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Registered:
May 2002
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 TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 17 June 2004 03:01
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ok my computer has gone really slow because of viruses and whatever else makes computers slow ... so I am going to
partition the drive
format the new partition
reinstall windows and all programs
transfer data to new drive
format original hard disk
what am I forgetting ? I am no IT person ... plz help
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Location:
Cabramatta, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 17 June 2004 03:30
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I'm assuming that you've got a spare HDD?
Just plug it in and copy everything that you want to keep over onto it.
Then install Windoze, but only format the C: drive.
That way you'll have Windoze on C: and all your data on D: which is the way it should be set up.
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Registered:
May 2002
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 Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 17 June 2004 03:33
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nope dont have a spare drive .. so im gonna get a partitioning software and partition my current drive and format it...
what u think ?
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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
August 2003
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 17 June 2004 03:38
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Les,
Should work, what partitoning software are you going to use? Partition magic comes higly reccomended.
Alternatively the FREE partition software in the install of most linux distributions can do it.
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Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
June 2003
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 17 June 2004 03:47
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er, i duno if you can partition a drive your currently using, it might erase all the data on the drive
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Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 17 June 2004 03:49
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| lang wrote on Thu, 17 June 2004 13:47 |
er, i duno if you can partition a drive your currently using, it might erase all the data on the drive
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hmm yeah ?? guys ??
if i format a partitioned drive, will it erase the WHOLE drive or just the new partition
and yes i was told to use partition magic Squid 
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Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
June 2003
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 17 June 2004 03:53
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in my experience, you usually partition a drive as/part of it being formatted such as when you first install windows or when you install a new drive. formatting by definition erases all the data on the drive.
there may be some whiz bang program out there that i dont know about (ie partition magic), that can do this.
but my gut feeling says youll probably loose the data by partitioning it.
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Location:
Melbourne
Registered:
November 2003
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 17 June 2004 03:53
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How much data do you have? I always burn all my data to CD every time I format. Also means if something fucks up with your HDD and you can't get the data off it, at least you have a backup from a while ago. Thing is I only have a 20GB HDD (I know, small).
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Location:
Gawler, SA
Registered:
August 2003
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 17 June 2004 03:59
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Using partition magic will let you partition your free space into another drive. Make sure you defrag first though as it minimises stuffing it up. Then format the new drive in windows, and move your stuff across. Format (old drive letter here): then reinstall windows to the new drive. Move stuff back then delete the new drive in windows. Use partition magic to merge them back again.
This will work, Ive done it before but its not the safest nor best way of doing it.
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Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 17 June 2004 04:06
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what u mean not the safest .. as in .. what can go wrong ?
i intend to burn all data on to a dvd first ... so i think should be ok if it does stuff up 
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Location:
Gawler, SA
Registered:
August 2003
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 17 June 2004 04:22
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Well from what partition magic warns it could possible stuff up both partitions when attempting to split or join them.
If your burning onto dvd why not just save the hassle and format it completely?
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Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 17 June 2004 04:45
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| Callifo wrote on Thu, 17 June 2004 14:22 |
Well from what partition magic warns it could possible stuff up both partitions when attempting to split or join them.
If your burning onto dvd why not just save the hassle and format it completely?
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hmm why not i say !!!
i will just do that then thanks
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Location:
Cabramatta, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 17 June 2004 05:30
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Yup, I'd do what Callifo said.
Since you're backing everything up, you should have no problems.
You won't even need to use Partition Magic. Just back up and then blow everything away with a brand new install.
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Location:
Potts Point, Sydney
Registered:
October 2003
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 17 June 2004 12:22
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If you wanna get rid of everything (just make sure you backup everything that you need) go to DOS and type:
cd.. then format c:\ s
That worked for me, it gets rid of everything, but if you want to format one part of the drive use partition magic or whatever else you have.
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I supported Toymods
Location:
sydney.au
Registered:
August 2002
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 17 June 2004 12:30
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use a program called SLATE and zero that motherfucker
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
February 2003
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 17 June 2004 13:33
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why format and re-install?
-get your virus protection up to date and keep it up to date
-remove the apps and utilities that got you infected (or change your use of them to prevent reinfection)
-remove the spyware and other useless shit
-think about a new setup that has system+apps and data on separate volumes so you can ghost the system+apps to a DVD and restore it whenever it fuks up
... even better, use an operating system that doesn't get infected so easily (e.g. linux) ... and if you insist on running a few windows tools then get Lindows.
