spodeboy Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 Every 6 months I reformated my 98se. But now when I reformat my XP Pro it doesn't completely erase the hd. After a new reformat and install there are still files and user profiles left on the hd? How can I completely erase this OS and start from scratch?Thanks guys!Gino Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Elf Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 Because Xp has been so stable on my systems I've lost the experience of regular format and reinstalls but I've had a clean system when I've done it. Are you sure you're actually selecting the format and reinstall option rather than a repair? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spodeboy Posted July 1, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 Well, I pop in the cd and choose "New Install". I have the option to delete the partition but it won't let me. I know then it will be clean. After that it does prompt me to reformat and it warns me that all info will be lost. But there's always all the old profiles left on he pc after I am done. it remembers other stuff too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Elf Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 I'm a bit puzzled then, I'll experiment with my system over the next few days. I'm nowhere near being considered an expert though so hopefully someone with a bit (OK a lot) more knowledge will jump in with a definitive answer.Just a thought but is/are the hard drive(s) partitioned? Possibly that may be the problem? Just guessing mind :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Besty Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 I might be doing mine tonight :s so i will tell you after i have done it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nellie2 Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 Are you sure it won't let you delete the partition.... It usually comes up with a warning message but you can carry on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 Is this a self built computer or did you buy it from somewhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Besty Posted July 2, 2004 Report Share Posted July 2, 2004 I just reformatted and it deleated everything so it did Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted July 2, 2004 Report Share Posted July 2, 2004 You need to really format your drive. Formatting doesn't cut it anymore, you need a 3rd party program (or just format about 20 times) If you think about it, to truly erase an 80gb hard drive at 7200rpm, writing a 1 or 0 or whatever character it uses to write over what data is there now, this should take a whole heck of a lot longer than it does. That's because the format is much like the CD-RW formatting, where as it only erases parts of the disk, so that it appears to be blank. Thus, when you write something over it, the old data has been formatted and written at the same time (saving you and I time)but like I said, if you truly want it formatted your going to have to go for a 3rd party program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted July 2, 2004 Report Share Posted July 2, 2004 You need to really format your drive. Formatting doesn't cut it anymore, you need a 3rd party program (or just format about 20 times) If you think about it, to truly erase an 80gb hard drive at 7200rpm, writing a 1 or 0 or whatever character it uses to write over what data is there now, this should take a whole heck of a lot longer than it does. That's because the format is much like the CD-RW formatting, where as it only erases parts of the disk, so that it appears to be blank. Thus, when you write something over it, the old data has been formatted and written at the same time (saving you and I time)but like I said, if you truly want it formatted your going to have to go for a 3rd party program.:o No.Formatting the drive using Windows XP's formatting utility will happily format the drive sufficently enough to erase the data [not all]. A reinstallation of Windows after a format will be ok. Once it's been formatted the formatted data will not cause any problems for a new install.Zero filling the hard drive resets the drive back to its factory state [to a point]and you only really need to do this if there are installation troubles and/or you're checking the drive for errors hopefully of which zero fill will fix.big elfs suggestion is probably the reason that spodeboy still seees file and folder, either hes looking at the wrong partition or he repaired XP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted July 2, 2004 Report Share Posted July 2, 2004 Sorry powerless, it makes sense though, no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spodeboy Posted July 2, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2004 .....So far thanks guys. Yeah, it never lets me delete the partition. I was wondering about some utility that would be better than the XP software. Any suggestions? Oh, and I bought it from and online chop shop pc retailer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expertec Posted July 2, 2004 Report Share Posted July 2, 2004 Is this a proper XP disc or some kind of recovery disc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted July 2, 2004 Report Share Posted July 2, 2004 Is this a proper XP disc or some kind of recovery disc?Good one expertec. If it's a recovery disk (one that ships with your computer) it may have things pre installed on it. An example is computers like HP, and Gateway and Dell, come with a CD to "recover" your xp installation, not format it and install it clean. This also may happen if you have OEM verison of XP? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Elf Posted July 2, 2004 Report Share Posted July 2, 2004 OEM version of XP lets you do format, partition etc. just like retail version. The only difference is that with the OEM disk it's the supplier who is supposed to provide support rather than MS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted July 2, 2004 Report Share Posted July 2, 2004 Is this a proper XP disc or some kind of recovery disc?Good one expertec. If it's a recovery disk (one that ships with your computer) it may have things pre installed on it. An example is computers like HP, and Gateway and Dell, come with a CD to "recover" your xp installation, not format it and install it clean. This also may happen if you have OEM verison of XP? Exactly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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