Does anyone know how to "wipe" a computer?

Bunch of great guys here..I will check back in the am :)
 
I've managed to navigate myself to a blue screen that is asking about partitions. #1 is called [FAT]. #2 appears to be the C: drive. What to do?
 
Sounds like you are at the point where it is asking you which drive you want to install the Windows Operating system too... or it is perhaps at the point that it is asking you to establish/format the partition(s). You should partition the drive as an "NTFS" drive rather than as a "FAT". Can you tell us anything else about where you are in the process? What screens have you already been too? Is the screen asking you a specific question that it wants you to respond too? What exactly is it asking?
 
Reinstalling windows will give you a clean start.
Dells come with a restore to factory settings option.

If you're planning on getting rid of the computer. Pop out the hard drive, and smash it with the destructive impliment of your choice. Hard drive wiped permanently. :D
 
After an experience like this, it's not a bad idea to invest in an external hard drive and start using it to back your machine up.

Then when something goes wrong you can restore it to the most recent backup and be up and running again with little to no struggle.
 
Well, I am definitely not a computer man, but I am pretty sharp. He he. I would estimate, conservatively, :) that at least half of my Internet life is spent on this particular website. I hate to lean on you guys like this. Timmy check your PMs.
 
dttomcat said:
I through with Norton. I will probably re-subscribe to Macafee at my earliest convenience. Any anti-viral help would be much appreciated. How do I connect to the web "unprotected" to update the old software?
Click to expand...

You can always look at Microsoft Security Essentials, it's free and it works. The only purchased AV software I recommend and use is TrendMicro.
To connect you would do it the same way as you would if you already have AV software.

Also, you will awnt to use NTFS over FAT32, just saying'
 
Do not use Macafee. It's awful, it allowed at least three viruses onto my computer last year and I had to reformat my hard drive to get rid of them. It would automatically update in the middle of things, then automatically restart the computer with no option to turn it off. The pop up blocker was more annoying than the actual pop ups. It regularly crashed my computer. And a quick virus scan once took 8 hours, and that's after it searched for updates and restarted a couple of times. You call tech support and they put you on hold for 45 minutes just so you can speak with someone who can't form a sentence in English and sounds like they're on a cell phone in a tunnel. You e-mail tech support and they take three weeks to return your e-mail just to tell you to call tech support which gets you no where. You use their tech support chat function and it takes them an hour to connect you and the guy, who also can't form a sentence in English, tells you that you need to reinstall Macafee and re-load all of the updates, which easily takes an extra three hours.

I use Microsoft Secuity Essentials, haven't had a single virus nor any need to call tech support since I got it. Updating takes all of two minutes, doesn't restart my computer; in fact, I never even see it updating, it just does its thing in the background and I never hear about it. A full scan takes an hour at the most, and you can turn off the pop-up blocker which is still more annoying than the actual pop-ups.
 
'nother thumbs up for MS security essentials....for now..I have Avast pro on my lappy with no issues thus far, but have started putting MSE on all other new computers that I come in contact with.

On another note- You are done re-installing,..Is this correct?
 
dttomcat said:
I've managed to navigate myself to a blue screen that is asking about partitions. #1 is called [FAT]. #2 appears to be the C: drive. What to do?
Click to expand...

From what I've read about your computer model, the FAT (type of partition) drive contains some utility software. The C: drive is one you want to reformat.

You could delete both partitions and then create one new partition that uses the entire drive. Not sure the consequences of losing those utilities installed on the FAT drive though, so maybe you'd better let it be.

Dells come with a restore to factory settings option.
Click to expand...
Some do, via a hidden recovery partition. Not terribly useful in instances when the hard drive goes bad and needs replacing. Anyhow, dttomcat's specific computer model doesn't have the "restore to factory" option; instead it has recovery disks for a from-scratch install.
 
I've switched to Microsoft Security Essentials as of last night. Just to try it out.

Haven't gotten a virus in years anyway.
 
I used to use Avast for my antivirus protection, free and good. For a firewall I used ZoneAlarm.

Chad
 
Software firewalls are a PITA for people that are not familiar with computers. If you use your computer responsibly, you should have no need for a firewall. Zone Alarm is a POS as far as I am concerned. Every computer I have run across that has it installed, I have removed it double time. The only real firewall you "need" is a well configured router.
 
RevDevil said:
Software firewalls are a PITA for people that are not familiar with computers. If you use your computer responsibly, you should have no need for a firewall. Zone Alarm is a POS as far as I am concerned. Every computer I have run across that has it installed, I have removed it double time. The only real firewall you "need" is a well configured router.
Click to expand...

I no longer use a software firewall..They do have their uses, but I hated the popups for KNOWN issues such as an update for java...Do I really want you to ask me if it's alright that my java checks for updates? The upside benefit was alerting me to not necessarily what was coming in, but what was trying to go out. Some useful information at times. (of course there are other ways to get this information)
I do still install them on computers that I work on....just not my own..I can un-bork a computer firewall easier than letting someone that doesn't know any better install anything and everything on this planet on their computer, regardless of it's source.
 
bhyde said:
I do still install them on computers that I work on....just not my own..I can un-bork a computer firewall easier than letting someone that doesn't know any better install anything and everything on this planet on their computer, regardless of it's source.
Click to expand...

I find software firewalls much easier to configure than a router. Maybe it's just me, but networking permissions are a PITA. Much easier to click Yes or No if an application is trying to access the internet.

A software firewall is also very effective at preventing viruses, trojans, and spyware from connecting to the internet. The purpose of many viruses is to steal information from the infected computer and send it to a host, or to download and install even more viruses or advertising spyware. Often the first indicator that a computer is infected is the ZoneAlarm popup asking for server permission.
 
dttomcat said:
I through with Norton. I will probably re-subscribe to Macafee at my earliest convenience. Any anti-viral help would be much appreciated. How do I connect to the web "unprotected" to update the old software?
Click to expand...

stay away from mcafee. That is the worst anti-virus program there is out there. Check out norton 360. but if you want a free anti-virus, get Avast! (the exclamation point is part of the name).
 
In the past the problem with the storebought subscription-based anti-virus software was the effect on computer performance. Memory hogs. From what I've read, this isn't as much of an issue today. Software improvements, and most machines having a surplus of memory and computing power.

Also the way some of these softwares practically took over computers and refused to let go. Just try removing all traces of the free trial Norton/McAfee that comes with off-the-shelf computers.

Another obvious problem, once the free trial subscription runs out, how many people pay for the continued updates? Not many. Don't know how many times I've restored computers with anti-virus programs installed and running, only they've not been updated in five years or more.
 
Still workin' on it. I hate flippin' computers. My new "friend" is telling me to take it to the Best Buy next door and let the geek squad work on it. I think she hit the nail on the head. I found myself a winner. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top