Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with reformat

How can I re-install Windows?

eightball — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 20:04:47 -0800

Trying to reformat a PC. I've had this Dell which has given me nothing but problems since I bought it. Can anyone help me figure out how to wipe it and re-install XP? Degree of difficulty inside... I'm cool with completely wiping this thing and starting from scratch. I have a Windows XP DVD which Dell provided with the PC when I bought it.

Here are the issues:

The reason I need to reformat is that Windows won't start. I get a blue screen which has this error: "A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer. DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL"

I can't start windows in safe mode. I get a screen full of errors such as: multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\xxxxxx.sys and so on...

I have 2 options before windows tries to start: BOOT MENU and SET UP

BOOT MENU gives me the option to attempt to boot from "Onboard USB or CD-ROM" or "Onboard SATA Hard Drive"
However I have a DVR of the Windows OS so neither of those works.

When I go into SETUP and select 'System -> Boot Sequence' the DVR drive is not listed as an option.

So, I am out of ideas. How can I wipe this thing and install windows from the DVD if I can't even get it to recognize the DVD? I really have no clue.

I know there are plenty of other places online where I could ask this question but wading through all of the Windows questions on Google is a bit too much. I have confidence in the hive mind here. Help! Thanks in advance for any advice.

Extra Windows Installations

rossination — Fri, 22 May 2009 12:26:24 -0800

Help me get rid of my extra Windows 7 installations! While installing Windows 7 on my Asus eeepc (with a HDD, not a SSD), I accidentally installed the OS three times -- I didn't realize that the boot order hadn't been switched back, so each time when it restarted back to the thumb drive I was using to install, I hit "new installation" and put another copy on.

Now, when I start my computer up I get a system screen asking me to choose which OS to boot into: Windows 7, Windows 7, or Windows 7. Obviously, I would like to get rid of the second two.

What's the easiest way to do this? I haven't used Windows in a while, and I'm pretty unfamiliar with the command line, but I can follow directions as well as anyone. Ideally, I would like to not have to reformat and re-install, but that's not a huge deal if it's my only option.

HOW IMAXED THE WATCHMEN IS

mwhybark — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:00:25 -0800

Has anyone seen both the IMAX and general-release versions of Watchmen? -> I'm trying to decide which version to see and searching Google for direct comparisons, clearly stating how the IMAX version differs from the large-release version, is, well, let's just say it's not something that runs like clockwork.

SPECIFICALLY:

was the IMAX version recomposited to fit the IMAX aspect ratio (a la Apollo 13 IMAX)?,

OR

was the film been treated more like the recent Dark Knight film?

The Dark Knight II Electric Boogaloo (or whatever the official title may be) was shown in the standard wide screen ratio until certain set-piece FX sequences were presented in the IMAX format and once the set-piece sequence was completed the film returned to the standard ratio.

Please to hope me, film geeks!

Help me love Vista until I go to 7

london302 — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:34:19 -0800

Struggling with slow Windows notebook running Vista. (Downgrading to XP is not an option unless free). Please tell me if my strategy to keep Vista fast will work:
1. Partition disk into 3 or more partitions (X, Y and Z)

2. Install Vista and whatever other basic software I need in partition X, all data files (doc, xls, pdfs etc) on Y and the image of this fresh install on Z (and save a backup).

3. When it gets slow, reboot from Z, use data from Y and copy the image from backup to formatted X......then do the reverse when this set up slows down. This way I have a stand alone computer with all I need ever!

Did I go wrong somewhere? If so any ideas that work?

Any other tips of making and keeping vista fast will also be appreciated.

Thanks

PS: Not a question for debate on how good Apple is.

How to best procedurally backup and reformat a Macbook with Leopard?

rbf1138 — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:16:48 -0800

How to best procedurally backup and reformat a Macbook with Leopard? My 2 year old Macbook has started giving me issues such as really sluggish/bad framerates while watching any type of video, complete system crashes, etc. I can't really attribute the issues to any specific application or plugin, and while I see spikes in Activity Monitor when Quicktime, Firefox, etc. are open, they shouldn't be hitting the levels and rendering the system as slow as it is becoming. I have 2 gigs of ram, so that's not really an issue.

In any case, I'm going to go ahead and do a refresh, by backing up and then reformatting. I'm wondering what the smoothest, cleanest way to do this is. I have a drive dedicated to Time Machine, and I know of things like SuperDuper, etc. However, I want to ensure my new install is as clean as possible and wont come with whatever issues may be giving me trouble right now. What install/format type do I want to do with my Leopard disc? How can I best backup my Firefox bookmarks/settings/plugins, etc.? How can I be sure not to lose any media in my Library folders? How can I best load all of my files and settings back onto the clean install?

Making Chapbook/Zine! Need help on how to format Microsoft Word! Please help

goalyeehah — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:32:59 -0800

I am making a chapbook/zine that needs to be completed by noon on Thursday. I need help on how to format Microsoft Word so I can get the job done, printed and out to public. I am just finishing an 8 week writing class where we finish by making our own chapbook. I need to be taken through on how to adjust Microsoft Word so that I can format my writings so that I can print the them out and cut and paste together a mock version of the chapbook itself.

