Tutorial: How to reformat your hard drive and install/reinstall Windows

domrix004 · Aug 2, 2011

Help!

I have a questions sirs',..
If i will reformat my laptop.. the OS will also be removed? even though it is built in,, because when i bought my laptop.. it already had a Operating system which is W7,,. and now.. i would want to reformat my laptop....

KINDLY HELP.. PLEASE..
Thanks a lot to whomever you are that's going to help me...=))

joeretired · Aug 2, 2011

I'm in the process of reinstalling XP sp3. Ran into a snag about product key. I had to order a license key. The interesting part about this is the saleswoman told me that when you replace a hard drive as I did, and try the old product key, the mother board indicates that it is invalid, and that a new license is needed. I'm not sure if this true or not but I offer this up in case anyone is fighting the same battle.

mailpup · Aug 2, 2011

Simply replacing the hard drive should not require a new product key. BTW, this information probably doesn't belong in this tutorial thread.

captaincranky · Aug 3, 2011

joeretired said: ↑

I'm in the process of reinstalling XP sp3. Ran into a snag about product key. I had to order a license key. The interesting part about this is the saleswoman told me that when you replace a hard drive as I did, and try the old product key, the mother board indicates that it is invalid, and that a new license is needed. I'm not sure if this true or not but I offer this up in case anyone is fighting the same battle.

Yeah well, it's hard to find good help these days. The reverse is true with pre-built computers and OEM product keys. If the motherboard fails, the corresponding copy of Windows dies with it. Unless, it is replaced with an OEM board of the exact same type, from the original manufacturer. Restore discs will install the OS into whatever HDD it finds, in either IDE Channel 0 master, or the SATA 0 port of the mobo. (Dependend obviously, on the type of HDD interface in use).

One issue you can run into with "tatooed" OEM boards, is sometimes they won't accept a standard Windows disc foe an install, but rather require the factory issued "restore discs", for the exact same model.

Archean · Aug 3, 2011

domrix004 said: ↑

I have a questions sirs',..
If i will reformat my laptop.. the OS will also be removed? even though it is built in,, because when i bought my laptop.. it already had a Operating system which is W7,,. and now.. i would want to reformat my laptop....

KINDLY HELP.. PLEASE..
Thanks a lot to whomever you are that's going to help me...=))

What is the make/model of your notebook? Chances are it may contain a recovery partition containing OS with factory defaults on it, so if this is the case, you can simply use prescribed system recovery and follow the steps described in their material.

aungmoe · Sep 7, 2011

Install Windows 7 on XP laptop

If I would like to reformat my hard drive of the laptop, running Windows XP and install Windows 7, shall I follow the same steps or are there any different steps?

Archean · Sep 7, 2011

If you have a legal copy of Windows 7, there is no issue with going ahead and formating your HDD then installing the OS.

However, please ensure that you have backed up all your necessary data before proceeding with the formating and installation.

hyp40 · Sep 17, 2011

Stuck in reinstall Windows XP

I have followed your instructions - which have been very clear. I am currently stuck as it says "Display Settings - To improve the appearance of visual elements, Windows will automatically adjust your screen resolution." I can't press the OK button as my wireless mouse and keyboard stopped working during the reinstall. Help please!!

BigBadBob · Mar 25, 2012

Bob Roe

Hi,
I am relatively novice and trying to reformat an XP hardrive.

The instructions are fabulous, but I get lost # the Format instruction after hitting ENTER to install Windows on "the unpartitioned space" and do not understand (ntfs) nothing comes up to guide fromatting.

Thanks,
BigBadBob

BigBadBob · Mar 25, 2012

Korrupt

howard_hopkinso said: ↑

No, you don`t need a boot disk, all you need is is your windows cd.

Disconnect from the net and don`t reconnect until Windows is reinstalled and you have installed your firewall software.

You need to do the following.

1 Restart your computer and go to setup usually by pressing the F2 or delete key. Your mobo manual will tell you how to do this.

2 Once you get into setup look for the boot menu and make sure you set it to boot from cd first followed by your hard drive.

3 Put the Windows xp disk into your cd.

4 Now save your settings and exit setup.

5 While your computer is booting you will see a message that says "press any key to boot from cd" press any key.

6 When the welcome to setup screen appears press enter and then press F8 to accept the Microsoft licence agreement.

7 You will be prompted to repair an insallation press the escape key.

8 Now select the partition that you want to reformat and press the D key to delete it you will be asked to confirm that you want to delete the partition.

9 Now press C to create a brand new partition you will be asked what size you want the partition to be in mega bytes. If you just press enter then the partition will be the maximum size that you can have. This is perfectly ok if you don`t want to create multiple partitions.

10 You will now be asked to format the partition select the ntfs file sytem and do a full format.

11 Once the format is complete setup will continue.

Your computer will restart during the remaining setup again you will be asked to press any key to boot from cd DO NOT PRESS ANYTHING. and setup will continue. Once the setup is complete and you are back in Windows remove the Windows cd from your cd drive.

Install your firewall software and reconnect to the net. Install all the drivers you need for your mobo, sound card, graphics card etc and run Windows updates. Finally install your antivirus software and any programmes you want.

Regards Howard

I get lost after coming to hit ENTER to install windows in "unpartitioned space" Nothing comes up for format and not sure what (ntsf) is.
Thanks,
BigBadBob

BigBadBob · Mar 25, 2012

howard_hopkinso

howard_hopkinso said: ↑

No, you don`t need a boot disk, all you need is is your windows cd.

Disconnect from the net and don`t reconnect until Windows is reinstalled and you have installed your firewall software.

You need to do the following.

1 Restart your computer and go to setup usually by pressing the F2 or delete key. Your mobo manual will tell you how to do this.

2 Once you get into setup look for the boot menu and make sure you set it to boot from cd first followed by your hard drive.

3 Put the Windows xp disk into your cd.

4 Now save your settings and exit setup.

5 While your computer is booting you will see a message that says "press any key to boot from cd" press any key.

6 When the welcome to setup screen appears press enter and then press F8 to accept the Microsoft licence agreement.

7 You will be prompted to repair an insallation press the escape key.

8 Now select the partition that you want to reformat and press the D key to delete it you will be asked to confirm that you want to delete the partition.

9 Now press C to create a brand new partition you will be asked what size you want the partition to be in mega bytes. If you just press enter then the partition will be the maximum size that you can have. This is perfectly ok if you don`t want to create multiple partitions.

10 You will now be asked to format the partition select the ntfs file sytem and do a full format.

11 Once the format is complete setup will continue.

Your computer will restart during the remaining setup again you will be asked to press any key to boot from cd DO NOT PRESS ANYTHING. and setup will continue. Once the setup is complete and you are back in Windows remove the Windows cd from your cd drive.

Install your firewall software and reconnect to the net. Install all the drivers you need for your mobo, sound card, graphics card etc and run Windows updates. Finally install your antivirus software and any programmes you want.

Regards Howard

Get lost after step9. Nothing directs me to select format and do not understand (ntsf) file.

Thanks,
BigBadBob

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Tutorial: How to reformat your hard drive and install/reinstall Windows

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