How do I wipe my hard drive?

Question

I bought my laptop about 4 months ago and recently have been having a lot of trouble with viruses. I already had Norton installed, however this doesnt seem to be doing much. I downloaded numerous anti virus software as well as purchasing spyware doctor, and although they have detected and deleted viruses, i am still having problems. The internet is VERY slow, as well as the start up and shutdowns. Also, messages from windows keep popping up saying that certain progams ie. skpe have stopped working due to a "problem", and i am constantly having to restart my computer due to it freezing, or failing to open programs such as itunes and limewire. As my computer is new and i have only used about 15% of space on the hard drive, i cant blame my problems on a lack of space. The only solution i can think of is to just back up my files and wipe the hard drive, however i am not sure how to do this, and dont want to wipe windows from it. My laptop came with windows vista already installed on it, so does that mean it will stay on there if i wipe the hard drive? Can anyone help me out?

Answer 1

Your computer is new enough to have the Factory Default Restore partition on the hard drive as d; A factory default restore put the computer back to the way it was when you bought it. This is normally done with a function key being pressed when you boot up. Watch the black boot screen at the bottom, is should list the function key you need to press.



If it came with a CD this only installs the Windows that is on the computer. There should also be in the menus some where an item to create your own set of Computer Recovery CDs. If it is there make your recovery CDs before doing anything else.



Be aware if there is anything you need to keep burn the to a data CD or a data DVD, because everything will be lost when you start over from the beginning. This question is quite common and asked several times a week. Seems like no one takes the time to make their recovery CDs and get into a bind.

Answer 2

1. Find your recovery CD / DVD that should have come with your computer, and insert it into your CD / DVD drive.

2. Restart your computer.

3. Press "r" on the first screen you see when you turn on your computer. This should bring up a boot menu, select CD / DVD drive

4. Allow for the computer to load the CD / DVD.

5. Select "recovery" once it loads. This should give you warnings about you losing everything on your computer.

6. Accept the terms and conditions. Once done, it should start the process of recovery.

7. Leave your computer until the process is done.

8. Start windows and follow the steps of setting up user names and passwords. Voila! You now have a problem / virus free computer.



Or:



Restart your computer and keep pressing f11 or f10 or f9 not the actual buttons but you'll see them on the top. Then the windows system recovery setup should come up, you set up the settings and go from there.

Answer 3

There are numerous techniques you're able to do it, yet once you like the documents to be wiped thoroughly then persist with this technique. a million. Use dban (Darik's Boot and Nuke). What this could do is wipe the problematic force with a random sequence of 0s and 1s. 2. purchase a torx screwdriver kit to open your problematic force. 3. capability down the laptop thoroughly and unplug it and then do away with the problematic force. 4. Unscrew the metallic platters and do away with them. 5. Sand the outdoors of each and every platter thoroughly on the two facets. 6. Rinse the platters 7. wreck the platters with a hammer. 8. (non-compulsory) Take a blowtorch to the platters just to be risk-free. 9. (additionally non-compulsory) lease a degaussing wand and use that on the problematic force platters.

Answer 4

First thing u have to do is get the drivers for your laptop ready onto an external disk and then reinstall windows. Im guessing u dont have a windows vista CD with you, so u'll have to buy one .... there's nothing much u can do