need help with clean reformat

Langjune · Rated PG Joined: 16 Dec 2005 Posts: 1

my friend told me to reformat my hdd but i have no idea what to do and i need to get it done by tomarrow morning and i cant get in thouch with her, once i get it reformatted i should be able to reinstall windows by myself

**Doctor Feelgood** · Posted: Fri, 16 Dec 2005 08:03:00 Post Subject:

Hi... Easiest way may be to just boot up using your Windows CD, as if you were going to install. The menu will prompt you for a location for the new installation, and it will offer to format your existing partition(s) and let you start fresh all in a few steps.

Kilamon · Rated XXX Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 811

One wonders why you are formatting in the first place? Is this because your friend told you so? You are aware of the ramifications of formatting, right? It's not so easy as just putting in the install CD and doing a fresh install...I mean, there are drivers, the WAP file to save, all of your files to archive, your email/contacts, etc. The list goes on. So, really, when you are asking how to format, and without already knowing what to do, perhaps it would be wisest to take it to a professional for a solid data backup and then do a clean system install? Simply formatting will obliterate your existing data. Think carefully before you act without knowing all the details.