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Reformatting XP

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by cschuck, 2011/03/24.

  1. 2011/03/24
    cschuck

    cschuck Inactive Thread Starter

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    I need to reformat my Sony laptop. It appears to have several viruses. If I try to do a quick reformat it won't let me. Should I just use my XP disc and do a new installation right over the current one.
    Thanks,
    Colleen
     
    cschuck,
    #1
  2. 2011/03/24
    retiredlearner

    retiredlearner SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Hi Colleen, I would suggest that you Post in the Malware and Virus Forum and clean up your laptop as probably would like to retain info you have on your Hard Drive.
    If you Format, I think you will lose everything. You may have to wait for the Malware Specialist but it's my first option. Cheers Neil.
     
    retiredlearner,
    #2


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  4. 2011/03/25
    cschuck

    cschuck Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi Neil,
    There is nothing on it that I want to save....so it would be a lot easier to just reinstall XP.
    Thanks,
    Colleen
     
    cschuck,
    #3
  5. 2011/03/25
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    What happens/doesn't happen when you try? Do you get an error message?

    You might want to consider deleting the partition(s) then recreate it/them and then format.
     
    Steve R Jones,
    #4
  6. 2011/03/25
    cschuck

    cschuck Inactive Thread Starter

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    No I don't get an error message...it just says it can't format
    Colleen
     
    cschuck,
    #5
  7. 2011/03/25
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old

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    Colleen,

    You're not trying to format the drive from within Windows are you?

    If so you need to do the format during the install, Windows cannot format a drive it's currently running on.
     
    wildfire,
    #6
  8. 2011/03/25
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    If indeed you are trying to format from within Windows as Wildfire queried you will be unable to do so for the reason given.

    If you are intent on a reformat see my screed on the subject below .....
     
    PeteC,
    #7
  9. 2011/03/28
    visionof

    visionof Inactive

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    I don't know the brand of hard disk involved
    If its fairly standard - Seagate or WD they should have tools on site
    If Windows won't format the disk - then you may need a utility to write 1s and zeros on the drive
    Some makers of drives - Toshiba i recall did not have a utility - it was a HP with linux
    to reinstall windows
    There is a product called Killdisk
    The base version is free - killdisk will create a bootable cd for you
    and you can overwrite the drive and go from there with your windows disk
    Its called Killdisk

    http://www.killdisk.com/

    it works on all hard drives
     
    visionof,
    #8

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