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Miscellaneous laptop discussions forum: How do I wipe out my notebook so I can start from scratch?

by: kgdray April 28, 2006 9:34 PM PDT

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How do I wipe out my notebook so I can start from scratch?

by kgdray - 4/28/06 9:34 PM

I want to clean out my laptop and restore it to its original factory settings. I have all the programs and all my files and data backed up so thats not really an issue. I really just wanna clear my notebook of all the spyware and possible viruses that my antivirus/anti-spyware doesnt seem to be recognizing and just reinstall everything. (i do have all the recent updates) The system restore doesnt cut it, i dont think i have a restore point that goes that far back. I'd really just like to restore the laptop to how it was when I first bought it. I do have all the original disks (reboot disks?) Can someone please tell me how to do this? my notebook is a compaq presario 1500 w/ pentium4 running windows xp and everything is generally, in good working order.


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Reinstalling Windows is easy.

by dshefley - 4/28/06 10:22 PM

In Reply to: How do I wipe out my notebook so I can start from scratch? by kgdray

All you should have to do is reboot with the Windows disk in. However, sometimes it isn't that easy. My sister's Gateway desktop was real retarded, and I can't get that thing to connect to the net no matter what. It made me put in a red disk before the Windows disk, then a yellow... No green for go!

Bah. When I had my computers that I built, they just came with one Windows disk. Well, I had to buy it separate. So much easier than the disks that companies give you. Hell this Compaq didn't even come with a disk, the Windows installer is just on another partition.

So.. I don't know. Wait for someone who's better with pre-built stuff to reply. At least this gave you something to read while you wait! <3


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since its a compaq,

by m.nandini - 4/30/06 7:16 PM

In Reply to: How do I wipe out my notebook so I can start from scratch? by kgdray

it should have come with a "Restore Plus!" cd or something to that effect, which will clean out your entire computer and return it to factory settings with nothing on it but the OS. i have an older compaq desktop, and when it began to start goin slow I just popped in the system of "Restore Plus!" cd's, and it got rid of everything.


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