FORMAT

[enabb]

Kids pc is running a bit cr*p to say the least, doing all sorts of wiered and wonderful things, so thought I would re format it and start a fresh

Question is I have,nt done it for a while and car,nt remember how, (swmbo will agree there then ).

No seriously folks do I have to disconect things like the writer,zip drive, network card, soundcard etc and then install them one at a time ?

Also could do with a better graphics card, coz mapsource looks cr*p, pc is,nt used for gaming so dont need top of the range, just a good all rounder

Forgot to say pc is a 1gig Athlon with 512ram (i think), running ME..........


Thanks in advance

 

[richie]

Just run FDISK (better than Format) and then install windows XP from boot up (different files sytem does not use FAT anymore). It'll find most things and install them no problem.

However some products still like the software to be installed before pluging in the peripheral.

Don't use ME again as its crap. Either windows 98 SE or XP

Your PC is good enough for XP so thats what I'd choose.

Graphics cards are cheap now just run down to PCworld and take the best offer...

Good luck, and remember backup first.

Oh and by the way I am not a computer Nerd to system level so if anybody else can explain better feel free.

COZ I am a TOSSER....

 

[cookie]

Don't use ME again as its crap. Either windows 98 SE or XP

that's what most people say. not used ME myself, but have avoided it under advisement.
xp is the best windows yet. by miles.

you can format drive after booting off xp disc. you get asked if you want FAT32 or NTFS. personally i'd go NTFS.

i'd be inclined to get an ATI based radeon, 9600 or above, like these here. exact model according to budget.

pc world are handy when you're in a hurry, otherwise rather dear (unless you find one of their frequent pricing cock ups )

i'd not bother removing peripherals unless you get probs after install.

 

[enabb]

Thanks for that, will endevour to do it this week

 

[Fanum]

If the Hard drive is bigger than 20 odd gig, I'd recommend partitioning it when you reformat.........don't worry about the other drives, windoze will look after them perfectly (your cd drive 'd' will become 'e' etc etc automatically) but it will mean you can defrag the HD in lumps which makes it easier to look after.....you can also keep things nicely seperated...on my two 120 gig drives i use a 20 gig drive just for the OS and swapfile, a 40 gig for office, 'proper' programmes and the rest of the first one for games and normal pictures...then on the second drive i've gotr a partition for , er, special interest pictures and films, and the other half of it is for music.

When reloading your software BTW, always always start off with the anti-virus stuff...it can get twitchy if it's put on after other stuff......then put on Zonealarm, then your office stuff then the rest......

There's a very good Microsoft page on formatting and partitioning HD's if you type in the keywords...if you cant find it just shout and i'll look it out for you.

HTH

 

[enabb]

Thanks Fanum,
Its only a 40 gig h/d so do you think its worth partitioning, or should I just bung it back as it is ?

 

[richie]

I reckon its a good idea too. Especialy if you use Photoshop which prefers a system with partitions. Speeds things up.

Try putting programs on one and yourown files on the other makes backups easier...

 

[Fanum]

enabb....yes.

Particularly with some progs like richie said.....but in your case because you have a relatively slow processor in it.......if you have at least one partion , you can defrag each bit seperately while you carry on working......you can move the swap file over to the other partition so that defrag will , er, defrag ALL of the drive (otherwise it won't be able to defrag the bit that's in use).

Plus it helps keep stuff organised.

 

[enabb]

Thanks again, will do....