How to Completely Wipe Computer?

A few months back I wiped my desktop because of a virus. I know I just pressed a key (probably one of the F1, F2, F3, etc.) while restarting to give me the option to completely reinstall my computer. Does anyone know what keys i have to press to do this to my laptop?

Heh, it's not that easy. )

System restore partitions, when they exist at all, are created by the specific PC vendor. HP, for example, uses restore partitions on their desktops. It isn't something standard across all PC's (most systems don't even have it at all), so there isn't just any "key" you can press to do it. If your BIOS supports the feature, it will tell you at startup.

If your system did not come with restore media or a restore partition, then you need to manually format and re-install Windows. The Windows installer will take of this for you if you tell it to.

hated that option on my hp....

yea, your best option is to install a new OS and wipe other partitions if any.

Lysol wipes and a Swiffer duster.

You have to write over the partition multiple times to make any magnetic traces undetectable I forgot the government standard but I would say 7 times over is a good number for the paranoid.

[quote77fac4783f="Allen626"]You have to write over the partition multiple times to make any magnetic traces undetectable I forgot the government standard but I would say 7 times over is a good number for the paranoid.[/quote77fac4783f]
I know his subject line and his post are a bit conflicting, but I'm pretty sure he meant to ask how to restore his factory image, not how to actually wipe the disk.

[quotea11e00428a="Allen626"]You have to write over the partition multiple times to make any magnetic traces undetectable I forgot the government standard but I would say 7 times over is a good number for the paranoid.[/quotea11e00428a]

the paranoid will choose the 37 time comedy option.

if you just write zeroes to your drive, unless your data has incalculable value, nobody's going to be able to / bother to recover it. the time/cost outlay in recovering zero'd data is huge.

it takes an eternity to do it with dell. we do it over the phone with a rep because theres so many steps involved.. if you get some foreigner on the phone your screwed worse because half the time is spent asking them to repeat what they just said.

my current computer has been reset about 5 times now over the course of 5 years.. although we havent had to do it in almost two years now. im in the market for a laptop right now.. i will never put any of that file sharing shit on a computer again.

[quotecb49227339="theysayjump"]Lysol wipes and a Swiffer duster.[/quotecb49227339]
Lol. Same thing I was thinking. But I was gonna suggest Isopropyl Alcohol and cotton balls shrug

you could use a nuke cd

[quotecf1df4554e="syriandoode"]you could use a nuke cd[/quotecf1df4554e]

Chernobyl certified?

psssssssssssh tis only a russian formality

http//forum.freeipodguide.com/smilies_mod/upload/8a483bef31488b9de6446703a5fd3a9c.gif[" alt=""/imgee8ebf3294]

this comic tells you what to use
http//www.goats.com/archive/000606.html

f--kin dell.. i reformated 2 weeks ago.. and used the XP disc that comes with it.. none of the critical drivers came on discs.. only printer drivers and 56k modem drivers.. I ended up having to go to dell.com type in my service tag and d/l the drivers for the LAN, sound, and display.. I dont even know if all the drivers i need are installed.. freakin Sh-t

Well display drivers should be ATI or Nvidia if you know what your graphics card is. Well unless you have a shitty onboard video card but who has thoose now?

[quotee20005e1e5="dmfay89"]f--kin dell.. i reformated 2 weeks ago.. and used the XP disc that comes with it.. none of the critical drivers came on discs.. only printer drivers and 56k modem drivers.. I ended up having to go to dell.com type in my service tag and d/l the drivers for the LAN, sound, and display.. I dont even know if all the drivers i need are installed.. freakin Sh-t[/quotee20005e1e5]

you realize that all you have to do is email dell and say "i noticed that i was supposed to get some recovery CDs with my new computer and i didn't recieve them" and they will send out all $80 worth of their recovery CDs for free, right?

read[=http//forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=50203&t=160546&highlight=dell+recovery]read

well i have a toshiba running on windows xp, and don't have any of the cds. is there anywhere I can download the full recovery program?

Old thread but get, Windows Washer!

It will wipe the drive 37 times

Timing, buddy. Timing.

[quote3de7c7bf6e="dmorris68"][quote3de7c7bf6e="Allen626"]You have to write over the partition multiple times to make any magnetic traces undetectable I forgot the government standard but I would say 7 times over is a good number for the paranoid.[/quote3de7c7bf6e]
I know his subject line and his post are a bit conflicting, but I'm pretty sure he meant to ask how to restore his factory image, not how to actually wipe the disk.[/quote3de7c7bf6e]

[quote6a793ba4c6="dmorris68"][quote6a793ba4c6="dmorris68"][quote6a793ba4c6="Allen626"]You have to write over the partition multiple times to make any magnetic traces undetectable I forgot the government standard but I would say 7 times over is a good number for the paranoid.[/quote6a793ba4c6]
I know his subject line and his post are a bit conflicting, but I'm pretty sure he meant to ask how to restore his factory image, not how to actually wipe the disk.[/quote6a793ba4c6][/quote6a793ba4c6]