How to FULLY FORMAT a laptop.

jeromepogitalga
jeromepogitalga Posts: 16 Arc User
edited September 2014 in Support Desk
Well I look on the internet for answers but most of them is required a disk or something like that.
My laptop is Acer aspire e1-472g and when I bought it, the default OS is Windows 8.
So all I want to know is how can I fully format EVERYTHING, as good as new.
I don't want to save any files also.

Maybe some of you can make steps on how to do it.
I will really appreciate it.
Thanks in advance :)
Post edited by jeromepogitalga on

Comments

  • WannaBM - Archosaur
    WannaBM - Archosaur Posts: 1,984 Arc User
    edited June 2014
    Dunno if win 8 is any different but with my windows 7 its as simple as this:

    1) Insert windows disc in DVD drive. In your case it is very likely that instead of a standard windows disc they gave you an Acer DVD that not only contains windows and drivers but also **** from every company that sponsors Acer to provide you their ****.
    2) Restart PC
    3) Just as PC is starting, press DEL to start BIOS. Could be another key, it will be displayed briefly on your screen as "press <KEY> to enter setup"
    4) In bios select DVD drive as primary boot option, Harddrive secondary
    5) Let it continue to boot
    6) Windows will start from DvD, it gives you the option to format your harddrive and modify partitions before installing anew.


    You talk about FULLY FORMAT and EVERYTHING both in caps as if it is really important that everything is gone. There are different levels of formatting.

    Windows option "Quick format" just removes all the references to the files on your harddisk. All the data is still there. An ICT specialist (hacker) with only mediocre skills can still retrieve most of the data. The data still being there does however not matter for your PCs functioning, it ignores and overwrites it. Therefore this is the right option for most users.

    Windows option "Full format" sets all the data to 0s or 1s but only does it "lightly". The magnetic material still contains traces of the data that has been there. NSA can still retrieve most of the data from your harddrive but wizkid next door cannot. This is good if you want to protect yourself against hackers that are after your specific information, espescially before selling or trashing your PC.

    To make the data unretreivable, consult a specialist :)
    This is needed if you do highly illegal activities and dont want the NSA to find any evidence.
    Everything i write is from PvE perspective unless mentioned otherwise.
  • SylenThunder - Twilight Temple
    SylenThunder - Twilight Temple Posts: 7,908
    edited June 2014
    www.google.com b:chuckle
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  • krisnda
    krisnda Posts: 4,655 Community Moderator
    edited June 2014
    SylenThunder - Sanctuary wrote: »
    www.google.com b:chuckle

    Or you could pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds. b:chuckle
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  • Bellicious - Dreamweaver
    Bellicious - Dreamweaver Posts: 123 Arc User
    edited June 2014
    Krisnda wrote: »
    Or you could pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds. b:chuckle


    At least give full instructions.

    Take the HDD out of your notebook.
    Place the HDD in microwave with the windows disc placed on top.

    Set to high for 5minutes.
  • Salari - Raging Tide
    Salari - Raging Tide Posts: 2,102 Arc User
    edited June 2014
    Secure formating of modern hard drives goes quite a bit further than using the MS Windows formatting ability. Even the "full" format from a windows cd of the drive is not adequate for a secure wipe. I suggest you start at this link below for a better explanation and methods. http://security.stackexchange.com/questions/10464/why-is-writing-zeros-or-random-data-over-a-hard-drive-multiple-times-better-th
    Marine - Marshall - Raging Tides - Retired
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  • Lolgasmic - Raging Tide
    Lolgasmic - Raging Tide Posts: 1,315 Arc User
    edited June 2014
    I once needed to format two computers, turned out one didn't have an OS and the other ... I don't remember, it just refused to format. So I gave up, took out the hard drives, then smashed them to pieces with a hammer.

