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formatting the C:

  • 09-03-2007 10:24pm
    #1
    joe123
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,535 ✭✭✭


    Ive done this before with an old pc that had loads of virus' on it and it worked fine. Recently though a friends pc has become unuseable because of the fact its full of spyware and the likes. I only looked at it for a second but I cant remember how to format a pc. If someone can remind me how to do this. Its a dell pc btw if that makes any difference. Its not done the same way as my old one anyways because I tried that....thanks in advance.


Comments

  • #2
    aidan_walsh
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,208 ✭✭✭✭aidan_walsh


    You won't be able to format C from within Windows - because Windows is usually installed on that partition.

    You will either have to clear the virus using AV tools, or reinstall Windows.


  • #3
    Ruu_Old
    Closed Accounts Posts: 36,634 ✭✭✭✭Ruu_Old


    Are they going to reinstall Windows on it? You can reformat and reinstall that way using the XP CD. Typing 'format c:' will work at DOS prompt. Link here. Make sure to get any files off there you might want to keep if possible.


  • #4
    joe123
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,535 ✭✭✭joe123


    Yeah its on the prompt i cant remember. What exactly do you do to get the prompt to come up where you can type in format c: ?

    I only looked at it for a minute but I couldnt seem to get the prompt to come up where it lets you type on the dos screen. Think it said f12 for setup and f2for bios or something along those lines....

    ill reinstall all the stuff needed like the os graphics etc..


  • #5
    AdMMM
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,472 ✭✭✭AdMMM


    Whenever I wanted to format my c: drive, I entered the recovery console using my XP cd and formatted it from there. In order to have the XP CD boot, you must enter the setup (F12) and change the boot order to have the CD drive ahead of the C: drive.


  • #6
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,583 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    If you want to WIPE the ENTIRE drive you can use the dban disk http://dban.sourceforge.net

    switch off PC
    pop the disk in ( floppy or make a CD )
    switch on PC
    follow instructions on the screen

    any and all data on the disk will be wiped , gone forever ( unless the drive controller has hidden some damaged sectors )

    [edit] actually better not - you would loose the F12 Dell partition if iit's still tehre


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  • #7
    Blowfish
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,112 ✭✭✭Blowfish


    Capt'n Midnight wrote:
    [edit] actually better not - you would loose the F12 Dell partition if iit's still tehre
    If you have the dell resource CD it doesn't matter, its all the same software.


  • #8
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,583 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    Blowfish wrote:
    If you have the dell resource CD it doesn't matter, its all the same software.
    if you have the CD ;)

    That really annoys me about , they ship CD's that you will probably never need, but the OS CD that you do (windows half life) they charge extra for. :mad:


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