This info is not available in the text. I am actually in an advance class where they do not have to make chapbooks so the teacher did not instruct me how to do it in the last session.

Help!

Clean me up, Scotty!

rhoticity — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:47:51 -0800

What's the best way to erase my hard drive for resale if I don't have original OS reinstall CDs to work with? I have a 1.5 year old Dell laptop running Windows XP SP2 which I'm selling in the next couple of weeks (getting a Macbook... YESSSS). I'm going to make an attempt to sell it here on campus or through Craigslist before I try other methods, and so as soon as I transfer everything I want to keep over to my new computer, I want to clean the hard drive off as well as I can. The problem is that, in a misguided money-saving attempt when I first ordered the Dell, I did not request physical Windows XP reinstall CDs. Obviously I cannot just completely reformat the hard drive, then, since I will have no way of reinstalling the OS.. right? What do I do to get this thing ready to sell to a stranger?

For the record, there's nothing terribly "sensitive" on here, just personal/academic documents and photos, but I'd rather get it as clean as possible just in case some total weirdo gets a hold of it.

Any other tips on dealing with the less-than-stellar electronics resale market would also be appreciated.

Reformat Pocket PC w/ Linux?

honorguy7 — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:37:23 -0800

I own a HP rz1715 Pocket PC 2003 ed. I would love to use this device to run Linux or something other than Windows. It has a SD expansion slot so I can increase the memory from 32MB to over 1GB if needed. Thoughts?

Where is my Calendar?

MrMulan — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 06:29:41 -0800

Can an Outlook contact file be recovered after the HD has been wiped and the OS is reinstalled? So I did a favor for a coworker. Sat with her while she told me what she needed saved and transferred, pictures, her documents, and her iTunes.
I said if that was all, she said yes. I told her when I reinstalled the OS, she wouldn't be able to get anything else back. She seemed hesitant, so I asked her if there was anything else. She looked for her pics and music and said no.
Now she wants to know why she doesn't have her Outlook calendar and contacts. I told her it was gone, and she was very upset.
I saved everything from her My docs, but I know the file she needs was in another directory.
Hopeless?

external hard-drive cross-platform file retrieval?

MNDZ — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 15:29:55 -0800

I have a Mac, my friend has a PC, we want to share music with an external hard drive. However, upon connecting the hard drive to his PC we discovered that the hard drive is formatted for a Mac, so we can't access the drive without reformatting and losing all the files. Is there a program that retrieves info without having to reformat?

Computer Protection Over-Kill

Smarson — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 11:08:37 -0800

What are effective anti-virus and anti-spyware programs that work in harmony? I recently attempted to save a relative's computer from the depths of virus and spyware hell (a foolish attempt, I know) and not only failed, but also managed to turn the laptop into an authoritarian regime of "you sure you wanna execute that program???" x infinity.

Needless to say the computer's hard drive will undergo a reformatting shortly (what I should have done in the first place). However, once that is completed, what melange of anti-virus and anti-spyware programs should I look into that will play nice together?

Here is a list of programs I had running simultaneously which not only bogged down the poor laptop's processor, but also objected to nearly everything you tried to do on the computer except empty the recycle bin.

*ad-aware - Love this program and have used it since college

*Spybot - Search & Destroy - Had heard good thing about this program but never used it until recently

*ewido anti-spyware - This was something I found recommended here on AskMeFi, but it would often go nuts when activated and want to go total war on everything from temp files to cookies.

*smitRem - Was using this to try and get rid of the dreaded SpywareQuake

*ToolBar Cop - Was instructed to use this in combination with smitRem to get rid of SpywareQuake

*Kaspersky Anti-Virus 6.0 - Downloaded this also on suggestions from MeFi users and it too seemed to like to freak out attack anything that moved. It seemed a little trigger happy and actually deleted some executables that disabled explorer (I've since sold said relative on the glories of firefox).

*ClamWin Anti-Virus - I'm a huge fan of opensource stuff and I'd heard raving reviews about this program so I added it to the party. I think it does a great job, but it's scans took for.ev.er. I left it on over-night and still had to wait until noon the next day. Ever more frustrating, once it was finished, it didn't give an option to delete the identified threatening files (at least no option I could find).

Bottom line: With the newly reformatted hard drive, what combination of these (or other programs) could I use to combat spyware/ malware and protect against viruses without sparking a turf war?

