HDD Reboot/Reset

[vladittude0583]

Hey guys, I currently have a desktop that is custom made with Windows XP Home Edition OS installed. I was wondering how do I go about configuring the settings to where I can completely delete everything on the HDD as if I was doing a hard reset/reboot because I intend on installing Windows Vista Ultimate? The Windows Vista Ultimate CD I have was given by a friend's father who works for Microsoft, thus, its not the same type of Vista Ultimate CD you would find at retail. My friend's father says that I have to do a complete reboot/hard reset for the CD I have to install. Thanks.

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by vladittude0583

My friend's father says that I have to do a complete reboot/hard reset for the CD I have to install. Thanks.

your windows xp CD will allow you to reformat your hard drive and wipe all of its contents (insert it, boot from CD, and enter the setup and follow on screen prompts to repartition your drive) and that should be enough for Vista, but if you truly wanted to erase the data you would have to zero the drive (and even some say this doesn't completely get rid of everything). there are gazillions of free and retail programs that zero drives.

[brettallica]

You should be able to insert the OS disc when you're in Windows. From there, it'll probably auto-play and ask you if you want to install. Go ahead and say yes to that (assuming you want to do that and that you have all your data backed up). I believe the computer will then restart so that it can release the hard drive to which is writing so it can begin overwriting all the existing data with the new OS data.

I have installed Vista a couple times, but it's been about a year or so since the last time. I'm nearly positive you can do a complete format of the hard drive(s) when installing. Just be sure to follow the prompts during the installer. You wouldn't want to check anything that looks like it might keep the data from the old hard drive.

Usually when one formats and installs fresh, there's a pretty clear option available to install 100% clean and wipe data from the hard drive. There are options out there to fully zero-out a hard drive, but I'm not sure if you're necessarily looking to get that into it.

Basically, Sussudio said it with fewer words.

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by brettallica

Usually when one formats and installs fresh, there's a pretty clear option available to install 100% clean and wipe data from the hard drive. There are options out there to fully zero-out a hard drive, but I'm not sure if you're necessarily looking to get that into it.

exactly...what the windows CD provides should easily be enough for you, no need to zero