how to wipe clean your computer

[dianered]

hi all i have an old pc with xp on,is there anyway i could wipe my computer and but a new version of windows on my pc is a packard bell it wont let me format the hard drive i do have the master dvd to go with the computer but i want to put a new version on i also have an xp version for any computer but for some reason packard bell will not take it is there anythink out there so i could just wipe it clean and put a new version on many thanks for your help

[Bluebird22]

Run the windows 8 upgrade adviser tool from microsoft.
If your pc is capable of running windows 8 then you can download for ?25 (promo price think till end of January). When installing you will be given option to reformat drive. Make sure you have backed up anything you want onto usb drive or dvd before starting this, or you will lose your data.
As it is an old pc it maybe that there are problems getting windows 8 drivers for your pc.

If you do not want Windows 8 then your Windows XP disc should also let you do a reformat of your drive and reinstall XP. Use the option to do custom install. if it leaves your old windows on it will be marked as seperate partition windows.old. you can do a delete on this after checking your new XP installation works OK.

[dasteph]

hi all i have an old pc with xp on,is there anyway i could wipe my computer and but a new version of windows on my pc is a packard bell it wont let me format the hard drive i do have the master dvd to go with the computer but i want to put a new version on i also have an xp version for any computer but for some reason packard bell will not take it is there anythink out there so i could just wipe it clean and put a new version on many thanks for your help

run the upgrade tool for win7, i would leave 8 alone as reviews on here seem to be unfavourable towards it, also if your pc will run 7 you can get 30 day trial version which you can turn into a full version from this forum.


Download Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from Official Microsoft Download Center

http://www.digital-kaos.co.uk/forums/f94/original-untouched-windows-7-sp1-iso-32-bit-64-bit-220877/

[Canker_Canison]

Don't even think of installing Windows 8. Unless you're under treatment for severe depression & want something to push you over the edge.

You don't have to pay for Windows 7... google 'windows 7 activator'

To wipe your computer & reinstall XP. Just put your XP disk into the computer & restart it. If set correctly, it should give you a prompt to 'press any key to boot from CD'. Then just follow the instructions.

If reinstalling XP, make sure you have the product key first. If not you need to download & use keyfinder before wiping the computer.

[m9g]

deffo DO NOT go for windows H8 - its pants and only worth having if you have a touch screen monitor - your best bet in windows 7 for deffo, failing that stick with XP as its a supurb OS

[Cod3waX]

did u try and format ur hdd while the system was using it ?

as all have said windows 7 will be the best OS to use unless ur machine is to old then would stick with XP

heres a link to d.load win7 http://www.digital-kaos.co.uk/forums...64-bit-220877/

[m9g]

Get hold of windows 7 ^^^^^^^
Burn iso image to dvd (assuming you have a dvd burner)
put dvd in drive of pc you want to put windows 7 on
turn pc on
continually press F8 button until a boot menu appears
choose your dvd drive
pc will re-start and boot from the dvd drive
windows 7 will start installing
when you get to the screen with your hard drive listed on it, highlight hard drive
choose options and then choose format
windows 7 will install

Heres a guide to installing windows - http://www.digital-kaos.co.uk/forums...gineers-57578/

[Hoppy01]

deffo DO NOT go for windows H8 - its pants and only worth having if you have a touch screen monitor - your best bet in windows 7 for deffo, failing that stick with XP as its a supurb OS

A done a clean install on a old clunker the other day with 1 gb ram, Sempron 2ghz cpu, Nvidia geforce 4/ 250mb, 120gb seagate HD and it runs so well with XP on it.
XP is a superb OS, by SP3 it was solid as a rock and fast as ****, when you think about it there are not really that many killer reasons for people to leave XP, apart from MS saying its now old and bad and will stop supporting it in 2014.
A don't think it feels that dated either and for power users its still the daddy.


To the OP, as others have said, avoid 8 as its a complete mess unless you just wanna browse and use Facebook, if you wanna do work its hopeless.
A would never go for a new OS until its first service pack but 8 will need more than that to fix it.
If your pc will take 7 then go for that or do a clean XP install....

[zoomee]

Listen to all you old gits!! Learn to move with the times!!
Windows 8 ain't all that bad. In fact I found it faster and smoother than Windows 7 especially on slightly dated hardware.

Got it running on both my laptop and desktop as the upgrade price (compared to windows 7!) is a no brainer at the moment!. You don't have to have a touch screen to use it!>

Only thing I missed really was my start button but that was easily restored using pokki.

