Guest ExplicitYourSelf Posted August 26, 2008 Posted August 26, 2008 First of all im following this step by step tutorial at http://helpdesk.its.uiowa.edu/windows/instructions/reformat.htm and im concerned where it says to delete any existing partitions. Do i delete all of them or what do i do. I pretty much just want to re-install my pc and have it as if i just bought it. Thanks.
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted August 26, 2008 Posted August 26, 2008 Re: Reformating my pc quick question... "ExplicitYourSelf" <u45703@uwe> wrote in message news:89396311fad7c@uwe... > First of all im following this step by step tutorial at > http://helpdesk.its.uiowa.edu/windows/instructions/reformat.htm and im > concerned where it says to delete any existing partitions. Do i delete all > of > them or what do i do. I pretty much just want to re-install my pc and have > it > as if i just bought it. > > Thanks. Yes, you can delete your existing partitions, unless you wish to preserve some data that you keep on a partition other than the one where you wish to install windows.
Guest John Barnett MVP Posted August 26, 2008 Posted August 26, 2008 Re: Reformating my pc quick question... If you are re-installing XP from scratch the only partition that needs deleting is the C: partition. Any other partitions you have probably created yourself and will contain your valuable data (of course these other partitions, if there are any, can be deleted after XP has been installed by opening control panel, clicking the administrative tools icon and then selecting computer management followed by disk management.) Just concentrate on deleting the C: drive/partition. It isn't a necessity, of course, to delete this partition because XP will over-write any files that are on the C: drive/partition but deleting the C: drive/partition and reformatting in NTFS does make for a cleaner install. -- -- John Barnett MVP Associate Expert Windows Desktop Experience Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy, reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this mail/post.. "ExplicitYourSelf" <u45703@uwe> wrote in message news:89396311fad7c@uwe... > First of all im following this step by step tutorial at > http://helpdesk.its.uiowa.edu/windows/instructions/reformat.htm and im > concerned where it says to delete any existing partitions. Do i delete all > of > them or what do i do. I pretty much just want to re-install my pc and have > it > as if i just bought it. > > Thanks.
Guest Twayne Posted August 26, 2008 Posted August 26, 2008 Re: Reformating my pc quick question... > First of all im following this step by step tutorial at > http://helpdesk.its.uiowa.edu/windows/instructions/reformat.htm and im > concerned where it says to delete any existing partitions. Do i > delete all of them or what do i do. I pretty much just want to > re-install my pc and have it as if i just bought it. > > Thanks. Well, "existing patritionS" would mean all of them. But ... if you have you backup/recovery/restore partition on the disk, you're going to lose it that way. If you don't have an XP installation disk or recovery disks, don't wipe out the partition that holds them. Be sure you know what you're doing! HTH
Guest HeyBub Posted August 26, 2008 Posted August 26, 2008 Re: Reformating my pc quick question... ExplicitYourSelf wrote: > First of all im following this step by step tutorial at > http://helpdesk.its.uiowa.edu/windows/instructions/reformat.htm and im > concerned where it says to delete any existing partitions. Do i > delete all of them or what do i do. I pretty much just want to > re-install my pc and have it as if i just bought it. > 1. You can't go wrong by NOT deleting any partitions. 2. If you DO delete partitions, you run the risk of destroying your data and destroying the recovery partition placed there by the manufacturer. THEREFORE, delete partitions if and only if you a) Have no data you wish to retain, AND b) Are reinstalling from a DISTRIBUTION CD (it says on the CD "Genuine Microsoft Stuff" or words to that effect).
Guest Lil' Dave Posted August 27, 2008 Posted August 27, 2008 Re: Reformating my pc quick question... "ExplicitYourSelf" <u45703@uwe> wrote in message news:89396311fad7c@uwe... > First of all im following this step by step tutorial at > http://helpdesk.its.uiowa.edu/windows/instructions/reformat.htm and im > concerned where it says to delete any existing partitions. Do i delete all > of > them or what do i do. I pretty much just want to re-install my pc and have > it > as if i just bought it. > > Thanks. If your PC or laptop has a recovery scheme, that will do all that for you. Use that instead. On homegrown PCs, my personal preference is to zero write the hard drive with software from the hard drive manufacturer first. This results in a pristine clean hard drive for XP install to work with, assuming the hard drive does not have excess defective areas. -- Dave
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