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Firstly, it all depends on the state of the computer and what you, as a user, require with your PC. Reformatting a hard disk is a process that wipes all of the information from the disk, leaving you with a clean drive. The type of formatting your computer performs can vary: Quick = the system re-writes the TOC (Table of Contents) on the drive to identify every sector as ready for deletion, but does not physically delete the data on the hard drive until it is over-written by a new OS installation, etc. This means that a drive can potentially be recovered even after a quick re-format. Do not use quick formatting on a drive containing sensitive information. Other types include a more thorough version of the formatting process, including rewriting all sectors with '0's from 1-3 times over. This thoroughly overwrites all data on the drive with inconsequential data. Sensitive data will have been deleted safely. The purpose of a reformat can vary. You may find your operating system has become sluggish with unwanted freeware/shareware and other programs that you can't seem to delete/uninstall and are complicating the use of your system resources. Also, you may wish to partition a hard disk (split it in to separate divisions) for the purpose of installing a different operating system or reserving space for other files. on a different file format (FAT or NTFS). Sometimes, the space you use up on the hard disk can be errant and lie in a sector that prohibits a partition from being created. In such a case defragmenting the hard drive can help, otherwise you will need to reformat and then partition the drive. Hope this helps...
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Is it possible to 'repair' Windows Vista operating system without reformatting the hard disk?
Yes, you can
Is it okay to reformat a drive at least once a month?
It should be fine, the question is why you need to do so frequently. WARNING! Reformatting your hard disk will wipe out ALL data, including Windows, programs, etc. If you don't have a Windows recovery CD or an original Windows installation CD, you will not be able to re-install Windows. Some systems come with a Windows restore partition which will not be wiped out by reformatting the hard disk.
How do you remove a partition on a hard drive running Windows 2000 without reformatting the hard disk?
There are several partitioning products available that are easy and intuitive to use.
Does formatting damage hard disk?
If one performs a "Low Level Reformat" the data will remain intact for the most part. This kind of reformatting is the next to the last resort of solving suspected PC hard drive problems. If one performs a complete reformatting, all data will be lost.
What are the advantages of reformatting?
Reformatting basically clears all the user data from the hard disk or whatever device is involved. It restores the device to its original setting and configuration when it is empty. Reformatting is useful when: -You want to empty your storage device. -Rid your storage device of all virus and random stuff. That's all I can think of now. :D
How do you remove a partition on a hard drive running Windows 98 without reformatting the hard disk?
On a Windows 98 system, there is very likely to only be one partition on the disk. The difference between formatting the disk and deleting the partition would thus be a matter of semantics. Either way, all the data on the hard drive would be gone.
How do you reformat a Mac Pro laptop With out lossing anything?
Reformatting a hard disc will wipe the contents from the hard disc. You will need to backup the contents of the hard disc onto an external disc before reformatting and then copy the contents back to return it to the newly reformatted disc.
If a hardrive has a login password will formatting erase hardrive?
Some laptops provide a utility to lock a hard disk with a password. These passwords are not the same as BIOS passwords. Moving a locked hard disk to another machine will not unlock it, since the hard disk password is stored in the hard disk firmware and moves with the hard disk. Also, adding a new (unlocked) hard disk to a locked machine may cause the new hard disk to become locked. Also, note that hard disk lock passwords cannot be removed by reformatting the disk, fdisk or any other software procedure (since the disk will not allow any reads or writes to the disk, it cannot be reformatted.)You can test to determine if your hard disk is locked by attempting to access it in another laptop.
Can you burn a game to your XBOX 360 hard drive and play it from your hard drive without the disk?
no, you need the disk
Help you get your hard disk drive password?
need help with recovering my hard disk drive pass word so it says
After upgrading the hard drive on your Dell Inspiron 1100 notebook there is 2-3 inches of black around desktop why?
In regards of the question about the black bars around the sides of the desktop after reformatting the hard drive, all you need to do is insert your applications and drivers disk and click on the ATI video driver and unzip that. It will then install autimatically then you will be able to extend your desktop.
What are defragmentation utilities?
They are tools to re-arrange the space in a hard disk trough time all files in the hard disk need to be arranged so the hard disk can have more life and your computer will operate smoother.
