Windows XP: How to reformat your Hardisk?

How to restore your Windows XP if you buy the Notebook or PC from OEM?
Please confirm the OEM click here: http://oem.windowsreinstall.com/

Example A Compaq Notebook: Compaq Recovery Disk
In case of Compaq with Windows XP Home edition.

Startup your Computer and Press the F10 key during boot at the beginning
or from the Start menu select:

Start > All Programs > Compaq > Compaq PC Tools > Compaq
System Recovery or
Start > All Programs > Compaq > Compaq Presario
PC Tools > Compaq System Recovery or
Start > All Programs > PC Help & Tools > Compaq System Recovery.

Windows® XP will restart (a reminder to use System Restore might appear - click Yes to continue the restart).

The PC will load the Compaq System Recovery. In the recovery program there are 2 methods which can be used to recover the PC:
1) Non-Destructive System Recovery. This should restore the system without affecting the user's data. Please note that the stored user data may not be immediately visible and may be stored in a separate folder on the hard disk within the Documents & Settings folder after recovery. This occurs normally when User Accounts have been used and modified.

Press Next. The user is prompted to try System Restore first. Press Yes. Recovery will now begin.

2) Destructive System Recovery. This method will format the hard drive and remove any personal data and applications. This will use a Quick Format only.

Click Advanced Options from the first recovery screen shown. Press Next to begin.

On starting either recovery method there will be a reminder to use System Restore if possible, click Yes to continue. The Destructive System Recovery will have a final warning about data loss, click Yes.

Recovery Version 1

FULL RESTORE (Reformat your Hardisk and reinstall Windows XP)

Set your Bios so that the first boot device is the DVD

Place your restore disc one in your DVD drive. (Disk from OEM, when you purchase your Notebook)
Restart or start up your computer.
Select Option 4 – Factory Restore
Warning screen will appear, read this and press enter to continue.

System will now restore. When finished you will be prompted to reboot, remove the restore CD and press enter.


OEM - Short for Original Equipment Manufacturer, which is a misleading term for a company that has a special relationship with computer producers. OEMs buy computers in bulk and customize them for a particular application. They then sell the customized computer under their own name. The term is really a misnomer because OEMs are not the original manufacturers -- they are the customizes. (Taken from http://www.webopedia.com/)

WARNING : BEFORE DOING SYSTEM RESTORES, RELOADS, REINSTALLS, ETC, ETC, ALWAYS BACKUP FIRST

Comments:
When you found your PC/Notebook was infected viruses seriously where no ANTIVIRUS softwares can really heal it. I think the only choice you have now is to reformat the Hardisk and reinstall Windows XP. Of course this should be your last move to recover your Notebook or PC.

At this moment, you must be looking for Windows XP or Diskket that might be necessary to reformat and reinstall XP. Unfortunately, you don't find those CD. What should you do?

Auctually, when you purchase the Notebook from OEM (Compaq), they don't provide any Original Windows XP CD for you. Why? Because they use a special CD or programme from Windows and download to your Notebook which provided by Microsoft. Therefore, the only disk that they have provided to you is the System Recovery Disk and it is the same of Windows OS software.

Next, nowadays you don't have to make any Floppy Disk for reformat the hardisk and you can use CD.

There are two cases to reformat your Hardisk and reinstall your Windows XP:
Case 1: You have the Original Windows XP CD (from Microsoft)
Set your Bios so that the first boot device is the DVD (If your Notebook has 2 slots)
Insert the CD --> Reboot/Restart your PC --> Windows XP setup Menu appear --> Select the options (Read it) --> Please keep your Partitions as before (if you already have partitions previous, don't reformat them. Reformat Only C drive is Okay) --> Follow the steps --> Key in the Code 16 units --> Re-register--> Name --> Password --> Until finish. (It will propably takes you about 45 minutes to complete it)

Case 2: Use System Recovery Disk from OEM (Compaq)
Set your Bios so that the first boot device is the DVD (If your Notebook has 2 slots)
Insert the CD --> Reboot/Restart your PC --> Select Option 4 – Factory Restore Warning screen will appear, read this and press enter to continue. (Reformat the hardisk and reinstall Windows XP)

Therefore please keep your System Recovery Disk Safely because you might need it someday. Maybe you should make few copies of CD for backup.