okay well I know theres already a topic on reformating but I have no idea on how to reformat my computer and I really need to because my compurter is working slow and barely has any space. so can someone please give me a step by step or website thatll help me reformat it? and I dont have any cd if its needed. thanks.

I think you still need the CD that came with your computer.

I dont have one because when we got this computer we bought it used from an internet cafe place and I'm stuck using this one while my older sister gets the new one. and I dont want to take it to where I bought it from because they charge me about 80 bucks to reformat it (or whatever tehy do to it) so I'm really not sure what to do. any suggestions?

is it a custom or is it like a dell or something. if its from a company you can call em up and have em mail you the cd.

Some linux distributions will let you reformat. Try knoppix.

If she really does not know how to reformat, it might be a little early to get her on linux. But, if the internet cafe deal is still open see if they have a copy or something. Most likely, if its a Dell or something you will have to "pay" for the CDs. If its a newer HP, there might be a recovery partition. If the new PC has Windows XP on it, and came with a disk you can use it, and call Microsoft and "transfer" the COA from the old OS to the new OS. By US law, they are required to supply you with a recovery COA.

Nah, I'm not trying to get her on linux. It's just that there are some rescue disks that are linux based, like Knoppix.

the compter is an HP vectra ll ... ill try to call the cafe tomorrow cuz its closed today.

Do you have a CD with Windows on it? If you don't, you definitely don't want to format your hard drive until you get one.

no i dont have any sort of cd for the computer. Im not even sure what CDs I'm going to need.

A Microsoft Windows XP Home (and or) Pro CD. Thats it...

oh okay well i may be able to get that from a friend. she probably has one. then how do i reformat it?

If you have a windows CD that is bootable then doing a clean install of Windows is quite easy:

1.) Go into your bios menu and set CD as first boot device;

2.) Save and exit;
(be sure the Windows CD is in the drive);