Computers Advice on wiping out a harddrive and starting over...

Hootie · 01-19-2009, 03:50 PM

I have a friend who is super computer illiterate and she pretty much ruined her laptop (3 years old)...I haven't had the chance to look at it myself but she wants me to try and fix it...says the computer won't turn on (which I think means won't load Windows) and that "cockroaches" appear all over the screen when she tries to turn it on...I think she's mildly reeruned but I told her I'd see what I could do...

What are my options? Could I re-install windows? What is the best way to try and savage the disaster she created?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

kstater · 01-19-2009, 04:00 PM

If it'll read a CD, use the system restore CD. I've had to do it to mine when installing a new HD.

Note: It will reset the hard drive to factory settings, basically like straight out of the box. Wiping the hard drive completely clean.

Ebolapox · 01-19-2009, 04:15 PM

did you paint her house yet? that takes precedence, methinks.

**gblowfish** · 01-19-2009, 04:27 PM

Well, first you douse the entire laptop with Raid....

**pr_capone** · 01-19-2009, 04:38 PM

Do a fresh install from an actual Windows install disk. The system restore disks come with so much useless shit its not even funny.

Make sure that you backup any docs that are important to her before you do so.

In exchange for all the work you do she should let you take nudes of her.

Take the pics, then post them.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 01-19-2009, 04:44 PM

If I were you:

Find a clean XP Pro torrent CD that will pass WGA. Burn that as a bootable ISO on your computer.

Remove her Hard Drive from the laptop.

Find a 2.5" IDE enclosure, put the laptop inside, and attach it to the USB port of your computer.

Pull of any necessary files if you can find them and burn them to DVD

Format the drive.

Reinstall the HDD, and then insert the burned XP ISO CD and install a new version of Windows.

Install any necessary secondary programs that she wants, and you're off and running.

**pr_capone** · 01-19-2009, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

If I were you:

Find a clean XP Pro torrent CD that will pass WGA. Burn that as a bootable ISO on your computer.

Remove her Hard Drive from the laptop.

Find a 2.5" IDE enclosure, put the laptop inside, and attach it to the USB port of your computer.

Pull of any necessary files if you can find them and burn them to DVD

Format the drive.

Reinstall the HDD, and then insert the burned XP ISO CD and install a new version of Windows.

Install any necessary secondary programs that she wants, and you're off and running.

Why pull the HD and format when the Windows install will prompt you to format the HD anyways?

'Hamas' Jenkins · 01-19-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pr_capone

Why pull the HD and format when the Windows install will prompt you to format the HD anyways?

Because by pulling and putting it into an enclosure you can possible salvage data even if Windows won't load, as it will just read it as an external HD. Formatting it afterward is not a necessity, but two wipes are better than one for getting rid of old data if you've pulled off all the stuff you need.

**pr_capone** · 01-19-2009, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Because by pulling and putting it into an enclosure you can possible salvage data even if Windows won't load, as it will just read it as an external HD. Formatting it afterward is not a necessity, but two wipes are better than one for getting rid of old data if you've pulled off all the stuff you need.

I've always booted in safe mode to do my data salvage.

6 of one and a half dozen of the other I guess.

88TG88 · 01-19-2009, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pr_capone

Do a fresh install from an actual Windows install disk. The system restore disks come with so much useless shit its not even funny.

Make sure that you backup any docs that are important to her before you do so.

In exchange for all the work you do she should let you take nudes of her.

Take the pics, then post them.

this

'Hamas' Jenkins · 01-19-2009, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pr_capone

I've always booted in safe mode to do my data salvage.

6 of one and a half dozen of the other I guess.

If you can't boot, you can't really salvage data on the computer in question without a pretty high level understanding of computers.

**pr_capone** · 01-19-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

If you can't boot, you can't really salvage data on the computer in question without a pretty high level understanding of computers.

I understand.

But before cracking a computer open, I would suggest trying safe mode.

