Hey i need to reformat my other computer cuz it is sooooo slow and want to start it off fresh again… but i dont know how. i did it on an other computer but it came with a cd to reformat and install windows… the comp i am trying to reformat did not come with a cd, and i didnt burn one cuz a burner didnt come with the computer… i am trying to reformat an eMachine T2240 with WinXP… so if you know how i can my computer to how it was when i first got it out of the box, please help… if i didnt give enough info just ask…
There should be a recovery partition on the HD that holds a recovery image of the operating system already preconfigured and ready to go (just like it was out of the box when new).
Go to Disk Management and check if there is an additional partition (possibly hidden). That additional partition should be the recovery partition.
Control Panel >> Administrative Tools >> Computer Management >> Storage >> Disk Management
There is probably a start menu option to start the recovery process. There should be an Emachines help menu or similar in the Start menu. The recovery program is probably there.
You can also probably enter the recovery program during system boot by hitting a special key (for my HP it is F10) before Windows starts to boot. That way you can run the recovery even if Windows is fully borked.
Be aware that system recovery is a destructive process. It will reformat the drive. All data on the drive will be lost. Backup everything to CD you want to save before running the system restore.
thanks… this is why i love this forum…
Before you restore you might want to download (and burn to a CD) AutoPatcher for Windows XP.
When you restore Windows XP it will be all naked with no current security updates. AutoPatcher will all of the current Microsoft security updates and a few other updates as well. Since it will be on CD you can get Windows XP all updated before you connect it to the internet. Tis not safe to connect an old naked install of Windows XP to the internet without any updates.
And another reminder, system recovery is a destructive process. It wipes the hard drive. All data on the C drive, and possibly other partitions, will be erased. Backup first.