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Formatting a Hard drive??

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  • #1

    Formatting a Hard drive??

    Alright, so my cousin gave me a computer and i was wanting to format the hard drive so i could wipe it clean and have it it like a brand new computer. But formatting erases the OS doesnt it? Question is how can i wipe it clean but keep the OS? The computer is an HP and OS is Windows XP
    GOPR0198 by larrychance88
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  • #2
    It's unpossible.

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    • #3
      The only way would be to use a restore disk that came with the machine. The other option is to install a fresh copy of Windows XP from scratch but you will need to go find all of the drivers and software yourself.

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      • #4
        haha, well damnit. Cause i dont have a spare OS laying around.. Btw i did do the system recovery at the beginning when it starts up, but it still kept everything. lol.
        GOPR0198 by larrychance88

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        • #5
          Originally posted by BttleFedC10 View Post
          haha, well damnit. Cause i dont have a spare OS laying around.. Btw i did do the system recovery at the beginning when it starts up, but it still kept everything. lol.
          yes, the system recovery only replaces key OS files which are commonly corrupted, it doesn't remove anything, it just overwrites system files.

          You will need a new OS.
          "When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic." -Benjamin Franklin
          "A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury." -Alexander Fraser Tytler

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          • #6
            Originally posted by BttleFedC10 View Post
            haha, well damnit. Cause i dont have a spare OS laying around.. Btw i did do the system recovery at the beginning when it starts up, but it still kept everything. lol.
            The system recover you did was part of windows and not what you need.

            However, there is a chance that there is a restore partition on the hard drive. Check for other partitions under disk management.

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            • #7
              Anyway i can download a fresh operating system??
              GOPR0198 by larrychance88

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Tx Redneck View Post
                It's unpossible.
                Hey redneck, WHATS THAt website where you can check you computer and see if it has all the files and what not? The site where you have to use IE or something. lol.
                GOPR0198 by larrychance88

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                • #9
                  Cant he make a system recovery disk and use his key?

                  You can find your computers Win XP key at start/control panel/system screen.

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                  • #10
                    You could use this program to find the windows key. Then "borrrow" a copy of windows from any number of places and use the key to install. Sometimes OEM machines have the key's embedded on a bios or some other chip and don't require a key.

                    The trick is that an OEM key only works with an OEM disk, same for upgrade, same for retail. At least this was my experience 5 or so years ago when I used to do this stuff alot more often...

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