Dos Command Prompt

[westihockey09]

I am attempting to re-format my harddrive by open the command prompt as soon as i boot up the computer. However I don't know which key to press in order to bring the prompt up. No where does it say f12 or anything. It just has del for the bios set up. Can some one tell what key i have to press?

My Rig:
Asus A8N5X Mobo
1gb of Corsair ValueSelect Ram
80gb @ 7200rpm Seagate Hardrive
eVGa 7600GT KO PCI-E
Creative Audigy Sound Card
AMD FX-55 @ 2.6ghz.
Lite-On 16x CD/DVD-RW


Thanks,
Westi

 

[StarLancer]

f8 after the hardware dections of post

 

[westihockey09]

So once the Asus screen drops I press f8?

 

[mechBgon]

The motherboard doesn't have a built-in disk operating system. If you want to simply delete the existing partitions, you can run Windows Setup from a Windows XP or Windows 2000 CD-ROM, act as if you're going to install Windows, and then just delete the partitions and hit the F3 key twice to exit from Windows Setup.

If you want them thoroughly blanked, use DBAN.

 

[Job]

can u not reformat in windows? If ur reformatting ur Windows Partition, can u not just use the setup to do it? If not, go here http://forums.keeptouch.net/archive/index.php/t-9165.html

 

[westihockey09]

I have xp installed and i want to delete it and re-install it. Which key should i press?

 

[Job]

Just boot from the XP Cd and format over the top - follow the setup instructions

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: westihockey09
I have xp installed and i want to delete it and re-install it. Which key should i press?

1) if your WinXP does not have Service Pack 2 right on the CD already, study these worm-prevention tips (scroll down to the big pic). Note the tips at the end, including unplugging all extra drives, USB drives, memory-card readers, etc.

2) put your WinXP CD-ROM into the CD drive and hit the Reset button on your case to reboot the computer

3) hit the F8 key during the motherboard's POST process, until it says it's going to load the boot menu at the bottom of the screen.

4) on the mobo's boot menu, tell it to boot from the optical drive that's got your Windows CD in it.

5) begin Windows Setup, and delete all the partitions on the hard drive, then press the F3 key twice to EXIT from Windows Setup. This step keeps your boot process from having an annoying screen where it lists WinXP twice.

6) begin Windows Setup a second time, and this time go all the way through. Don't activate Windows until you have (a) applied SP2 if necessary, (b) installed mobo drivers and video drivers, and (c) made sure the OS is stable with a little bit of usage.

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: westihockey09
I have xp installed and i want to delete it and re-install it. Which key should i press?

1) if your WinXP does not have Service Pack 2 right on the CD already, study these worm-prevention tips (scroll down to the big pic). Note the tips at the end, including unplugging all extra drives, USB drives, memory-card readers, etc.

2) put your WinXP CD-ROM into the CD drive and hit the Reset button on your case to reboot the computer

3) hit the F8 key during the motherboard's POST process, until it says it's going to load the boot menu at the bottom of the screen.

4) on the mobo's boot menu, tell it to boot from the optical drive that's got your Windows CD in it.

5) begin Windows Setup, and delete all the partitions on the hard drive, then press the F3 key twice to EXIT from Windows Setup. This step keeps your boot process from having an annoying screen where it lists WinXP twice.

6) begin Windows Setup a second time, and this time go all the way through. Don't activate Windows until you have (a) applied SP2 if necessary, (b) installed mobo drivers and video drivers, and (c) made sure the OS is stable with a little bit of usage.

7) Make sure you install all critical XP updates (except IE7, unless you want that)

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Oyeve

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: westihockey09
I have xp installed and i want to delete it and re-install it. Which key should i press?

1) if your WinXP does not have Service Pack 2 right on the CD already, study these worm-prevention tips (scroll down to the big pic). Note the tips at the end, including unplugging all extra drives, USB drives, memory-card readers, etc.

2) put your WinXP CD-ROM into the CD drive and hit the Reset button on your case to reboot the computer

3) hit the F8 key during the motherboard's POST process, until it says it's going to load the boot menu at the bottom of the screen.

4) on the mobo's boot menu, tell it to boot from the optical drive that's got your Windows CD in it.

5) begin Windows Setup, and delete all the partitions on the hard drive, then press the F3 key twice to EXIT from Windows Setup. This step keeps your boot process from having an annoying screen where it lists WinXP twice.

6) begin Windows Setup a second time, and this time go all the way through. Don't activate Windows until you have (a) applied SP2 if necessary, (b) installed mobo drivers and video drivers, and (c) made sure the OS is stable with a little bit of usage.

7) Make sure you install all critical XP updates (except IE7, unless you want that)

Last I knew, IE7 wasn't a Critical Update (it's on the High Priority list instead) but in my opinion, people should install it whether they themselves use IE routinely or not, for improved system security. Check out Bifrose for example. This general tactic is nothing new.