Dell Dimension 4700 reformat instructions

RetiredVOMA · 11-17-2008, 06:17 PM

I'm desperately looking for explicit instructions to reformat my hard drive. I cannot seem to get any that relate to my system. Can anyone help me .... please & thank you.

morris · 11-18-2008, 08:42 AM

Hi RetiredVOMA

Reformatting a hard drive is not computer specific.
Reformatting a hard drive simply sets up a 'file system' on a drive partition
making it ready for installing an operating system or other uses.
File system examples: FAT, FAT32, NTFS, LINUX, Extended, etc...
Be warned that by reformatting you will lose any data stored on that partition.

For explicit instructions, what do you wish to do after reformatting?

RetiredVOMA · 11-18-2008, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morris

Hi RetiredVOMA

Reformatting a hard drive is not computer specific.
Reformatting a hard drive simply sets up a 'file system' on a drive partition
making it ready for installing an operating system or other uses.
File system examples: FAT, FAT32, NTFS, LINUX, Extended, etc...
Be warned that by reformatting you will lose any data stored on that partition.

For explicit instructions, what do you wish to do after reformatting?

I'm just going to re-install XP. Very aware that the reformat process isn't model specific but in one set of instructions someone gave me one of the first steps was to "chose option 4". Doesn't exist. Another was to insert "Blue" disk .... mine is green. Currently there are two OS's (both XP) on the system. I just want to clean everything off and then start fresh ..... I just can't find any instructions that work with what I have on the system now.

cgrimm9 · 11-18-2008, 12:27 PM

fisrts thing is first back up any data you want to keep.
1.insert OS Disk
2.restart computer with OS disk in computer
3.hit f2 while the dell screen is up
4make sure boot sequence has cd rom before hard drive
5. save and exit
6. hit enter when press anykey to boot from disk
7.when it askes hit enter to contenue
8.hit f8 to agree with the terms
9
hit c to contenue
from here you shoud see both partitions and will tell you what to do on the bottom the rest is self explainatory

RetiredVOMA · 11-18-2008, 07:50 PM

Thanks for the help. Finally got it done !!!

RetiredVOMA · 11-19-2008, 12:48 PM

So now I need to connect to the internet. It isn't happening automatically ... what do I need to do ? I have a cable connection with Comcast. I have not yet installed any drivers. I assume that is a necessity ??

cgrimm9 · 11-19-2008, 08:12 PM

yes go to dell.com click on support and look for your drivers for your pc. I dont know if this is your exact module but here is a link
http://support.dell.com/support/down...&catid=&impid=

11-17-2008, 06:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
RetiredVOMA Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 17 OS: XP	Dell Dimension 4700 reformat instructions I'm desperately looking for explicit instructions to reformat my hard drive. I cannot seem to get any that relate to my system. Can anyone help me .... please & thank you.

11-18-2008, 08:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
morris Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: alabama, US Posts: 35 OS: XP/Windows 7 RC1	Re: Dell Dimension 4700 reformat instructions Hi RetiredVOMA Reformatting a hard drive is not computer specific. Reformatting a hard drive simply sets up a 'file system' on a drive partition making it ready for installing an operating system or other uses. File system examples: FAT, FAT32, NTFS, LINUX, Extended, etc... Be warned that by reformatting you will lose any data stored on that partition. For explicit instructions, what do you wish to do after reformatting?

11-18-2008, 12:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
cgrimm9 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 249 OS: XP home/pro Vista home Ubuntu xbuntu kebuntu edubuntu	Re: Dell Dimension 4700 reformat instructions fisrts thing is first back up any data you want to keep. 1.insert OS Disk 2.restart computer with OS disk in computer 3.hit f2 while the dell screen is up 4make sure boot sequence has cd rom before hard drive 5. save and exit 6. hit enter when press anykey to boot from disk 7.when it askes hit enter to contenue 8.hit f8 to agree with the terms 9 hit c to contenue from here you shoud see both partitions and will tell you what to do on the bottom the rest is self explainatory

11-18-2008, 07:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
RetiredVOMA Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 17 OS: XP	Re: Dell Dimension 4700 reformat instructions Thanks for the help. Finally got it done !!!

11-19-2008, 12:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
RetiredVOMA Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 17 OS: XP	Re: Dell Dimension 4700 reformat instructions So now I need to connect to the internet. It isn't happening automatically ... what do I need to do ? I have a cable connection with Comcast. I have not yet installed any drivers. I assume that is a necessity ??

11-19-2008, 08:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
cgrimm9 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 249 OS: XP home/pro Vista home Ubuntu xbuntu kebuntu edubuntu	Re: Dell Dimension 4700 reformat instructions yes go to dell.com click on support and look for your drivers for your pc. I dont know if this is your exact module but here is a link http://support.dell.com/support/down...&catid=&impid=