Do you really need a Windows XP CD to reformat the computer?

[Link5084]

Cause it got hit with a big virus and I can't click on any programs and stuff and the only way is to format everything. I'm using a different computer right now. Cant you just format from the setup menu when you start the computer on?

 

[Mangofett]

Only if you have a recovery partition that was made by whoever made your computer.

 

[alex]

Use cmd to clear the WINDOWS file, or you can't uae that.

Get another virus to wipe your hard drive. XD

 

[Link5084]

Only if you have a recovery partition that was made by whoever made your computer.

Dell made it. Do you know if I can access it through the Recovery Menu at startup? Can you give me a tutorial on how to go from there?

 

[Urza]

You're much better off clean installing from an actual XP disc. Recovery partitions just lead to problems.

 

[juggernaut911]

what urza said. the virus might have infected the recovery partition too

 

[BiscuitBee]

On top of what Urza said, when you install using a Windows XP Cd, then you won't have all that crap Dell includes. Unfortunately, that includes the drivers for all of your stuff too

 

[Urza]

On top of what Urza said, when you install using a Windows XP Cd, then you won't have all that crap Dell includes. Unfortunately, that includes the drivers for all of your stuff too

Which is why you generally include the driver files when burning the XP disc.

 

[jy2]

On top of what Urza said, when you install using a Windows XP Cd, then you won't have all that crap Dell includes. Unfortunately, that includes the drivers for all of your stuff too

Which is why you generally include the driver files when burning the XP disc.

Finding drivers isn't exactly difficult either. Just head off to your PC manufacturers site and type in the model number. Usually they'll have copies of all the drivers for download!

 

[xJonny]

But sometimes not for older hardware

 

[sjones900]

sometimes you cant even do that I lost my recovery partition to a virus so I formatted installed XP pro then I tried to get the drivers but couldn't because I didn't have my ethernet card driver. I had to go to the library to download it and save it on a thumb drive XD

 

[Noobix]

Only if you have a recovery partition that was made by whoever made your computer.

Dell made it. Do you know if I can access it through the Recovery Menu at startup? Can you give me a tutorial on how to go from there?

If it's a Dell PC then you might be lucky...just press control + F11 on reboot to restore it!