How To Reformat Your Windows XP Computer

Doing a Reformat on Your Computer Should Be A Last Resort!

Reformatting your Windows computer is usually the absolute last resort and is often done unnecessarily. Before you go through the process of doing a reformat of your hard drive please take a few moments to read through the rest of our website. If you are reformatting to fix problems with your Windows computer it's possible that by using some of the tips on our site, or by downloading or purchasing some of the tools or products that we link to, you might be able to avoid the need to reformat your computer. Because doing a complete reformat of your computer will erase the contents of the hard drive and require you to reinstall all software, reformatting is usually a last resort.

Some Computer Manufacturers Make Reformatting Easy

Many name-brand PC manufacturers include a restore-disk which makes it easy to reformat your PC and return it to the state it was in on the day you purchased it. Some manufactures supply only a standard Microsoft Windows CD, and some (usually lower-end PC manufacturers) supply neither! If your PC did not come with a restore or reformatting CD, then you will need to take extra steps to format your hard drive and get Windows re-installed.

Back Up Your Files Before You Reformat Your Windows PC!

Because the reformat or restore process erases everything on your computer, it is critical to have a backup of any important files on your computer. You will also need your original software install disks to reinstall any software you have purchased.

Things to do before you reformat your PC hard drive

Write down or print out all notes and internet pages because once the format process begins, you will no longer have access to them (or anything else in the PC)
As already stated, BACKUP all important files and data! When you reformat your computer everything will be erased!
Make sure you have all the CDs and other software. All programs will have to be reinstalled after you format the hard drive. Don't forget about software that came with hardware such as printers, scanners, etc.
Write down the brand and information for all the hardware on your computer. Look in the Device Manager and make note of the brand and model of network adaptors, video cards, sound cards, printers, modems, and displays. After reformatting you might need this information to reinstall drivers.

How To Reformat Your Windows XP PC

If you're ready to take the plunge and format your computer Click here for step by step instructions to reformat your PC.

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Quote

Wed, 02/03/2010 - 5:43am

hard2kip (not verified)

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Re: How To Reformat Your Windows XP Computer

If you're going to reformat your Laptop/PC. You should have WINDOWS XP CD and hard drive software's.

Mon, 01/25/2010 - 3:17pm

Jennifer (not verified)

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Re: How To Reformat Your Windows XP Computer

I have a refurbished Windows XP laptop. Been using it since Aug with no problems. Now I keep getting the dreaded "blue screen" then it reboots itself.

Firefox crashes all the time, i mean it will not stay on. That started right before the blue screen.

All the software like itunes, firefox, open office, etc. were added the day I got it and nothing has been added for months.

I don't think I have an install disk for windows xp, would I need this if I reformatted?

Wed, 02/03/2010 - 10:13am

Anonymous Visitor (not verified)

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Re: How To Reformat Your Windows XP Computer

stop watching porn

Tue, 01/26/2010 - 7:02pm

Anonymous Visitor (not verified)

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Re: How To Reformat Your Windows XP Computer

i have the same exact problem as Jennifer. Should i reformat my laptop?

Mon, 01/25/2010 - 3:21pm

hubby
ɥ n q q ʎ

I am always online from morning to night.

Member since: The Beginning

Re: How To Reformat Your Windows XP Computer

Jennifer wrote:

I don't think I have an install disk for windows xp, would I need this if I reformatted?

you cant (easily) format your computer without your XP disk.. and if you did reformat by using for example a floppy-disc that you put the format-program onto, you would need a Windows disk to re-install Windows with.. otherwise you would have a Window'less (virtually useless) computer.

Reformatting my not solve your issues anyway - it is very possible your issues are due to hardware.. although the first step is usually formatting to rule out a "Windows" issue..

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 10:20pm

Adamm (not verified)

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Re: How To Reformat Your Windows XP Computer

yeah i reformatted my laptop and reinstalled windows XP but i still have the same problem. The computer just goes to the blue screen then reboots itself. Is there another solution to fix my problem?

