Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

jim larson · 2K+ Club

How Do you Wipe You Computer Completely and Re-Installed Software and files?

Chris R · 2K+ Club

I would be intrested in knowing this as well. Ive heard similiar stories like this before although not quite once a year though.

I know it does get a bit time consuming depending on how many programs you have saved on your computer. Also, there is a way to save all your favorites but im not sure how to do that, otherwise you would loose those too, I have a lot of valuable resources in my favorites pile that some would be devasting to lose.

Lost in the 60s · President

jim larson wrote:
Has anyone done this? I am having some issues and on a recent flight from Seatle the Boeing IT guy sitting next to me said that every hear he wipes his computer and reinstalls all the software. He said this should solve the problem.
Has anyone done this with success? Is a very involved process? Thanks.
For an IT guy, that may seem easy but for us illiterets, we loose everything. You would need to save all the files you want to keep and if they are the problem, you just re-introduce it. I was having major issues a few weeks back too and it was the operating system that had issues. I resolved it by running an error-check program on the hard drive. On the main page click the start button. Then click on "computer". A window will open showing the hard drive (drive C) RIGHT click on it and a window will open with options. Scroll down to the last one titled "properties. Click that and go to the "tools" tab and click it. Another window will open with the option to do an "error check". That will open another window with 2 choices to "check for and recover back sectors". Check both of the boxes and hit "Start". Once you click start, it will give you a message that it can't run because the computer is busy and will run the next time you start the computer. At that point, do a "restart" and the program will run. Make sure you have plenty of time, as it took 3 hours for the program to complete on mine.
Good luck padwan and may the force be with you.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

completed mitch, hope it works

DNeinstadt · Member

I'm an IT guy if anyone needs help, let me know. Reformatting (wiping out) "fixes" most software problems. Think of it like an old VHS tape (what are those?!). Basically you're erasing that old episode of M.A.S.H. and re-recording the newer episode of Three's company. Long story short, if you're having MAJOR software issues, this may be a good way to resolve it.

Mitch's suggestion may help with SOME hardware issues (hard drive having bad sectors), but in most cases, computers can be "cleaned up" well enough to run fine. Formatting is only necessary if your software is really messed up.

Also, there are ways to save all personal files (documents, favorites, bookmarks, etc) before reformatting....

Dan

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Thanks for the insite Dan. I may need your help. I tried Mitch's suggestion; but no luck.