How to Wipe a Dell Dimension 8200 Computer

Format wipes the hard drive on any computer.

"Wiping" a computer is another term for reformatting a hard drive. You can wipe a computer to install a new operating system or eliminate viruses or malware on the machine. You can wipe the hard drive on a Dell Dimension 8200 computer using a boot floppy, CD or DVD disc. A boot disc provides you with the format application that deletes all the information on the hard drive.

Things You'll Need

• Bootable floppy, DVD or CD disc

Instructions

1. Insert the bootable media into the respective drive. Reboot the machine. A boot disk will bring you to the Windows command prompt.

2. Type "format" into the command prompt. Typing "format" with no arguments lists the options available and displays the proper syntax.

3. Type "format c: /s" into the command prompt. Replace "c" with your Dell hard drive you want to wipe. For most installations, this is the C drive.

4. Press the "Y" key when you are prompted for confirmation. It may take several seconds for the hard drive to format depending on the size of the drive.

Tips & Warnings

• Formatting your Dell will remove all information on the drive. Ensure you've backed up all your important documents before formatting a hard drive.

References

• Computer Hope: Microsoft DOS format command