Your posting is confusing me, but if you're asking about formatting a HDD, yes a format operation WILL indeed erase all the datat that is currently on that HDD. So in that case you will NEED to back it up. On the other hand, if you just install the OS w/out formatting the HDD, you could it do it that way, but that also poses a risk IMHO and you could risk losing your personal data.
Bottom line: Always back it up when in doubt. You have a CD-Burner or a external HDD you could hook up to this PC by chance?
Bottom line: Always back it up when in doubt. You have a CD-Burner or a external HDD you could hook up to this PC by chance?