Need Help - trying to reformat XP

[ctf20]

I am trying to reformat a Gateway computer that has XP. It had a virus on it...I managed to get all my stuff off of it, and am ready to reformat. We had this same problem with a laptop in the house and had no problem reformatting.


But i put in the drivers disc (which it says to put in first) - and i could not get it to boot from it, i went into the bios and told it to boot from disc. but it still didn't work. FINALLY one time it worked, it booted from the disc (i believe i pushed F8 and it asked me what to boot from)...anyway, it was working, and then it asked me to put in the next disc which was the OS disc. but then it kept opening the drive and asking for the disc that was already in it! and say push any key - so i tried several times to close it and push a key to try again. but it just does that over and over.

is there some other thing i can try to reformat? I can boot in safe mode. but if it boots normally the computer is just frozen.


thanks for any help!!!!!

 

[Billb2]

You will need a full install disk. Prebuilt computers don't reinstall the OS they just copy stuff from a hidden partition inorder to return them to the condition they were in when new.

 

[ctf20]

it has been reformated with these discs before..it says operating system on the disc.....it's not the operating system? i'm putting in the disc it is asking for...

 

[ctf20]

so what do i do? can anybody help?

 

[C1]

Reviewing Gateway's standard method of doing business (ie, recovery), you should have typically 3 to 4 CDs for restoring the machine. These CDs are an image which should have been made from the back up media for the operating system, drivers, and application software that is saved on a D partition on the hard drive.

So you need to have all these disks & insert them in the correct order. If you do not have them, you will need to use the OOBE (Out of Box Experience) Recovery process to create them or purchase the needed materials from Gateway or some third party or buy an OS and download the drivers from Gateway.

Also remember:

- The Drivers and Applications CD is not bootable and does not contain Operating System files.
- The System Recovery CD/DVD is bootable but does not contain any application or driver files.
- If the end-user erases the hard drive and restores the computer using the System Recovery CD/DVD and an Applications and Drivers CD, the recovery partition is not recreated


Finally, during POST, keep an eye on the lower portion of the screen for a message about which key to press for boot device selection (Sometimes F1 or F2 or DEL).

Good Luck!

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[Bozo Galora]

Boot into safe mode prompt screen, and pick safe mode with command prompt
After \documents_and_settings\_ type the following:
%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
pick a date before the virus

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449

 

[ctf20]

I have a red drivers cd and a blue operating systems cd. the red one says to put in first when reformatting, and you will be prompted for the blue disc...finally got it to boot from the disc, and it seemed to be working...and asked for the blue disk, but won't recognize it.

i am pretty sure i have reformatted this computer before. i will look and see if there are any other discs.

what if i've never set a restore point? then i assume that won't work Bozo?

 

[Bozo Galora]

If restore is on, it will auto create restore points, tied to system changes like install of softwares
just do it and see if they are threre - cant hurt anything