If his friend is computer illiterate, I seriously doubt that has been tried.

Coach · 01-19-2009, 11:08 PM

Just seems like the life span on laptops is usually 3 years....

Hootie · 01-20-2009, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H5N1

did you paint her house yet? that takes precedence, methinks.

Oh come on dude, I'm not halfcan. I can have sex with this girl any time I want...she's a little too dumb for girlfriend material.

Hootie · 01-20-2009, 12:53 AM

Hamas...

Sweet dude.

But I don't care about any of her files and neither does she...basically if I can get Windows up and running again I am going to idiot proof her computer...

I know how to do this:

Find a clean XP Pro torrent CD that will pass WGA. Burn that as a bootable ISO on your computer.

Assuming she just wants to start over, do I have to do any of the other stuff? She said she only uses her laptop for music and internet...I can put all of my music on her computer when I'm done fixing it...

What do you think?

01-19-2009, 03:50 PM
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	Advice on wiping out a harddrive and starting over... I have a friend who is super computer illiterate and she pretty much ruined her laptop (3 years old)...I haven't had the chance to look at it myself but she wants me to try and fix it...says the computer won't turn on (which I think means won't load Windows) and that "cockroaches" appear all over the screen when she tries to turn it on...I think she's mildly reeruned but I told her I'd see what I could do... What are my options? Could I re-install windows? What is the best way to try and savage the disaster she created? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Posts: 56,356

01-19-2009, 04:00 PM	#2
kstater Custom User Title Join Date: Jan 2007 Casino cash: $1906563	If it'll read a CD, use the system restore CD. I've had to do it to mine when installing a new HD. Note: It will reset the hard drive to factory settings, basically like straight out of the box. Wiping the hard drive completely clean.
Posts: 39,160

01-19-2009, 04:15 PM	#3
Ebolapox remember, remember Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: como Casino cash: $2119903	did you paint her house yet? that takes precedence, methinks.
Posts: 26,427

01-19-2009, 04:27 PM	#4
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $17686178 VARSITY	Well, first you douse the entire laptop with Raid....
Posts: 40,830

01-19-2009, 04:38 PM	#5
pr_capone ** SOC & ** YOU Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chiefs Hell Casino cash: $10018214	Do a fresh install from an actual Windows install disk. The system restore disks come with so much useless shit its not even funny. Make sure that you backup any docs that are important to her before you do so. In exchange for all the work you do she should let you take nudes of her. Take the pics, then post them.
Posts: 19,884

01-19-2009, 04:44 PM	#6
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	If I were you: Find a clean XP Pro torrent CD that will pass WGA. Burn that as a bootable ISO on your computer. Remove her Hard Drive from the laptop. Find a 2.5" IDE enclosure, put the laptop inside, and attach it to the USB port of your computer. Pull of any necessary files if you can find them and burn them to DVD Format the drive. Reinstall the HDD, and then insert the burned XP ISO CD and install a new version of Windows. Install any necessary secondary programs that she wants, and you're off and running. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,825

01-19-2009, 11:08 PM	#13
Coach Champs! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $5978476	Just seems like the life span on laptops is usually 3 years.... __________________ Super Bowl IV, LIV, LVII & LVIII Champions 2020, 2021, 2023, & 2024 AFC Champions 1985 & 2015 Major League Baseball World Series Champions 1980, 1985, 2014, & 2015 Major League Baseball American League Champions 2015 American League Central Division Champs
Posts: 53,180

01-20-2009, 12:53 AM	#15
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	Hamas... Sweet dude. But I don't care about any of her files and neither does she...basically if I can get Windows up and running again I am going to idiot proof her computer... I know how to do this: Find a clean XP Pro torrent CD that will pass WGA. Burn that as a bootable ISO on your computer. Assuming she just wants to start over, do I have to do any of the other stuff? She said she only uses her laptop for music and internet...I can put all of my music on her computer when I'm done fixing it... What do you think?
Posts: 56,356