ADVICE/HELP: Reformatting laptop

JClarke said:
The reformatting will occur when I move house first, SG
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That would give ya plenty of time to find out what else you need for your laptop like drivers etc. So ya will be prepared. :)
 
I can help

to really really wipe everything of the hard drive is easy
but you have to be utter 100% sure and ready as have already backup everything, once you start, no turning back


before starting,
I assume you already know about computers as you work with them right?

but first then first
to get the copy of the OS as you need a copy?
hmm
apprently lately HP/compaq have a shitty policy of ensuring you only make one copy of the recovery cd/DVD
they have an instruction in the manual, where you can burn a copy ONCE
and after that you can't burn another copy. Its stupid I know but thats their fuck up, they like to save $$ for burning cds before selling, (the users supply the blanks), and also it's thought as method to combat piracy.

so if you havent checked this out already, please do so, if outa luck, buy a cheap copy of XP, not many ppl like Vista btw)

now as for the wiping the hard drive
google, dban
thats right 'dban'
download this small program its an extremely dangerous program, the pentagon uses this to destroy government secrets before de-commissioning their hard drive (or even destroying it physically but they like todestroy data , IN case it gets swiped by spies, yep they're that fussy - they have to be)

create a boot CD using an ISO for dban
ensure your bios is set so the cd/dvd is priority in the boot sequence, otherwise look at the bottom of the black boot up screen - usually says 'press space to boot cd' depending on the mbo uses, and their Bios versions

use dban, use the simpliest one, it takes a while, you can choose higher order of wiping sequences but it does takes a LOOOOONG time to wipe...
trust me you know need to use the 1 pass version, its sufficient unless youre really paranoid

once you done that
take out dban cd, shut down,

then boot up using the xp/vista cd/dvd do the format
a complete format in NFS system (if its xp, not sure vista i havent experienced vista yet)
then just go ahead install XP/vista as normal

thing is
i dont like the idea of using the lappy's 'bundled OS" its bloated with shitware in it
you'd make a machine so much better with the clean standard XP or Vista and hunt down the drivers...

best of luck
 
also i like deafpenpal/highlanders idea of suggest you to get an external USB hdd enclosure , Very useful, its like a giant flashdrive. (well if you can think of it this way) but yep be sure to know exactly what hdds you're talking about, sata or ide (older lappys), etc
 
[yt]Hk02dMsXJVw[/yt]

a perfect way to 100% erase your hd.

Its full strong magnetic machine :)
 
Grummer --- could you PM me the accruate step by step instructions about the schitt you just explained to me? (More specific) but I know, some of you know that I know computers, but not 100% -- I don't know much about reformatting one, which I have NEVER done one, replacing harddrives in desktops, done that hundreds of times, not to mention laptops >.< Thats why I am asking for advice and help here though.
 
laptop is easy. I believe your laptop hard drive is locates on the bottom upper left hand corner next to the fan. Just use the right tool to unscrew the screws and take the hard drive out. But first unplug the laptop and take out the big battery from the laptop then take out the hard drive. Wear your static strap before doing so.
 
ah, that what it was, i didnt get it before that you needed help on how to remove the HDD from the laptop, well i dont know either, never done it before but my mates done it lots and he says its easy, I believe him seen a video on how to build bareback lap top kitset on tom's hardware good video you should get it and watch it. its grouse, but i suspect its not alot cheaper than Buying a pre-assembled (gamers) laptops but some guys lilke the idea of DIY regardless.

anyway i sent an PM, and i doubt its exactly what you want, but im sure I have thrown in some ideas about windows, and such things.
anyway last thing, why wuold you want to pull it out? when if you going to use it on another machine you can not use it as primary, only as a secondary drive, other wise wiping it only to be your USB "giant flash drive" seem pointless when you intend to sell a lappy with no HDD, that is not a good thing, it will be hard to sell, even impossible, best leave t, just copy over files, wipe the disc, reinstall the OS, and supply that recovery CD/dvd with that lappy youre selling, again pointless to keep the windows cd, u nless you really know how to crack it- which is quite hard.
once again good luck
 
There is two options for me to choose from -- Wipe the information and all the schitt from the HDD or replace it with a new HDD.

