program. Fucking Gay? Now what?

[Raptor]

reboot, hold the <f8> key at the beginning and choose command prompt only then run it. It is just a way to be absolutely certain it was formatted. The OS install disk should give you the option to format the disc as one of the first screens anyway.

[LightningGSX]

If you continue to have issues I can send you GWSCAN.You just put it on a floppy, reboot with it in the drive, it will run a full diagnostic and some performance tests on the harddrive and then write zero's to the whole drive.Its very easy, even if you don't have a clue what you're doing.

EDIT: You can download it here too
http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers/getFile.asp?id=19707&uid=73564923

[LightningGSX]

I want to be able to have EVERYTHING on my comp whipped out.
That would be "wiped" by the way

[JustROLLIN]

Allan, I just reformatted last night. When it shows you the partitions, highlight the partition and hit "D." It will then ask what style of format you would like. Go with the NTFS, but not the "quick" version. Takes a good 20-30 mins to format it, but I have nothing from the past still on my HD. Then go ahead and load your XP or whatever OS you are using.