I've got a netbook with XP sp3 on it and I've used it a good amount of time but no longer need it. I need to wipe everything off from it and start it over like brand new.
How do I do this ?
How do I do this ?
Use a shredder app. Spybot S&D comes with one
and go to download.com and find the app that overwrites your HDD 10 times over with random data
and go to download.com and find the app that overwrites your HDD 10 times over with random data
Last edited by FloppY_ (2009-08-27 11:01:07)
Your thoughts, insights, and musings on this matter intrigue me
so this well give it a fresh start to the netbook ?
Do you have a cd/dvd drive for it? If so you could just reinstall the os. Theres also a way to install the os off a usb drive.
no, it doesn't have a cd drive
install it off a usb drive ... how do I go about this ?
install it off a usb drive ... how do I go about this ?
Installing off a USB can be a bit complex, but I can't see you doing it any other way.
http://www.vandomburg.net/installing-wi … -from-usb/
That should work.
http://www.vandomburg.net/installing-wi … -from-usb/
That should work.
He could pick up an external DVD drive. They're pretty cheap.Zimmer wrote:
Installing off a USB can be a bit complex, but I can't see you doing it any other way.
http://www.vandomburg.net/installing-wi … -from-usb/
That should work.
what about saving everything to an external HD and wiping the netbook clean ?
Or make a new partition on that drive-one for OS, the other for data. But what you're asking will work also.SEREMAKER wrote:
what about saving everything to an external HD and wiping the netbook clean ?
To wipe it clean you have to use the OS install CD.. but that's a good way for backing up.SEREMAKER wrote:
what about saving everything to an external HD and wiping the netbook clean ?
Meh I realised that, but then I thought any person who can manage to use the internet surely knows how to boot from the recovery partition built into every netbook... didn't think it was something THAT simple someone like Sere would ask forjamiet757 wrote:
This is not at all what he is trying to do, he did not say there was secret data that he needs to destroy, he wants to reinstall windows.FloppY_ wrote:
Use a shredder app. Spybot S&D comes with one
and go to download.com and find the app that overwrites your HDD 10 times over with random data
@OP, you can install windows from a flash drive, google the method I cannot remember how to do it off the top of my head.
EDIT: To install a fresh OS (no need for USB), open windows and mount either a windows 7 iso or create a windows XP/Vista iso from the original DVD and mount that instead.... then choose fresh install from the popup and voilá
the reboot will cause no problem since windows installer will copy everything it needs to the HDD before rebooting...
Last edited by FloppY_ (2009-08-27 14:34:04)
Your thoughts, insights, and musings on this matter intrigue me
I wasn't looking to just boot it from a recovery date ... I want to either destroy everything on the hd and start over like I just bought the thing or remove everything and put just the basics back on but have it set up for whomever buys this can enter their info like its brand newFloppY_ wrote:
Meh I realised that, but then I thought any person who can manage to use the internet surely knows how to boot from the recovery partition built into every netbook... didn't think it was something THAT simple someone like Sere would ask forjamiet757 wrote:
This is not at all what he is trying to do, he did not say there was secret data that he needs to destroy, he wants to reinstall windows.FloppY_ wrote:
Use a shredder app. Spybot S&D comes with one
and go to download.com and find the app that overwrites your HDD 10 times over with random data
@OP, you can install windows from a flash drive, google the method I cannot remember how to do it off the top of my head.
EDIT: To install a fresh OS (no need for USB), open windows and mount either a windows 7 iso or create a windows XP/Vista iso from the original DVD and mount that instead.... then choose fresh install from the popup and voilá
the reboot will cause no problem since windows installer will copy everything it needs to the HDD before rebooting...
No mate, not a recovery date... every laptop these days comes with a partition that is hidden untill you boot from it,,,SEREMAKER wrote:
I wasn't looking to just boot it from a recovery date ... I want to either destroy everything on the hd and start over like I just bought the thing or remove everything and put just the basics back on but have it set up for whomever buys this can enter their info like its brand newFloppY_ wrote:
Meh I realised that, but then I thought any person who can manage to use the internet surely knows how to boot from the recovery partition built into every netbook... didn't think it was something THAT simple someone like Sere would ask forjamiet757 wrote:
This is not at all what he is trying to do, he did not say there was secret data that he needs to destroy, he wants to reinstall windows.
@OP, you can install windows from a flash drive, google the method I cannot remember how to do it off the top of my head.
EDIT: To install a fresh OS (no need for USB), open windows and mount either a windows 7 iso or create a windows XP/Vista iso from the original DVD and mount that instead.... then choose fresh install from the popup and voilá
the reboot will cause no problem since windows installer will copy everything it needs to the HDD before rebooting...
in it you can "recover" the pc to how it came from factory...
EDIT: this is why they have stopped putting recovery discs in the packages of new laptops (which I hate them for)
Last edited by FloppY_ (2009-08-27 14:40:02)
Your thoughts, insights, and musings on this matter intrigue me