Question about Full System Recovery

Rambone · 04-08-2007, 10:00 PM

I'm going to wipe my HD clean and I wanted to know something crucial. In my Windows Startup manual it says that I'm supposed to "disconnect all peripheral devices from the PC except for the monitior, keyboard and the mouse" before I proceed with cleaning the HD.

My question is....Do I also have to disconnect my video card???

**mattlock** · 04-08-2007, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rambone

I'm going to wipe my HD clean and I wanted to know something crucial. In my Windows Startup manual it says that I'm supposed to "disconnect all peripheral devices from the PC except for the monitior, keyboard and the mouse" before I proceed with cleaning the HD.

My question is....Do I also have to disconnect my video card???

Hello and Welcome to TSF,
No you do not ,and cannot disconnect the video card as that is what your monitor connects to. If you have a video card and onboard video you'll need to disable the onboard video in the Bios.

**Doby** · 04-08-2007, 10:05 PM

No don't disconnect anything inside the computer this is not necassary. Just disconnect things like printers, joysticks,camera's ect. till you get windows installed then add the extras one at a time

Rambone · 04-08-2007, 10:08 PM

k thanks

Rambone · 04-08-2007, 11:22 PM

Oh...and one more question...do I have to re-install my drivers after I reboot???

**mattlock** · 04-08-2007, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rambone

Oh...and one more question...do I have to re-install my drivers after I reboot???

Yes, when you "wipe a HD clean" all your programs, data, and Drivers will be gone.
After the Windows install is complete, you'll have to install all the drivers for you motherboard and onboard devices. Then re-install all your programs.

Rambone · 04-09-2007, 01:04 AM

Last question...Does my G: get cleaned as well or is it just my C:???

**Deleted090308** · 04-09-2007, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rambone

Last question...Does my G: get cleaned as well or is it just my C:???

Hi,
Is G: located on the HDD as C:? If so - when you "wipe the HD clean" all data in both partitions will be erased. On the other hand - during reinstallation of XP you will have the choice to format C: and leave G: as it is.

Rambone · 04-09-2007, 01:28 AM

I have a 300GB harddrive installed in my C: and a 82GB harddrive installed in my G:

I also have a 500GB harddrive that I'm using to backup the files on both drives before I wipe the HD's clean.

**Deleted090308** · 04-09-2007, 01:36 AM

So you're going to reinstall Windows on C:, which is the only partition on the 300 GB HDD? Then there shouldn't be any problems - just make sure you choose the C: drive during the re-install.

Rambone · 04-09-2007, 01:42 AM

Yeah, the only files that are on my G: are mp3 files and pictures. All of my program data is located on the C:

**Deleted090308** · 04-09-2007, 01:51 AM

Are you going to use 300 GB for Windows and programs only? How much space are you using for Windows/programs now?

Rambone · 04-09-2007, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eneles

Are you going to use 300 GB for Windows and programs only? How much space are you using for Windows/programs now?

NO, I'm going to use the 300GB for other things like storing pictures and mp3s and a few games.

**Deleted090308** · 04-09-2007, 02:04 AM

It might be a good idea to create a partition for Windows/programs and another partition for storage on the 300 GB HDD. That way you won't have to backup/move the stored files in case you have to format the C: drive again.

Rambone · 04-09-2007, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eneles

It might be a good idea to create a partition for Windows/programs and another partition for storage on the 300 GB HDD. That way you won't have to backup/move the stored files in case you have to format the C: drive again.

I don't really NEED to though because I have my files organized in such a way that backing them up isn't at all a hassle.

**Deleted090308** · 04-09-2007, 02:17 AM

OK - then just reinstall Windows on the C: drive.

Rambone · 04-09-2007, 02:25 AM

OK.

So if I'm correct, I won't need to format the G:???

**Deleted090308** · 04-09-2007, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rambone

OK.

So if I'm correct, I won't need to format the G:???

Yes, that is correct. You don't have to format G:.

Rambone · 04-09-2007, 02:32 AM

Good. Thanks for clearing that up for me. I can't believe I've been working with computers for over 9 years and this is the first time I've had to do this (clean the drives).

Rambone · 04-12-2007, 08:01 AM

BTW, when I was formatting my external HD, there was an option to "enable compression". What is that?

04-08-2007, 10:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
Rambone Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 69 OS: Windows XP Home Edition	Question about Full System Recovery I'm going to wipe my HD clean and I wanted to know something crucial. In my Windows Startup manual it says that I'm supposed to "disconnect all peripheral devices from the PC except for the monitior, keyboard and the mouse" before I proceed with cleaning the HD. My question is....Do I also have to disconnect my video card???

04-08-2007, 10:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Doby Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Central PA (USA) Posts: 8,056 OS: XP sp2/ Vista My System	Re: Question about Full System Recovery No don't disconnect anything inside the computer this is not necassary. Just disconnect things like printers, joysticks,camera's ect. till you get windows installed then add the extras one at a time __________________ Would you like to help TSF fight cancer and other diseases??? JOIN TEAM TSF

04-08-2007, 10:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Rambone Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 69 OS: Windows XP Home Edition	Re: Question about Full System Recovery k thanks

04-08-2007, 11:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
Rambone Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 69 OS: Windows XP Home Edition	Re: Question about Full System Recovery Oh...and one more question...do I have to re-install my drivers after I reboot???

04-09-2007, 01:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
Rambone Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 69 OS: Windows XP Home Edition	Re: Question about Full System Recovery Last question...Does my G: get cleaned as well or is it just my C:???

04-09-2007, 01:28 AM	#9 (permalink)
Rambone Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 69 OS: Windows XP Home Edition	Re: Question about Full System Recovery I have a 300GB harddrive installed in my C: and a 82GB harddrive installed in my G: I also have a 500GB harddrive that I'm using to backup the files on both drives before I wipe the HD's clean.

04-09-2007, 01:36 AM	#10 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Question about Full System Recovery So you're going to reinstall Windows on C:, which is the only partition on the 300 GB HDD? Then there shouldn't be any problems - just make sure you choose the C: drive during the re-install.

04-09-2007, 01:42 AM	#11 (permalink)
Rambone Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 69 OS: Windows XP Home Edition	Re: Question about Full System Recovery Yeah, the only files that are on my G: are mp3 files and pictures. All of my program data is located on the C:

04-09-2007, 01:51 AM	#12 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Question about Full System Recovery Are you going to use 300 GB for Windows and programs only? How much space are you using for Windows/programs now?

04-09-2007, 02:04 AM	#14 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Question about Full System Recovery It might be a good idea to create a partition for Windows/programs and another partition for storage on the 300 GB HDD. That way you won't have to backup/move the stored files in case you have to format the C: drive again.

04-09-2007, 02:17 AM	#16 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Question about Full System Recovery OK - then just reinstall Windows on the C: drive.

04-09-2007, 02:25 AM	#17 (permalink)
Rambone Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 69 OS: Windows XP Home Edition	Re: Question about Full System Recovery OK. So if I'm correct, I won't need to format the G:???

04-09-2007, 02:32 AM	#19 (permalink)
Rambone Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 69 OS: Windows XP Home Edition	Re: Question about Full System Recovery Good. Thanks for clearing that up for me. I can't believe I've been working with computers for over 9 years and this is the first time I've had to do this (clean the drives).

04-12-2007, 08:01 AM	#20 (permalink)
Rambone Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 69 OS: Windows XP Home Edition	Re: Question about Full System Recovery BTW, when I was formatting my external HD, there was an option to "enable compression". What is that?