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Formatting your Hard Drive:
Before you format your computer make sure it is
what you truly want to do. You can't go back
after you format. Formatting means that you
completely erase everything on the drive and
then you choose what file format that you want
the drive to read with like FAT32, and NTFS.
When you format your drive again I say, you will
loose all of your data period.
Why do people format hard drives? If you have so
many glitches in your operating system due to a
corrupt or interrupted installation is one of
the most popular genuine reasons for choosing to
format a drive. Others may choose to format
because of a worm, or virus that has gotten out
of control. So many people choose to format a
drive for reasons that are not necessary and in
the long run these people do in-fact get a fresh
start but they spend a lot more time
re-installing the operating system, and programs
on the computer. If this is why you are thinking
of formatting you may first want to try a
anti-virus program or spyware removal tool.
Don't forget if you backup the infected files
onto a cd and plan on re-installing them onto
the new drive you will be re-infecting your
computer.
With so many reasons to format I can not
possibly list them all so I will not even try
but you get the general idea. So now lets assume
that you still have plans of formatting your
computer, you need to
backup all your
information! Using a backup utility is the
best way to make sure you have every file that
you need. But if you choose to only backup
certain file and want to burn them onto DVD or
CD then I will remind you of the two most
forgotten things when backing up a hard-drive.
This may not apply to you.
1. Backup your Browser (Internet Explorer)
Favorites Files...
This can be found by following these directions.
First go to "my computer" then select your hard
drive (most often it is "C:/") the choose
"Documents and Settings" Then select the user
that you want to get the favorites files from,
lastly copy the folder named "Favorites". Once
you have formatted the computer and are ready to
replace the existing favorites files with these
just paste it on top of the existing favorites
file.
2. Backup your Outlook Express or Outlook - All
your emails.
The best directions to backup your emails can be
found at microsoft.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;270670
OK LETS START BACKING UP MY DRIVE!
The easiest way to reformat a drive is to
just put your Microsoft Windows cd into the
drive and when the wizard opens up select to
"Install Windows" then choose the "Complete
Install - Advanced". This will go through
several simple steps and then will restart and
bring up a blue screen. One of the questions
that it will ask if you would like to leave the
existing drive the same or format it. Obviously
choose Format. The next question that you will
need to choose is how to format your drive. Here
are your options and reasons why for each.
NTFS Long Format - Best format structure
and the long will take the extra steps to make
sure everything is correct.
NTFS Quick Format - Best format
structure, but the quick format will be more
than acceptable for most personal computers.
FAT32 Long Format - It's ok, but not the
best format of the 2 FAT32 this is better.
FAT32 Quick Format - It's ok, but not the
best format.
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