    ****ing done, m8
    lmao

    Oh and future tip, if you smash a hard drive, get the biggest, heaviest, most sturdy hammer you have because those things are built stronger than a rock. (Take it apart first of course.........)
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  • opkossy
    opkossy Posts: 11,177 Community Moderator
    edited June 2014
    Lolgasmic - Raging Tide wrote: »
    I once needed to format two computers, turned out one didn't have an OS and the other ... I don't remember, it just refused to format. So I gave up, took out the hard drives, then smashed them to pieces with a hammer.

    ****ing done, m8
    lmao

    We are not cavemen who have to resort to such brutish methods! We have technology!

    ... Such as lighting the thing on fire and roasting marshmallows over it.
    (Insert fancy image here)
    image
  • SylenThunder - Twilight Temple
    SylenThunder - Twilight Temple Posts: 7,908
    edited June 2014
    OPKossy wrote: »
    We are not cavemen who have to resort to such brutish methods! We have technology!

    ... Such as lighting the thing on fire and roasting marshmallows over it.
    A 12-gauge mossberg works wonders too
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  • Sevchenko - Dreamweaver
    Sevchenko - Dreamweaver Posts: 661 Arc User
    edited June 2014
    The technical support forum is here to provide you with help for game-related issues, NOT to help you installing your operating system or fixing your dishwasher.
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  • opkossy
    opkossy Posts: 11,177 Community Moderator
    edited June 2014
    Sevchenko - Dreamweaver wrote: »
    The technical support forum is here to provide you with help for game-related issues, NOT to help you installing your operating system or fixing your dishwasher.

    ... Well ****. What am I supposed to do about my dishwasher now? Does this section at least support how to work the microwave?
    (Insert fancy image here)
    image
  • Selak - Dreamweaver
    Selak - Dreamweaver Posts: 462 Arc User
    edited June 2014
    Computer needs format to play game, sounds Technical to me so,

    Your Manual Here

    Page 45 for all recovery methods and page 49 to restore to factory defaults in windows and page 52 to recover machine using Acer boot recovery software.

    Remember "There are no silly questions, only silly answers."

    Thought I might have been wrong using the above quote, but then I looked at some of the answers above mine again. lol
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    but there are very few old bold Warriors. b:chuckle
  • jasoncollege24
    jasoncollege24 Posts: 26 Arc User
    edited September 2014
    The following procedure applies to Windows 8.1 (Instructions are similar to Windows 8)

    1. From any window, or app, tap, or click on the start button (Lower left corner)
    2. On the start screen, type "Settings" without the quotes
    3. Click on PC Settings, when it appears in the list.
    4. In PC Settings, click on Update and recovery (Bottom)
    5. Next, click on Recovery on the left
    6. Under "Remove everything and reinstall windows" click the "Get started" button (This will be the middle of the 3 buttons on the page)
    7. Follow all instructions to completely format your computer, and reinstall Windows back to factory (or fresh install) defaults.
    Silence! I heal you!
  • SweetieBot - Lothranis
    SweetieBot - Lothranis Posts: 18,978 Arc User
    edited September 2014
    jasoncollege24 wrote: »
    The following procedure applies to Windows 8.1 (Instructions are similar to Windows 8)


    1. From any window, or app, tap, or click on the start button (Lower left corner)

    2. On the start screen, type "Settings" without the quotes

    3. Click on PC Settings, when it appears in the list.

    4. In PC Settings, click on Update and recovery (Bottom)

    5. Next, click on Recovery on the left

    6. Under "Remove everything and reinstall windows" click the "Get started" button (This will be the middle of the 3 buttons on the page)

    7. Follow all instructions to completely format your computer, and reinstall Windows back to factory (or fresh install) defaults.
    This looks like a NECRO!

    jasoncollege24 replied to a message that was 2 months 27 days 1 hour 5 minutes old.

    Any thread over one month (30 days) old is considered to be a dead thread and you're not supposed to post in them. The person you are replying to probably doesn't care any more or can no longer be found on the forums. The topic itself could be out of date. Next time just make a new thread.

    Let's see how long it takes for a mod to close this :)
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