Re-formatting

times_champion · 16 Aug 2009 at 20:55

I have owned my PC for about 3.5 years now and the Hard drive is full or crap and half-installed programs etc. I am planning an upgrade soon, changing mobo, processer, memory and graphics card, but im keeping my hard drive, moving my movie files etc to an external drive and using the main one only for windows and gaming.

Due to the above I really want to format my drive and start from scratch, the problem being that my PC came from Dell, and has no windows XP disk. Due to this what are my options if I want to re-format? Do I have to get another copy of windows or is there some other way around it? Is it possible to re-format everything on the drive except XP?

vanandjuanunited · 16 Aug 2009 at 20:59

usually there will be a hidden partition with thd install files. Google should help.

stainless · 17 Aug 2009 at 10:09

You can find several free format software out there.

K1LLSW1TCH · 17 Aug 2009 at 10:19

williamw11 said:
usually there will be a hidden partition with thd install files. Google should help.

I'd go with that. I thought that the recovery disks that are shipped with pre-built computers usually look for the motherboard id or a custom bios as well, but I might be wrong. I'm sure it can be done though, there's a few videos of it on youtube if you have a search on there.

cmndr_andi · 17 Aug 2009 at 10:23

If you get a new mobo - you will want to do a clean instal of the OS. Also, I believe the dell OEM copies of windows are only licensed with the dell motherboard - aside from legal concerns I belive dell won't let it work on non-Dell motherboards. If I were you - do a full format and use windows 7 RC that is free until March 2010.

But TBH, a HDD from a 3.5 year old dell is going to be pretty ropey. I suggest getting a nice new drive, they don't cost much these days and are nice and quick (not to mention big).

Amd_Athon_God · 17 Aug 2009 at 10:25

cmndr_andi said:
If you get a new mobo - you will want to do a clean instal of the OS. Also, I believe the dell OEM copies of windows are only licensed with the dell motherboard - aside from legal concerns I belive dell won't let it work on non-Dell motherboards. If I were you - do a full format and use windows 7 RC that is free until March 2010.

But TBH, a HDD from a 3.5 year old dell is going to be pretty ropey. I suggest getting a nice new drive, they don't cost much these days and are nice and quick (not to mention big).

Agree i picked up my 500gb wd for 40