Filed under: Clean Up Computer
How can I wipe my computer clean of all the information currently stored on it and start from scratch?
May 18, 2011
7 thoughts on “How can I wipe my computer clean of all the information currently stored on it and start from scratch?”
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Clean Registry and Optimize PC
Call Dell they can sell you the XP disk for about $30 to use with your license key label on your case.
You can also find you XP license key using Belarc Advisor. It will also list your Dell service tag number
Run Belarc Advisor
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
00-2094_4-10561260.html?tag=lst-0-1
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When you reinstall Windows you will need to install all the drivers for your modem, computer/motherboard; video card; sound card; network card; printer; scanner; mouse; web cam; etc.
How to update a Windows hardware driver
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial119.html
To find drivers:
Google the manufacturer’s name and go to the manufacturer’s site for you computer/motherboard; video card; sound card; network card; printer; scanner; mouse; web cam; etc. Each site will have a support section to find the latest drivers and download them. You will need to know the make and model number. If you do not know the make and model number run Belarc Advisor and look in Windows Device Manager.
Belarc Advisor
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
Dell might also be able to sell you the driver disks. You can download all the Dell drivers for you computer from the Dell Website. You will need your Dell service tag number. After formatting you probably will not be able to connect to the internet without the Ethernet; Wireless; or dial up modem drivers, download them now and burn them to a disk.
http://support.dell.com/support/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen
Sites that analyze your computer for required drivers and charge a fee to allow you to download the drivers.
http://driveragent.com/?ref=86
http://www.driverguide.com/
http://www.drivershq.com/
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When you format all your information will be lost. Back up your computer now.
Install BackRex Internet Explorer Backup (free)
http://www.backsettings.com/internet-explorer-backup.html
It allows you to backup favorites, history, proxy settings, fonts, dialup accounts, autocomplete passwords and cookies.
Install Firefox Extension Backup Extension (FEBE) CLEO
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2109
FEBE backs up your extensions, themes, and (optionally) your bookmarks, preferences, passwords, cookies and just about everything else Firefox offers.
Create a directory such as "Firefox Backup" and "IE7 Backup" for each browsers backup data in your "My Documents Folder". This way whenever you backup you files you will also backup your browsers settings. Repeat logged as each user.
Run Belarc Adviser: Print out results.
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
Locate all your drivers and software disks and keys.
Read the following prior to reformatting:
Pre Flattening Checklist
http://blog.angrypets.com/2006/01/ultimate_prefla.html
Reformat The Hard Drive
http://www.thefuhrmans.com/reformat_hd.htm
Reformat: Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313348
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/winxp/install.mspx
http://www.whitecanyon.com/reformat-the-hard-drive-in-windows-xp.php
http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/l0910/32l10/32l10.asp
Many computers made in the last few years (including both my laptop and my desktop) have a separate partition on the hard drive containing the pre-installed software. During the boot-up process it should give you the option to either boot normally or boot to the recovery partition. If it does, follow the instructions you will get there to reformat and reinstall the software (including Windows). If you don’t have that partition, you will have to find a Windows CD to reinstall with. If you purchased the computer new and the CD was not included with it, contact Dell and request a new one.
Do you still have the receipts and dates from when you bought your computer? If you do, you can call Dell up and see if they will send you replacement discs for your computer. Even if you don’t, call them up and ask them if you can re-purchase a copy of those discs. It may be that all you need to do is provide them the service tag number on the laptop to show that you own it. This may be the cheapest route.
If that does not work, then you probably have to invest in buying another copy of Windows XP. But before you do this, you said you wanted to have a clean PC again… try going to Add/Remove programs and remove everything that is not needed, strip the computer bare by removing all the programs you installed over the years. See if that would speed up your systems. Make sure to back up everything important first.
Good luck!
You could reformat the hard drive to clean it off completely, but unless you have the discs to reinstall the operating system, you have a useless computer. You have 2 choices: 1. Buy a copy of windows, reformat your hard drive, and reinstall the OS. or 2. Clean it off as best you can, and live with it as-is.
Before you do anything to your computer, you need those disks. Try bringing it to a computer specialist so that they can erase your harddrive and reinstall XP.
By the way, you should be able to buy XP still. If you look around, I’m sure you’ll find it.
reformated
By Looking at your picture, it looks like you could eat the mother board and hard drive in about 5 bites, and then buy a new one and replace it.
This Should Work.