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windows recovery console

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by swallowscott, 2008/01/02.

  1. 2008/01/02
    swallowscott

    swallowscott Inactive Thread Starter

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    i have a windows xp laptop which i want to set back to its factory setting so that i am able to clear it completly.

    when i start the lap top up i select the windows recovery console and i follow the steps suchas entering administrative password etc.

    it asks me which dive i want to select options are
    1. mini(cannot rember the end bit)
    2. windows


    So i presume i select windows which i did, i then type in help to give me a large list of different commands..

    from here on i am stuck as i do not know which command i need to enter enable me to be able to completly clear my laptop.

    which command do i enter?? i am not sure exaclty which each command does i have read up on microsoft.com but am still not sure.. please help?

    Here is a list of available commands

    attrib
    del
    fixboot
    more
    set
    batch
    delete
    fixmbr
    mkdir
    systemroot
    bootcfg
    dir
    format
    more
    type
    cd
    disable
    help
    net
    chdir
    diskpart
    listsvc
    rd
    chkdsk
    enable
    logon
    ren
    cls
    exit
    map
    rename
    copy
    expand
    md
    rmdir
     
    swallowscott,
    #1
  2. 2008/01/02
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    swallowscott - Welcome to the Board :)
    Not completely clear exactly what you want to achieve here. Do you want to restore the laptop to the condition it was in when supplied - i.e. with the OS and supplied software installed, but lacking any data or software you have added or do you want to wipe the hard drive completely - i.e. format the drive and leave it empty?

    No doubt the laptop came with a Recovery disk or partition - in most cases this formats the drive and installs a mirror image of the drive as supplied.

    If you have a full copy of XP boot from the CD and follow these instructions ...
    You can format the drive through Recovery Console using the format command (see How to Format).

    How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP
     
    PeteC,
    #2


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  4. 2008/01/03
    swallowscott

    swallowscott Inactive Thread Starter

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    yes what i want to do is completely clear the whole laptop, so that it is in the same state as when i brought it from the shop a year ago, with only standard programmes installed.

    The laptop did not come with a recovery cd to use, so i took it to the shop where i brought it and they said i didnt need a cd and it was built into the latop. and that to wipe the laptop completely back to how it was when i brought it all i needed to do was go onto windows recovery, which i an option when i first turn it on before windows loads.

    So i did this but i am not sure which command does so, as you can see above there are many commands, i read what each command does on the microsoft website but still i am unsure of which command will help clear the laptop? does any one know?
     
    swallowscott,
    #3
  5. 2008/01/03
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    In that case you do not want to use Recovery Console - that will not do what you want.
    As the shop indicated in your case there is a recovery partion on the drive and the manual should tell you how to access it. On my HP laptop - as soon as it boots - there is a message on the screen - Press F11 or similar for recovery.

    If you cannot find the info you require in the manual post the make and model of the laptop and I will see if I can find a copy of the manual on their web site and will advise further.
     
    PeteC,
    #4

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