Poll: When you reinstall windows

[Pretender]

Vote, speak, be happy.

 

[Viper GTS]

FFR

FDisk
Format
Re-Install

The only way to do it properly.

Viper GTS

 

[hyperphate]

why FDISK?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Depends on the machine. On the family's homebuilt, I use Viper's FFR method. On my ThinkPad, I just pop in the restore disk, and it does it all automatically.

Zenmervolt

 

[Viper GTS]

why FDISK?

I asked myself the same question once. The one time I didn't fdisk I had a crapload of problems until I went back & fdisk'd it out of desperation.

Viper GTS

 

[Sugadaddy]

Just Format and reinstall for me. Done it many times and never FDisked and never had a problem.

edit- it's actually format and Ghost. 5 minutes for a fresh install with all the programs already installed...

 

[hyperphate]

wait, so what are you doin' with FDISK, repartitioning or what ?

 

[Viper GTS]

Exactly. Delete the primary partition, & then re-create it.

Viper GTS

 

[Linflas]

Make folder called OldC.
Copy entire C:\ drive there.
Fdisk

 

[Supradude]

FFR the way to go

 

[Viperoni]

I usually dont bother Fdisking when I reinstall....but I do see the logic behind it.

 

[Viperoni]

I usually dont bother Fdisking when I reinstall....but I do see the logic behind it.

 

[Ace69]

Boot from the Win2K CD and use its built-in partitioning app, format and install from that. You can't do NTFS with fdisk.

But, if I were installing 98 or ME I would go the way of Viper.

 

[palad]

If you want to go one better than fdisking, try writing zeroes to the HDD. Takes a while, but it will clear out the boot sector and make short work of just about any virus, if you're unlucky enough to get one.

 

[SSP]

When I reinstall windows (will be very soon), I will use zero fill (low level format) to get rid of all the partitions, fdisk, then format.

Everytime I reinstall windows, its for a different reason, so its its not always the same.

 

[dave100]

I believe the continuously low level formatting is pretty rough on the disk's surface...
But as mentioned it will rid you of any virus I've ever heard of
-dave

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

Actually, I take apart the HD and scrub the platters with Brillo Pads to get all the gunk off, then Format. You don't want to take chances.

 

[GT1999]

LOL @ Hamburgerpimp

I normally just format and then reinstall. I still don't understand why repartitioning a drive would help fix a problem with a Windows installation, formatting should take care of that by erasing all of the Windows installation, but I guess it wouldn't hurt ...

 

[potz]

i rename the program files and windows folders, and reinstall to \winnt again. saves me the effort of formatting.

 

[LadyNiniane]

<< why FDISK?

I asked myself the same question once. The one time I didn't fdisk I had a crapload of problems until I went back &amp; fdisk'd it out of desperation.

Viper GTS >>



Same here - only I'm a slow learner, so I've tried it at least once with each version of Windows I use.

Same results, every single time. Nothing but Trouble, with a capital &quot;T&quot;.
(and that rhymes with &quot;P&quot;, and that...er, sorry, I was listening to my old tapes again...)

FDisk, then Format C: all the way.

Lady Niniane

 

[Squisher]

Man, I'll tell you, CDRs are the greatest thing that ever happened to Reformatting. I've got a folder that burn to cd called reformatstuff that I keep updated with the all my downloaded programs, data, and all my latest drivers. I can decide to reformat and be up and on the internet in 25 minutes. Totally reloaded(outside of games) in 2 hrs