Best method to erase hard drive

12/9/03 | TC

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

I've tried everything I can think of and continue to become more and more locked by a virus. Since it won't allow me internet access I'm using another station.

Time to abort and erase. Haven't cleaned off an HD for a long time and want to get this over with. Made a Windows start-up disc before it became critical.

Using 98se and 6.22.

What's the best way to do this?

Thanks
TC

[AlBondigas]

re boot w/ your floppy
from dos prompt enter fdisk to partition C: drive & pick from alts
reboot w/ floppy & at dos prompt enter format C: /s

[AlBondigas]

If you do a CTRL-ALT-DEL anything odd running ?

[DeepDish]

I am not up on this as I used to be. First question, do you have the original windows cd? Second question, do you have the orignal boot disc. This disc has the setup instructions for machines with blank formatted hard drives.

You will need to find out from somebody else if a reload from scratch is possible with a startup disc.

If you have a branded machine (compaq, dell, gateway, etc} you will almost certainly need the original software.

[DeepDish]

I added a couple of keywords to your topic in the hope that it will draw more help.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

I have access to some software including DOS.

I was considering booting-up with my win98 startup disk, choosing cd-rom support(hopefully it will read the win98 cd), a:format, c: enter and after format is complete enter for volume label and it leave blank to make it easier later. Then change to cd-rom drive e: and typing setup and enter win98 and hoping it will now install. But as I said, this is rote memory!

TC

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

I own an HP.

[AlBondigas]

Other thing to try before re-format
Start >>Run & enter sysedit
On the Win.ini file, towards top Run= should have nothing to right of =

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

I'm blocked out of system edit.

Maybe a large magnet would be the most logical answer.

[AlBondigas]

a:format, c: enter and after format is complete

Fdisk lets you partition disk, not format
No "," after format in command line
Is current Harddisk formatted to C: & D:

[AlBondigas]

Did you get the microsoft updates warning in your email ?

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

C only, remainder are drives. It's very difficult for me to respond on this keyboard because of the small size.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

I uploaded by mistake what I thought to be another update which was a virus. I ran a thread and will post the link for you.

[DeepDish]

OK. That will help. I do not know if HP's original software has any restore functions. That I think would depend on the model and year of production. Unfortunately, all the machines I have owned except two I built from parts so I have no experience with factory machines.

I have heard that it is not good to install windows on top of itself so I agree that a format and reinstall is best.

Since it is an HP machine it may even need HP's software to reformat successfully. Some manufacturers used an altered version of windows so as to prevent the loading of unlicscenced versions of windows. A bypass would be to find someone who has recently bought a new hard drive and has the install disk. The drawback is that you would have to open the case to identify the hard drive.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

I have DOS access right now, all I want to do is erase and reload.

[DeepDish]

I have to leave now, I have marked this thread for later and I wish you a smooth reinstall.

[AlBondigas]

Sounds like you have SWEN virus
Only takes 5 min to remove &...you save all yer data, etc

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Thanks.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

I've tried Norton, McAffe, Spybot..., screw the files, time to move on.

[AlBondigas]

Are you locked out of running most apps ?