Tue, 02/02/2010 - 8:35pm

Anonymous Visitor - Rue (not verified)

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Re: How To Reformat Your Windows XP Computer

What people aren't telling you here is that the reason your getting the dreaded BSOD (blue screen of death) is not because there is something wrong with windows, it's because there is a physical conflict going on inside your computer. The BSOD happens when the software portion of your computer for some reason doesn't know how to communicate with the hardware section. When it tries to communicate the hardware fails and before your ocmputer is physically damaged, the blue screen appears (logs the problem in case some professional could answer it) and shuts down your computer. What you want to do is see that you have the latest Drivers and Windows Updates. A fresh Install of an OFFICIAL Windows O.S. (not one you have downloaded illegally) and a fresh download of all current drivers will help you find out if the problem was something before or if it's time for the computer to be 'put down'. This is the easiest solution. Anything else would be costly and time consuming.

With this solution do keep in mind that Windows XP will cost $100+ (unless you own it, or a restore disk) and that you must backup ALL your important files (preferably onto an external HardDrive from Newegg.com or anywhere cheaper).

Mon, 01/25/2010 - 3:24pm

bobicefan75

I am a liberal

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Member for 2 weeks 15 hours

GuG-Points: 1

Re: How To Reformat Your Windows XP Computer

Any ideas on how to fix my problem??? Unistall software what?

Tue, 02/02/2010 - 9:18pm

Anonymous Visitor - Rue (not verified)

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Re: How To Reformat Your Windows XP Computer

If you don't know what your doing, don't do it. Research if you have the time, or buy yourself a new computer. We can't tell you what to uninstall, we would need to see your computer to tell you anything at all. Your question doesn't even make sense in all seriousness.

Mon, 01/25/2010 - 2:10am

#10

paula borck (not verified)

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Re: How To Reformat Your Windows XP Computer

i need to know if it will mess my computer. will it loss any of my memory space.

Fri, 01/22/2010 - 6:11pm

#11

yonipoka (not verified)

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Maintenance

Try to use the AML REGISTRY CLEANER it is freeware and i've been using it for a year now and with the combination of CCLEANER......................or you can drop by to the website of FILEHIPPO.COM for some useful freewrae files.

Thu, 07/06/2006 - 1:23am

#12

Anonymous (not verified)

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REFormating

do you know the more you do it the better it works.

Sat, 07/08/2006 - 10:05pm

#13

Jensen (not verified)

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reformat a computer

I prefer not to have to reformat often!

Thu, 06/15/2006 - 11:40am

#14

reformat (not verified)

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doing a reformat is easy

sometimes it's just easier to do a whole format that it is trying to clean out all the messedup registry entries and stuff

Fri, 06/02/2006 - 12:27pm

#15

Anonymous (not verified)

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reformatting windows xp

I never did understand why people think they need to reformat the computer every 3 weeks. Maybe it comes from the Windows 95 days, or maybe because they get infected with spyware or a virus because they aren't being 'safe' with the computer.

Follow safe-computing concepts and if you're using Windows XP or Win 2000, you should virtually never need to format.

oh yeah, if you arent using antivirus software, anti-spyware, and firefox, you WILL need to reformat.. heh.

Mon, 06/05/2006 - 7:44pm

#16

Jim (not verified)

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RE: reformatting windows xp

I did a reformat a few weeks ago. The format and reinstall part went easy because I had the XP restore disk that came with the computer. But it took hours to re-download all the updates and reinstall all my software.

Wed, 05/31/2006 - 7:41pm

#17

Anonymous (not verified)

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reformat xp

i have never needed reformat and i have had a lot of computers

Wed, 01/20/2010 - 10:38pm

#18

Anonymous Visitor (not verified)

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Re: reformat xp

Thats probably why.

Mon, 01/22/2007 - 12:11pm

#19

bigredishott

Offline

Member for 3 years 3 weeks

GuG-Points: 5

Re: reformat xp

and i bet money that all the old computers are running like crap when you turn on your computer press ctrl+alt+del and on the bottom left of that window how many processes are running 40 50 i bet alot you should have it atleast less than 30

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How To Reformat Your Windows XP Computer

Doing a Reformat on Your Computer Should Be A Last Resort!

Some Computer Manufacturers Make Reformatting Easy

Back Up Your Files Before You Reformat Your Windows PC!

Things to do before you reformat your PC hard drive

How To Reformat Your Windows XP PC

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