Reboot

[Liverpool21]

Ive got a compaq presario SR1000 ive had it for a few years. I want to wipe the whole computer clean an start from fresh but dont know how to do it. Ive done a few system restores but it wont let me on certain programs. I havnt got a disk for it either. Any help would be appreciated.

[Mickha]

Hi Liverpool21,
welcome to the forum.
A lot of computers have the Operating System back up stored on a partition on the hard drive, which is usually accessable by pressing one of the F keys on boot up, try F8 or F10.
If you do carry out a clean install you will lose all your documents, emails, software and other things currently stored on your hard drive, so do a back up to save everything you want to keep.
Have a look at compaq.com for a manual or Frequently Asked Questions section.

[yusuf_gaz]

Hi

I take it you want to reformat and do a fresh install. Before you do that I would try and backup you drivers to make life a bit easier after shoud you need them.

Also as you dont have a install disk then you are going to have to get one from somewhere and setup bios to boot from disc.

If you had an install disc from compaq then you may not have needed the drivers as they would have been within the install disc.

Regards

Edit: As Mikha has said make sure you backup all you important stuff.

[Liverpool21]

Thanks for the replies. Ive tried the PC recovery thing by pressin F10 but when i try an install programs such as anti virus it says system must be rebooted before the application can work so i restart it an it keeps sayin that.

[Oadbylad]

Just what are you on now ?? if its another pc thats working ok why not format (wipe ) your HDD on your laptop then do a complete bootable backup on your laptops HDD from you present pc when youve done that delete what you dont need
you could use one of these
to clone an HDD - Google Search

[elli5on]

As already stated, compaq (now owned by HP) usually incorporate a built in recovery within the HDD itself. When you choose to run this particular program you usually have 2 option's.... a destructive or non destructive recovery. The 1st will completely wipe the HDD of any files you installed yourself. And re set back to factory defaults (Same as when the pc was new).

The only trouble with using these is the amount of Crap places like PC World comet currys (Which is more than likely where it came from) pre load into the systems. Pretty much 90% of it is totally unnecessary!

You can use any windows disk (as long as it matches the one installed on your system license). And re install windows by simply using the serial on the side of the case. I would do a check of the Model/serial number on compaq's (hp's) website and check available drivers for that particular model. Do a fresh install from this if all drivers are available. You will only have the basic windows programs, instead of all this pre loaded out of date Norton etc installed using up unnecessary resources. Simply install AVG free and your pretty much game.

Regards

Craig