And I didnt get your PM. There is something wrong with my PM system.
 
Calvin said:
[yt]Hk02dMsXJVw[/yt]

a perfect way to 100% erase your hd.

Its full strong magnetic machine :)
Click to expand...

wow it's so powerful that the video camera could not even record the whole process!! wow!! great advertisement!! :-o
 
your hotmail,
you would save money if you just wipe the hdd, if you buy a new hdd and sell you will lose as you 'wont get money back from the hdd' Uless it is really damaged
 
Calvin said:
[yt]Hk02dMsXJVw[/yt]

a perfect way to 100% erase your hd.

Its full strong magnetic machine :)
Click to expand...

This machine will destroy the hard drive for good.. No one will ever be able to use the drive again. I use $30 strong DAT eraser at work which it will damage the drive to the point it become unusable but take like 2-3 minutes do that. But damn, the machine showed in video must have a serious strong magnetic field if it can destroy in one second.
 
JClarke said:
There is two options for me to choose from -- Wipe the information and all the schitt from the HDD or replace it with a new HDD.

And I didnt get your PM. There is something wrong with my PM system.
Click to expand...

dban (wiper) is free but take very very long time.. Replacing with new HD is quickest if you are very concerned about your data security.

However, there was a report while back that a customer bought a brand new disk drive and guess what? It contains soft porns!!! I thought it was funny story.. I guess HD manufacturer must have dump the porn to HD for QA testing or something???? LOL!
 
Ahh, I am not concerned with the data secrutiy as long it is cleaning out an balah df
 
RichardDeaf said:
dban (wiper) is free but take very very long time.. Replacing with new HD is quickest if you are very concerned about your data security.
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have you used it before?
a 1 pass is good enough, more passes indeed take a long time(ive tried 3 options, a 1 pass is good enough, even it would kills the bastardest virus that recurrs itself EVEN after a REINSTALL of WIndows (yes i have seen that). So becuase of this experience I vouch the idea of using dban, for at least every reinstalls. just my opinion however most people dont require to use those high-level wipes, ok if you're really excited about it LOL

RichardDeaf said:
However, there was a report while back that a customer bought a brand new disk drive and guess what? It contains soft porns!!! I thought it was funny story.. I guess HD manufacturer must have dump the porn to HD for QA testing or something???? LOL!
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LOL yeah most likely, or someone in their staff is being cheeky

if you choose a 1 pass it doesnt take that long, 1/2-1 hr tops just like formating or defragging.....it is certainly a good way to wipe, wipe it clean and make the whole hdd re-usable

but on lappy i would imagine it take longer, might take 1-1/2 hr, maybe 2 hrs but its worth it, fine, just do it, and walk away go watch olympics for an hour or so come back, its easy
 
Grummer said:
have you used it before?
a 1 pass is good enough, more passes indeed take a long time(ive tried 3 options, a 1 pass is good enough, even it would kills the bastardest virus that recurrs itself EVEN after a REINSTALL of WIndows (yes i have seen that). So becuase of this experience I vouch the idea of using dban, for at least every reinstalls. just my opinion however most people dont require to use those high-level wipes, ok if you're really excited about it LOL
Click to expand...

Yes I have used it once before before I sold my old computer to someone. I did used multipass.. I just ran it before I went to bed.
 
RichardDeaf said:
dban (wiper) is free but take very very long time.. Replacing with new HD is quickest if you are very concerned about your data security.

However, there was a report while back that a customer bought a brand new disk drive and guess what? It contains soft porns!!! I thought it was funny story.. I guess HD manufacturer must have dump the porn to HD for QA testing or something???? LOL!
Click to expand...

I agreed with you about replace with new hard drive is quick.

Maybe old customer return bad hard drive to company then company rebuild it and resell as "brand new" Who know! Is asia porn? If so then must be manufacturer.
 
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