Restarting to original...

[Jdogg6590]

Hey,

Well I need a computer in my room, don't have money to buy a new one now, but my family has a reeeally old computer (11 years old :p )....I cleaned it out (physically lol..dust :rolleyes: ), just now. I am going to set it up in my room over the weekend.

Before I do this, I want to know how I can clear it all out ENTIRELY so it has NOTHING on it...and then I want to install the Windows XP discs and what not that came with this computer that my family has (a newer Gateway computer).

Is this possible? If so...how do I do it?

-Jeff

[PrntRhd]

A really old (11 years old!!!?) PC may not meet the minimum specs to run XP.
You cannot use OEM restoration disks to load XP onto any other PC than the one it came with. It is a violation of the licensing to do that.

[azzey]

You'll need no less than 64 mb of RAM (and this is the bare minimum). I've seen XP run on a Pentium-133 before (no, I'm not lying -- it didn't run half bad, either). It could by done, but it might be unreliable or dead slow. Try Windows 98 or 2000 if you can.

Also, chances are the the Gateway restoration CD won't work anyways... it might just be an image of the hard drive, and therefore would not boot on your new old computer.

Excellent point about the licensing................

[Sylvander]

Run Windows XP Upgrade Advisor (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/upgrading/advisor.mspx) before you upgrade to check out the existing applications and hardware for compatibility.

What about trying a Linux - Xandros (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=44718) dual boot system first?

[Jdogg6590]

Well, I kinda wna know first how to clear it all

[Sylvander]

"clear it all....clear it all out ENTIRELY so it has NOTHING on it"
1. You could reformat the existing partitions.
OR
2. Repartition the HDD.
OR
3. Use the bootable KILLDISK (www.killdisk.com/downloadfree.htm) floppy to zero fill [single set of zeros to] any/all of the partitions [or the whole HDD and then repartition].
This makes the previous contents irrecoverable.

[Jdogg6590]

Do you think it is a good idea to do this? I basically...want to get rid of all the stuff that is on there....I'm not sure what system it is running...when we got it it was windows 96 lol...I forget if we updated it though...may be 2000....is 2000 reasonable? And if I do go and buy a new set of discs for XP....and it does have 64+ MB of ram...how could I clear out the stuff and load the xp software?

I'm not a pro to this, so when you say:
"1. You could reformat the existing partitions.
OR
2. Repartition the HDD.
OR
3. Use the bootable KILLDISK floppy to zero fill [single set of zeros to] any/all of the partitions [or the whole HDD and then repartition].
This makes the previous contents irrecoverable."
I dont know what paritions are, or repartition....basically I need more directions..

Thanks for your help so far,
Jeff

[myPCrocks]

I hate to burst your bubble but it's probably a 386 or 486 and it wont run XP,and I bet if anything it had 3.1 and a upgrade to 95.

Anyway if you want to mess around it and learn while your at it, you have a perfect box for that.

[Jdogg6590]

Ehh, I guess I'll just use w/e is on it...it is either 95/96 or 2000.....

I'll just use it for hw and internet browsing...unless i find out that its system is decent, then i wont bother playing games on it....

just want instructions now on how to clear out the memory completely so i can start fresh?

[Sylvander]

"Do you think it is a good idea to do this?...how could I clear out the stuff and load the xp software?"
It's not a good idea to wipe the HDD until you know which Operating System your hardware can support. Check "Control Panel | System | Properties" to see which OS you have at present [Win 3.1, Win95,Win98[SE], WinME, Win2000].
Use Windows XP Upgrade Advisor (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/upgrading/advisor.mspx) to check out your hardware and software for WinXP compatibility.

"...want instructions now on how to clear out the memory completely so i can start fresh"
By memory, do you mean your hard disk drive?
Are you saying you don't know how to partition or format a HDD?
Can you boot into Windows?
Can you find out how many partitions/drives there are?
e.g.
Below is an image of my own drive arrangement as shown in Windows Explorer.
C: D: E: F: G: are HDD partitions on a single HDD.
[this HDD could be repartitioned, or those existing partitions on the drive could be reformatted]
H: & I: are optical drives [CD-RW, CD-ROM]
J: K: L: M: are the drives of a "Universal Card Reader".
N: is an external USB2 connected HDD.