Computer and Software Support


Information to read before doing a reinstall 

Should I delete the partition or just format the drive?

The following will permanently delete all data on drive. Make sure you back up any data you want to save before continuing.

Here is some information before you begin your operating system reinstall. Some or all may or may not apply to your situation

***NOTE***

If you have a zip drive, flash card reader, printer, or other non required items, you will need to disconnect it from the system before doing the install of windows. If the zip, flash card reader or printer is connected, the windows installation will make the zip drive, flash card reader, or printer drive C and assign the hard drive with a different letter. Some programs will not install unless the hard drive is drive C. You can connect the zip drive once windows is loaded. It is good practice to disconnect all unnecessary devices before the install.

IF you have a second hard drive, Physically disconnect it before the install. This will prevent the install from accidentally touching the second hard drive and ruining the install. When you are done then install the second hard drive.

The following is items you need to do or be aware of before you start the install

  • It is recommended that you disconnect all peripheral devices except the keyboard, mouse, and monitor prior to reinstalling the operating system. Peripheral include printers, scanners, zip drives, external modems, external hard drives, secondary hard drives (that is not being uses as part of a RAID) USB Hubs (there may be other items not listed here. If it is not needed for the install then disconnect it)

  • If you are using a Windows upgrade CD to install windows during a clean install (doesn't apply if you are doing an upgrade install from within windows) You will need the CD (XP and older systems installs) and/or the product key of the previous operating system (Windows vista and newer installs)

  • If you are creating a RAID install (where you use two or more disks as one disk), you will need to consult the manufacturer of the RAID that is on your motherboard or pc card for instructions on setting up RAID. With RAID there is an additional step you have to do at the beginning of Windows install. the instructions vary depending on the model of the RAID.

 

You will need the following

  • Windows Operating system CD for the OS you want to install

  • Previous Windows CD (if you are doing a clean install (no windows currently on system or deleting the operating system before the install))

  • Driver disks

  • Additional driver and utility diskettes or CDs

  • Download Delpart.exe (Optional) Click here to download the file

  • Download Gparted (Optional) Click here to download the file

Delpart.exe, gparted and the debug script does the same thing. They all delete the partition. Delpart.exe and gparted.exe is quicker and easier to use than the debug script. You can also have the windows CD delete the partition (However the windows CD does not do a good job deleting the partition). You can use debug, windows CD, delpart or gparted to delete the partition. I would recommend either delpart or gparted. I have not personally used gparted yet but everyone I know that has used it loves it. Since it makes its own bootable disk, it will probably be easier to use than delpart.

NOTICE:

 The procedures below require a repartitioning and reformatting of the hard drive. This will permanently erase all data on the drive. Please back up any data you wish to preserve before performing these procedures. During the procedure it will ask you for the product key. Have it handy to enter when it requests it. Some installs vary to a certain degree but all of them follow the following steps enough to be able to use this layout for all of them.

Below is instructions on doing a clean install with the full version and how to do a clean upgrade install. Click on the link that applies to you

  • Clean install - This will install Windows on a blank drive or a drive that had windows on it but you are wiping the drive. This is a full install of windows without needing an older operating system. (The operating system CD costs more because it is the full version)
  • Upgrade install - This is where you are upgrading to a newer operating system. For example you have Windows ME and you are installing Windows XP. (This disk is cheaper than the full because you are upgrading) To do the upgrade, you will need the operating system CD of your previous operating system.
  • Reinstall through Dell PC Restore (if the system is a Dell)

You can also do an in place upgrade to Windows XP, this one does not delete your data on your drive. I do not support this method. It offers to many possibilities of error that can crash the install. The crash can ruin your personal files so data loss is possible. If you do decide to do an in place upgrade do the following

  1. Back up your data that you don't want to loose (this procedure is not intended to touch your data but because of the possibilities of problems arise during the install, data loss can happen and if you do not have your data backed up, you can loose it)

  2. Run a scan with your anti-virus program (a virus can crash the install so you have to make sure there is no viruses)

  3. Run a malware scan with Malwarebytes or other anti-spyware software (malware can make the installation crash)

  4. Be sure to disconnect any peripherals such as scanners, cameras, printers and such. They can crash your install

  5. Go to Microsoft.com and run the upgrade advisor to see if there is anything on your computer that will not work with Windows XP. If you install with something incompatible, it can crash your system.

  6. While at the Desktop, put the CD in and follow the directions to install windows.