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Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
June 2003
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 17 June 2004 14:03
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| thechuckster wrote on Thu, 17 June 2004 23:33 |
why format and re-install?
-get your virus protection up to date and keep it up to date
-remove the apps and utilities that got you infected (or change your use of them to prevent reinfection)
-remove the spyware and other useless shit
-think about a new setup that has system+apps and data on separate volumes so you can ghost the system+apps to a DVD and restore it whenever it fuks up
... even better, use an operating system that doesn't get infected so easily (e.g. linux) ... and if you insist on running a few windows tools then get Lindows.
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formatting and reistalling is a good way to get rid of all the random crap that accumulates on your comptuer over time. (and yes there is alot of it)
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Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 17 June 2004 22:29
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| thechuckster wrote on Thu, 17 June 2004 23:33 |
why format and re-install?
-get your virus protection up to date and keep it up to date
-remove the apps and utilities that got you infected (or change your use of them to prevent reinfection)
-remove the spyware and other useless shit
-think about a new setup that has system+apps and data on separate volumes so you can ghost the system+apps to a DVD and restore it whenever it fuks up
... even better, use an operating system that doesn't get infected so easily (e.g. linux) ... and if you insist on running a few windows tools then get Lindows.
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i dunno how to use linix, but will endeavour to learn !!
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Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 17 June 2004 22:32
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1) I dunno how to reconnect to the Bigpond broadband (cable) ... says my ethernet card is not installed, but i'm connectied via USB .. will call support..
2) I have no sound !! (do i need to install orig driver disk and run it)
3) Re my graphics card (will i need to load the driver for that as well?)
4) Printer is sweet ass
5) Need Microsoft Office - no problems I can get
6) Set up email - should be no probs
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Location:
Gawler, SA
Registered:
August 2003
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 17 June 2004 22:36
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Is this a prebuilt system (ie dell, hp)? If it is youll have a disk which should reinstall what you need otherwise youll have to find each individual driver.
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Location:
Cabramatta, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Fri, 18 June 2004 00:54
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| thechuckster wrote on Thu, 17 June 2004 23:33 |
why format and re-install?
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Over time, Windoze will just get slower and slower. It's just a fact of life and only a reinstall will fix it.
| Les wrote on Fri, 18 June 2004 08:29 |
i dunno how to use linix, but will endeavour to learn !!
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The absolute easiest way to learn Linux these days is to download the Knoppix Live CD and boot from it. This will boot a Linux system straight from the CD. No install necessary, and it doesn't screw up anything that you have on your computer.
Get it here:
http://www.knopper.net/knoppix-mirrors/index-en.ht ml
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Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Fri, 18 June 2004 01:12
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which one to download ... will this make me a IT geek .. like u ? 
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Location:
Cabramatta, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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 Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Fri, 18 June 2004 01:57
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Get the one with the latest date that has EN (English) in the filename...
Current one to get is KNOPPIX_V3.4-2004-05-17-EN.iso
And, yes, it will make j00 an uber-1337 h4x0r like m33333!!!
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Perth
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Sat, 19 June 2004 11:30
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| Nark wrote on Fri, 18 June 2004 08:54 |
Over time, Windoze will just get slower and slower. It's just a fact of life and only a reinstall will fix it.
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Actually, it doesn't really. Not to a permanent state like it used to be. Yes there will be piles of crap on your computer which mean it gets a little slower, but you can quite easily get your computer to a clean state.
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Location:
Adelaide, drift capital
Registered:
May 2004
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Sat, 19 June 2004 12:20
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I recommend using a ghosting program once you have formated, and re-installed all of your crucial software. What this does is take an image of the drive in the condition you save it in, and then in the future if you get a virus, or spyware or whatever, you can simply 'ghost' the computer, which will reload you hard drive to how it was when you imaged it.
A good program to use for this is Norton Ghost. This can save heaps of time in having to format, and re-install everything.
Cheers,
Joel
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Location:
Kellyville, Sydney
Registered:
June 2004
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Mon, 21 June 2004 11:51
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les,
When you reformatted how many partitions did you split into?
if you left it as the 1 partition and you want to install linux for good then you will have to format AGAIN and partition into two(install linux on partition 1 first then windows on 2, its easier that way).
Nark,
How does Knoppix work? where does it save files, settings,etc? does it have all the functions of linux?
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Registered:
May 2002
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Re: TIPS for formatting my computer please!!
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Thu, 24 June 2004 13:07
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hey man - i didnt partition .. i just wont download anymore porn .. i mean 'stuff' so that my comp dont stuff up no more .. its heaps faster already !! 
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