Reformating Computer?

[ViPeR5679]

Originally Posted by Sam

five minutes from you and 2-8 hours from others...

If you dont do a quick format it may take about an hour depending on your computer's speed. Just do a quick format to NTFS will be 1-5 minutes.

[Darth Ledet]

Sam, if you are wanting a fresh install, do the longer format, takes about 2-3 hours to complete the job, and make your box run much smoother, with less hiccups.

You'll need to back up your files, have a operating software disk of your choice, and follow the instructions, it's alot easier than it sounds.

One of the most important things are to install the correct drivers back into your computer, start with your Bios first, then move to your Mobo, so on and so on.

[pparks1]

Seems like we are talking about 2 different things.

I wouldn't suggest anything but a quick format. You don't get any additional performance by doing a long format. You setup the quick format during the installation of Windows XP.

The quick format takes less than 1 minute.

The reinstall of the OS takes about 30-40 minutes...Depending upon the speed of your computer.

the other couple of hours is the time it takes to reinstall all of your other software.

[Sam]

Bios, crap. I remeber when i was building it there was a problem installing the bios.

[ViPeR5679]

When you choose to run a regular format on a volume, files are removed from the volume that you are formatting and the hard disk is scanned for bad sectors. The scan for bad sectors is responsible for the majority of the time that it takes to format a volume.

If you choose the Quick format option, format removes files from the partition, but does not scan the disk for bad sectors. Only use this option if your hard disk has been previously formatted and you are sure that your hard disk is not damaged.

If you installed Windows XP on a partition that was formatted by using the Quick format option, you can also check your disk by using the chkdsk /r command after the installation of Windows XP is completed.

[ViPeR5679]

Originally Posted by Sam

Bios, crap. I remeber when i was building it there was a problem installing the bios.

You should not have a problem with the bios. When building you must configure your bios but you have done that already so you wont have to deal with the bios unless your updating the version of it. You will need to install the board's drivers though which came with your MB or just go to their web site and download the drivers from there if you dont have it any longer. Finding drivers is not hard as long as you have the model and manuf. of it.

[Goblin]

Originally Posted by benniemc

Oh. My. God.

Try this: How to Reinstall Windows Without Losing Your Data
or this: PC World - Step-By-Step: Reinstall Windows

Oh. My. God. He wants to reformat, not reinstall, einstein.

Originally Posted by Sam

Bios, crap. I remeber when i was building it there was a problem installing the bios.

You don't have to install the BIOS, it comes preinstalled on your motherboard. Reformating your hard drive doesn't affect BIOS or its settings. No need to mess with it. All i ever do with mine is mess around with overclocking and sometimes install an update while i'm at it.

Sorry if i'm missing something, i've only read the first and last replies

[Sam]

So i just reformat PC
Then Install windows
then all my programs?

[Rob]

^Yep.
Make sure you back up all your important files first. (The Windows installation will probably create a folder with these in called 'windows.old' or 'My old disk structure' but better safe than sorry!)

Assuming you have a full install CD/DVD then the installation process will give you the option to format the volume you want to use.

[Sam]

I will back up all my old files. No matter what. Thank you guys for all the help.
Just learnt something new today.