Safe procedure for formatting laptop?

Solnyshko

Solnyshko

Solnyshko

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I wont be using the supplied recovery disks as the Samsung XP build has some pretty odd quirks. Rather I'll be using my own to create a dual boot system with Vista/XP.

Never tried this before, despite downloading the relevant device drivers for this model form Samsung I'm not hugely confident!

Should I take steps before wiping the hard drive - such as backing up the the existing SATA drivers?

Will formatting the drive enable me to boot up from the Vista and XP installation disks or is there a risk the laptop won’t even see the cd rom drive or the hard drive?
 
back up backup!!!!

then use XP disk and make a partition and install it.
after use Vista disk and install on other partition and that will put dualboot info/menu.

you will be fine, cd/dvd roms are found by bios but keep sata drivers on if needed
 
benjo plz. said:
I find a hammer works best. A big hammer.
Click to expand...

Hammer good but come on be far, a mallet is far better.

As for *** question, its always avisable to back up data and drivers. The bios is what sees the drives so there wont be a problem there and you can merge the drivers with the installation so theres a low risk of messing it up.

What laptop is it?

Shr3k
 
*Thread Hijack - Sorry*

I assume these 'recovery' disks access a hidden partition on the HDD?

If I were to format and reinstall the operating system (purposely formatting everything) would the warranty still be valid, if you send it for repair will they refuse?

Just thinking about formatting sisters laptop, unsure where the warranty stands.

Regards
 
Ah OK - so XP first, then Vista. So what should I be backing up and how? I’ve had problems in the past with raid based motherboards, but do I also need to ‘pre install’ SATA drivers/controllers in this case or will XP take care of this?

Btw it’s a Samsung R70

the hammer & mallet approach... hmm, I'll take it under consideration ;p
 
Laser402 said:
*Thread Hijack - Sorry*

I assume these 'recovery' disks access a hidden partition on the HDD?

If I were to format and reinstall the operating system (purposely formatting everything) would the warranty still be valid, if you send it for repair will they refuse?

Just thinking about formatting sisters laptop, unsure where the warranty stands.

Regards
Click to expand...

Yes you are quite right about the hidden partition thing - infact this is what has moved me to do a clean format as I can’t get Vista and XP onto the same machine as is (see this thread http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17858569)

Interesting point about warranty! I hadn’t even considered that - and it's my girlfriends 'puter! :eek:
 
No.
If they ever try to claim otherwise, throw the Sale of Goods Act at them. The warranty is hardware only :)

Having said that though, hypothetically if you put Linux on there, and the machine failed to boot & you sent it back for repair they'd be entitled to charge you if this was the only fault. (IE. Non-supplied software only, not hardware)

-Leezer-
 
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