Formatting on the go

cormie

Hi,
Probably going to Aldi tomorrow to realise the faith of my laptop, I'll either get a refund or else be told to send it to the manufacturer. So if I get a refund, I'm going to want to format it and if I have to take it back home to send it to the manufacturer, I'm going to want to format it, but not then and there.

If I get told I can get a refund I'll probably just say I'm going to nip out to my car to format it and I'll be back in 10 mins.

So what do I do to format the drive before I give it back to them does anyone know?

I have WXP!

Any feedback appreciated:)

cormie

Thanks, do I just download the DBAN CDRW file (2mb) and burn it, then put it in the pc and restart and it does the rest? Is it easy to use? Is that all I have to do?

How do I do the default wipe method if I only have one hard drive (the C drive) on the laptop? Can it be done from setup or somewhere like that or does it have to be done from XP?

Endurance Man

No, u will put the program on a disk. Switch the pc on with the cd in the drive. Go into bios and tell the pc to start the pc from the cdrom. A program will then start before windows and u format . Another easy way if u didnt want to copy a cd is just use a windows cd. Any 1 woud do, just start the computer from it and use there format utility .

cormie

Yeah that's the way I am used to, but does that not then go on to install the Windows software after the format?

Endurance Man

HEHE, just switch it off once its formatted , wont break it.

cormie

Ok I'll try that then.. then what if the manager in Aldi checks it and says "This is just a software issue that it's not booting" and thinks I'm sneakily returning it because of that and saying it's a hardware issue

Endurance Man

Well u could just quickly install a clean copy of windows while u at it. Will take a bit longer, but u can go browse peats while u wait, isnt it next door .

cormie

I'm going to the Tallaght branch
XP installation takes about 40 minutes:( formatting takes about 10. I'll see what the manager says anyway. Formatting is essential anyway, don't want them snooping at my personal crap.

chump

cormie just delete all your personal stuff now or back them up, either way you're going to be getting rid of it tomorrow or else be shipping it off the next day or so... you should resign yourself to backing up now, and chances are you'll be pc-less for a few days unless you have a credit card with a good limit...

I personally think the only way you'll get a refund tomorrow is if you go in all guns blazing and be as strong and trouble making as you possibly can. You mightn't be that type of person so maybe bring someone who is.

I reckon you'll still be lucky to get away with it though.

Sure people could buy a laptop, use it for 9 months, and then bring it back and get a full refund?

They can hardly allow that.

cormie

I'll unleash the beast. Folks, keep away from Aldi Tallaght tomorrow, it wont be pretty. I'm stubborn as them stubborn stains when it comes to this kind of thing, I'll fight till the end. I know what your saying about everyone coming back for a refund though. I doubt that happens and it's certainly not what I'm doing, I'm looking for a replacement laptop of the exact same spec if possible and I'll be damn happy if I get one:)

This laptop has had numerous problems and it's only now I've gotten around to doing something about it. You see, I'm not prepared to give it back to the manufacturer at this time so I don't want to format it yet as I don't want to be pcless for a few days at this moment in time if I don't get the refund.