Reformatting, how?

[Quintox]

What exactly does it do? And how?

I want to erase everything except windows/exploreer and that stuff. Is there a way to do that? Or do I just reformat and install again?

 

[macdude425]

Reformatting is the act of wiping a drive clean and formatting it with a file system. Formatting will destroy EVERYTHING.

If you want to get rid of everything BUT Windows, then a reformat would be the easiest path.

 

[Quintox]

Alright, then I'd just reinstall windows using the dell reinstall cd, right?

 

[macdude425]

Yes.

 

[Quintox]

Where do I go to reformat?

 

[KSoD]

When you use the CD to boot you will see the Windows ssetup..the option to format will be in there. Just have to wait for setup to laod. It will ask if you want to repair dont. Make it do a fresh install. It will then show Keep as is, format with FAT(quick), Format with NTFS(Quick), Format with FAT, Format with NTFS (recommend). It isnt hard to miss just have to wait till after the setup loads files needed. Then about 30-60 minutes for it to install.

 

[Quintox]

so i choose the NTFS?

 

[KSoD]

You should it is safer and more secure than the FAT system which was used for the 9x platform (95, 98, ME).

 

[Tyler1989]

Boot with the Cd and go to install windows. Then it will format with NTFS.

 

[tribalsun]

Incorrect Tyler, it will not just format automatically to NTFS. They will have to choose among the 5 options that Makaveli213 originally and correctly stated in their reply.