How to Format a Laptop Computer
Formatting a hard drive refers to the process of initiating a high-level file system onto the drive. Without a format, the drive cannot properly store, transfer or display data. When you impose a format on a hard drive, all of the existing data is erased from the drive before the drive is formatted. After the drive is formatted, you then need to reinstall the operating system on the computer in order to use the computer. This whole process can be done if you have the Windows start discs that came with your laptop.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Turn on your laptop and insert the Windows start disc into your laptop's CD-ROM drive.
-
2
Restart your laptop computer by clicking the "Start" menu and then selecting "Turn Off." Click "Restart" from the list of options.
-
-
3
Press any key on your keyboard when presented with the prompt to "Press any key to boot from CD."
-
4
Enter your language preferences in the "Install Windows" page. Click "Next" to proceed to the next step.
-
5
Accept the licensing terms by clicking the "I accept the license terms" check box. Click "Next" again to proceed.
-
6
Select a "Custom" installation when asked what type of installation you want. A "Custom" install allows you to format the drive before reinstalling the operating system.
-
7
Click "Drive Options (Advanced)" from the "Where do you want to install Windows?" page. This opens a list of hard drives on your computer.
-
8
Click on the hard drive you want to format from the list of drives. Click the "Format" link located below the list of hard drives. Your laptop hard drive is now formatted.
-
9
Click the "Next" button once the drive has finished formatting. This reinstalls the operating system. You have now successfully formatted your laptop computer.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Formatting erases all data on the computer, so save any data that is valuable to you.
References
- Photo Credit laptop image by Ewe Degiampietro from Fotolia.com