/makes enemies in third post

[mickeyboy]

i like windows 8 also but was missing the start button ,thanks for pointing it out zoomee

[zoomee]

i like windows 8 also but was missing the start button ,thanks for pointing it out zoomee

Theres Start8 aswell bud. Using pokki though as its got a bit more functionality.

Think i missed having My Computer on the desktop most! Soon figured out how to sort that though ( right click desktop, personalisation , desktop icons if i recall correctly)



Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[RobinGill]

I would agree to format the drive, but we don't seem to have any info on why you can't do this.

One method that is easy but probably a bit overkill would be to download dban and put it on a cd. Boot from that and you can properly wipe any drives attached (won't be able to recover anything). Problem is it takes a while as runs a few passes of the whole drive.

[Canker_Canison]

@ Mickyboy & Zoomee.

Don't you think there's something wrong with an o/s when you have to undo changes the developer made for their own reasons? So what will you do when an update removes the start menu you've created?

I bet you both have Iphones


The other day someone I know quite well tried to tell me 8 was amazing. The tile part is your start menu, then you have the normal work area.
I asked him about the settings being split into the two levels & not talking to each other. He said it wasn't a problem.
After pointing out that I don't have to run the XP shell in 7 to install a printer. Where in 8 you have to do that in the second o/s layer, even if your just using the 'start menu tiles'....... I called him the spawn of satan.

Personally I think he's been reading to many 'paid for' good reviews.

[zoomee]

@ Mickyboy & Zoomee.

Don't you think there's something wrong with an o/s when you have to undo changes the developer made for their own reasons? So what will you do when an update removes the start menu you've created?

I bet you both have Iphones


The other day someone I know quite well tried to tell me 8 was amazing. The tile part is your start menu, then you have the normal work area.
I asked him about the settings being split into the two levels & not talking to each other. He said it wasn't a problem.
After pointing out that I don't have to run the XP shell in 7 to install a printer. Where in 8 you have to do that in the second o/s layer, even if your just using the 'start menu tiles'....... I called him the spawn of satan.

Personally I think he's been reading to many 'paid for' good reviews.

It's about converging technologies mate. Whether you or I like it or not unfortunately Microsoft aren't going to just backtrack and say they got it wrong .
The pc is going the way of the dodo and touch centric devices are becoming more common so I can understand why Microsoft are 'transitioning' that way.

I have to agree there's two levels of end user interface but at least those of us who know what we are Doing can revert to gud old windows stylee

Sent from my GT-N8010 using Tapatalk 2

[Canker_Canison]

It's about converging technologies mate. Whether you or I like it or not unfortunately Microsoft aren't going to just backtrack and say they got it wrong .
The pc is going the way of the dodo and touch centric devices are becoming more common so I can understand why Microsoft are 'transitioning' that way.

I have to agree there's two levels of end user interface but at least those of us who know what we are Doing can revert to gud old windows stylee

Sent from my GT-N8010 using Tapatalk 2

I have no doubt the Win8 on tablets & phones will capture a percentage of the market. But they'll never catch up with Android & IOS devices.
The PC side will depend on the end users who get laptops & PC's this christmas. Already knowing how bad it is, I won't be moving away for 7 for quite a few years. But most plebs will suffer with it until they find out they can downgrade to 7 for free.

Do you remember the migration from Vista to XP?

To downgrade Microsoft Windows or Windows Server software, customers must:

• Purchase a PC preinstalled with Windows or Windows Server software.
• Accept the End User Software License Terms.
• Perform the downgrade or authorize a third party to perform it on their behalf.

The downgrade process

Follow these steps to downgrade to a previous version of Windows or Windows Server software:

1. Obtain genuine Windows media and a corresponding product key for the version of Windows that is eligible for downgrade.
   • The media should come from a prior legally licensed version from the OEM or Retail channels.
   • End users who are licensed separately through Microsoft Volume Licensing (VL) may provide their VL media and key to a system builder to facilitate the downgrade on their own systems.
2. Insert the downgrade-eligible version of Windows media in the CD drive and follow the installation instructions.
3. Type the product key.
   • If the software was previously activated, you will not be able to activate it online. In this case, the appropriate local Activation Support phone number will be displayed. Call the number and explain the circumstances. When it is determined that the end user has an eligible Windows license, the customer service representative will provide a single-use activation code to activate the software. Please note that Microsoft does not provide a full product key in this scenario.
4. Activate the software.