Can/should I reformat my Mac?

schwap23 — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 16:02:52 -0800

Similar to a previous question, but for a Mac: how do I reformat my hard drive if I don't have the correct system disks? see inside for further details Really all I want to do is break down the partitions that the previous owner of this computer put up. (there were valid reasons to make three equal size partitions then, but no longer) I have some system disks (iMac Applications and iMac Software Restore) but I don't think they are what I need, and I believe the OS has been updated since those disks were last used. (it's running 10.2.8 right now, which is also the latest that this hardware will support) There are also occasional 'ownership' issues that I think only a reformat will take care of properly. (I can't completely remove the previous owner's profile and my attempts at editing it won't take)

Please note: my technical skills are not top of the line. I can follow directions, and even understand the implications most of the time, but I won't get anywhere but lost if I don't have a map. What I'm looking for here is not that map, but more a sense whether what I am asking (a) makes sense and (b) is possible and (c) directions as to where to find more complete help.

how can i recover my data?

willmillar — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 21:44:23 -0800

i lost a partition in a reformat, but the data is still on my harddrive. i want to get the data off. i have r-studio, but not enough disk space on the existing partition to put the other data on it, and i thought i shouldn't create a new partition to put the data on, as that could mess up remaining data. i don't have an external harddrive. is there any way i can safely get the data off? thanks! im using xp sp2 home, by the way

Re-connect to HDs after XP re-format

panoptican — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 16:41:16 -0800

In an emergency situation, facing a serious deadline, Windows decides to stop working. Not knowing what else to do, I reformat the harddrive. Crisis averted. Now, how do I re-connect to my second and third harddrives? I can see them, but I only get the option of formatting the harddrives completely thus losing all data. They work(ed) fine. One is a SATA and one is an IDE. Both only have data (music on one, videos on the other). I have a feeling there are some steps I should have taken to make this process a breeze, but like I said, it was an emergency and I didn't take much time to figure it out. Thanks for your help.

Computer specs: Windows XP (which is installed on C), two additional harddrives H and I. H is a Seagate Baracuda SATA drive. I is a Maxtor drive of some sort.

Magic Folders hosed my computer?

sian — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 22:34:58 -0800

My computer is hosed. I installed Magic Folders at the suggestion of Ask Mefi and now I can't start it whatsoever. Compaq Presario 2199US laptop.

I installed the program, hid a few folders and exited the program. My computer froze up and I had to hit the power button to restart. When I booted up again, I found the loading window to lead to a blue screen error and then my computer rebooted (only to lead back to this screen and another reboot and so on...)

I managed to stop the auto reboot and paused on the error message, the most important part of which included:

STOP: 0x0000008e

mfx.sys Address FF77602FF base at F775F00 DateStamp 43fb6892

The geniuses at PC Magic advise to boot in safe mode or last known good configuration, but I can't do either as they both lead to the same error and reboot.

So is my computer hosed? I know I could quite easily reformat, but I haven't got a clue where my Windows CD is and I'd rather not lose a year's worth of photography, music and homework (I guess I haven't backed up in a while.)

please help a mac user format a hard drive using windows.

Silky Slim — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 03:43:53 -0800

please help a mac user format a hard drive using windows. i'll try to keep this as short as possible.
i have an 80gb hard drive i want to use in an mp3 player (xclef hd-500).
i bought the mp3 player used, with a 40gb drive in it, and it works great. i had the 80gb drive formatted as fat32 ahead of time, but when i placed it in the player, the screen said "no partition". i e-mailed digmind tech support and their reply was that fat32 by itself isn't enough; i'm also to make it a primary partition and assign it a drive letter. so i copied all the files off the 80gb drive to reformat.
i have access to a pc right now, so i thought i'd format the drive using an external usb2 enclosure, but i can't get this pc to recognize the drive.
so my options as i see them are:
1. somehow install a driver on the pc so it can see the drive and format it using partition magic or something;
2. format the drive on my mac using a mac program;
3. format the drive on my mac using my virtual pc.
4. give in and have a pc tech do this for me.
help me find the right path! thanks.

Installed Programs List

graventy — Fri, 20 May 2005 09:00:57 -0800

Is there a quick and easy way to generate a list of all of the programs I have installed on my WinXP computer? I'm doing some updating to my computer, and moving to a larger hard drive. And so I want a printed list of the crap I had installed on the older drive.

Any way to get files off a computer that will not start up?

oflinkey — Sat, 26 Feb 2005 13:20:10 -0800

Is there a way to access files on a hard drive from another computer? Husband's computer has taken a huge dump, and he cannot start up in anything-- safe mode, with the startup disk, etc. He has decided that he has to reformat. The problem is there are a few files he had not had a chance to back up yet, as the dumpage was immediate and quite sudden. The files are Works files, bitmaps, (he is a teacher and some of these are diagrams, etc.) a few MP3's, and so on. Is there any way possible to get them off the computer and onto mine, say?

We are not particularly tech-y, so I looked where I could on the vastness of the Internet, and understood very little. I beseech the gentle computer-wise among you to help explain as if you were speaking to a 5 year old.

Reinstalling WinXP

LouMac — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 07:30:42 -0800

After a few hours of Google researching over the weekend, I could not find a simple, understandable guide for formatting my hard drive and re-installing Windows XP. I'm more interested in the actual process and less interested in being reminded to "backup everything." Does anyone know where I can find such a resource?