Laptop Reformatting

May 19, 2005 3:57 PM

I just got a new used laptop, and it has a lot of error messages showing up, so I want to completely clean it up before I start using it. Is it better to use the manufacturer's Quick Restore discs (Compaq), or to reformat the HD completely and install an operating system clean?

Also, since I'm only kind of computer savvy, how exactly to do I reformat this thing? And what are the steps I take? Any special things I need to do for a laptop?

Also, anyway to convert/update the laptop's 2 USB 1.0 slots to USB 2.0slots?

posted by ruwan to computers & internet (9 comments total)

Install the OS cleanly after a full format. The rescue disks are crappy in my opinion.

You can't convert the USB slots, just get a PCMCIA USB 2.0 card.
posted by riffola at 4:01 PM on May 19, 2005

The OEM discs might have specific drivers for the chipsets the laptop uses (sound, network, usb, etc). I'd give it a go with the standard WinXP install disc (or whatever you're using) and if it fails to recognize some stuff you can always use the quick restore disc later.

As for the process, just pop the disc in and it'll walk you through. I'm assuming you don't care about any of the data on the drive, so just delete the partition on there when the Windows installer gives you the option, make a new one and it'll take care of the rest.

Good luck.
posted by mmcg at 4:07 PM on May 19, 2005

I third the full install option over using the restore discs. I've installed Windows in various incarnations on many different brands of laptops and I've never had a problem getting them to the point where more specific drivers could be installed. Hey, if it really doesn't work, you can always go the restore route (which will end up installing a bunch of Compaq crap).
posted by Dipsomaniac at 4:39 PM on May 19, 2005

Fourthed. Flatten and reinstall. With a laptop it is wise to make sure you have drivers available on a burned CD or some floppies, though, I've found, before the fact. The Compaq (HP?) site should have them for download.

Popping in a bootable WinXP disc will give you the option to format the drive before installing. No real need to format before the install. If you have reasonable HD space, I'd create a, say, 5-10Gb partition for your OS only, and a separate logical drive for storage and programs and such.

First thing you do afterward you've got it all dialed in? Ghost off an image of the OS partition so you can just restore it yourself back to a nice clean state if it goes sideways or crufty on you later (as Windows so often does).
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:31 PM on May 19, 2005

Ditto, reinstall. Perhaps FreeBSD, even, if your computer use is like mine: web, email, torrent, texting, and piddling with drawing/photos.

If installing Windows, there are ways to slipstream a bunch of updates and drivers and suchlike to a burned, bootable installation CD.
posted by five fresh fish at 8:14 PM on May 19, 2005

Compaqs usually come with a QuickRestore disc and a drivers disc. Both Compaq laptops I've had work for shit without those drivers, and having them on that disc makes it easy, but HP keeps a good site for driver downloads, and when you run Windows Update after the XP install, you might see newer drivers available there.

Also, consider setting up two partitions--one for the OS, one for your data--as Stavros says, this probably won't be the last time you format/reinstall.
posted by airguitar at 8:37 PM on May 19, 2005

Compaqs, if my memory serves, usually kept the restore image on a hidden partition. If you decide to install Windoze and NOT use the restore disks; I recommend Low Level formatting the hard drive and running a memory test on the ram. You'll have to download these programs off the net and, install them onto floppies or burn them onto CDs and boot the Compaq up from them. If these programs determine that all is well go ahead install your OS. The low level format utility you will have to download from the manufacture's website (usually seagate, IBM, Western Digital, Fijitsu) you can find out who made your hard drive by A) poking around your laptop and pulling out your hard drive. or B) using the device manager in your current window's instillation (if it's XP).

after running these programs it will certify that your computer is fault free on the devices tested. it's just a good way to cover your ass and make sure your hardware is solid before loading up an OS.
posted by Livewire Confusion at 4:34 AM on May 20, 2005

You should be careful about doing a full format on this computer, unless you know, know, KNOW for a FACT that it will boot off of a CD if there is no OS on the hard drive. I have a laptop (and many are like this) which can only be boot off of either the HD or a external floppy drive.

It far safer to rebuild the machine using the recovery CD. Then you just remove the crap you don't want when it's done.

Do what you want, but since you felt the need to ask such a question due to your self-admitted skill level....you may wish to go the safer route, rather than end up with a dead laptop.
posted by jaded at 5:21 AM on May 20, 2005

Get the drivers for the system before you do the install. Do not use the default Windows-supplied drivers for the laptop, and do not let Windows Update helpfully replace the drivers with the incorrect ones later. The HP/Compaq ones will 100% work with your hardware, and the system will be buggy as hell with generic drivers. For a desktop, not a big deal, but on a laptop you want drivers and utilities from the company that built it.

Personally, I'd just use the WinXP boot disk to kill the existing partition and then make a new NTFS one. Have not had a problem doing so with other laptops, even some relatively old ones. Low-level format, eh. Probably not worth the effort.
posted by caution live frogs at 9:35 AM on May 20, 2005