Question on system recovery

get to the Disk Mgr and look to see if there is a second partition -- if so, it has the recovery stuff in it

Or purchase a Recovery Disc
I believe you should have this Disc, available anyway (in case of HardDisk fail)

I'm sorry,but im a bit of a ***** when it comes to computers.Where is the Disk Mgr?

control panel->Admin Tools -> Comp Manage

expand [+] Storage->Disk Management

Yeh i got 2 things that came up.I think that is it.
So how do i start the reformatting?

If it has a recovery Partition

When you first turn on the computer, you may see a prompt like select F10 to run setup or Recovery, please check for that.

Also there is another prompt that says press DEL (or some other key) to get to BIOS (or CMOS Setup) this is not it

Okay, is there anything I need to know before going into this reformatting?Such as cd keys and such. Also any chance you might know how long it takes?

Your Windows key is stuck on the case

But if you have put any other software on, then you may need to take down those serial numbers
You could also back up any email if possible

So i need a windows key? Which case the box it came in?

Certificate of Authenticity, and product key sticker
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/content.aspx?pg=coa&displaylang=en


You may also use this free program, to show your currently installed key (Windows & Office):
Keyfinder 1.06: http://majorgeeks.com/Keyfinder_Thing_Lite_d5253.html
Or directly here: http://www.bhtproject.org/library/BHT4x/?dir=Utils/&download=JS_Keyfinder_v106.zip
License: Freeware

It says there is only about 2 gigs left on the other parition. I think i am using the second one which has about 140 left. I got my computer repaired by a guy so he may have used the other parition.Can i still reformat?

Yes you can Still Reformat.

It should not affect the reformat in anyways

Okay, pressing f10 did not start the reformatting which key does?
Also do i need any other cd's? i was browsing the fourms and it said i needed a xp cd.
Can you provide steps also? Sorry for being like this i just want a clean fresh system thats all.

kimsland said:

If it has a recovery Partition

When you first turn on the computer, you may see a prompt like select F10 to run setup or Recovery, please check for that.

Click to expand...

I state "like F10" as I do not know how your Recovery Partition has been installed, or how it is accessed (or even if this Partition even is the Recovery partition ??)
You may need to confirm these steps with your Manufacture.
And as I stated earlier, you really should purchase the Recovery CD (if exists for sale) from them. Even if you do have a recovery partition, owning a recovery CD is wiser (ie if the HardDrive fails, so will the recovery partition!)

you can try norton ghost

Norton Ghost (I use this one)
Acronis True Image (most users like this one, images and backup incrementally)
Acronis Migrate Easy (Just disk clone - quite good!)
Drive Image (Basically an alternative)
DriveImage XML (This one is free!)
MaxBlast (I haven't used this, but it's free)

Imaging: Backs up your entire system, including Windows and data, plus your partition as well. The image can be stored on removable media, such as DVD. And usually takes under an hour (depending on size of image) to fully recover to a blank HardDrive.

Okay, i'm hoping this picture helps to see if my partition is a recovery partition.

kimsland said:

Acronis Migrate Easy (Just disk clone - quite good!)

Click to expand...

does it also migrate viruses? if one has them on their hard drive?

Yes that looks too big just to be a diagnostic partition
I believe it is the recovery partition
Please contact the manufacture to ask how to access (and thus, restore from) this recovery partition. I note that the recovery partition is usually Fat32 not NTFS (Fat32 will allow easier Dos access), so this is confusing