hard drive wipe

[xps980]

hey there MMOwned,

My laptop got majorly haxxed and it runs like 1 byte per 5 seconds now. My question is, what is the button you push before your computer starts up all the way that brings up the screen to wipe the hard drive? I don't have my windows XP CD any more so i cant just insert it and reformat. I know there is a way to do it, i just cant remember how.

+rep to anyone who can tell me how.

thanks

-expeeessnienatey

[Loveshock]

I want to say F8, but I think that's how you start it up in safe mode...

[WoWLegend]

F5 F6 or F8 or maybe even F10 F11, hell try all the F keys

[Loveshock]

F5 F6 or F8 or maybe even F10 F11, hell try all the F keys

Haha yeah, just try rebooting while holding down a different one each time. You'll eventually get the right one

[BloodyFangs]

its f8 or f10

[Mavic]

F10 to get boot menu F8 to get safe mode

[Loveshock]

Xps how did it go? You find the right button?

[lordofdrapes]

Nah, its alt+f4

[Maq-]

hey there MMOwned,

My laptop got majorly haxxed and it runs like 1 byte per 5 seconds now. My question is, what is the button you push before your computer starts up all the way that brings up the screen to wipe the hard drive? I don't have my windows XP CD any more so i cant just insert it and reformat. I know there is a way to do it, i just cant remember how.

+rep to anyone who can tell me how.

thanks

-expeeessnienatey

There is no f-key to automatically wipe a hard drive. If your system came pre-installed with a recovery partition that can restore the computer to factory default, the message will be clearly visable when the system starts. If you have ever wiped the drive (whole drive, not just removed a partition and re-installed windows in the empty space) -- that option will be gone.

If you had to replace the hard drive at any point in time, the option will be gone as well.

You will most likely have to find a CD and re-install that way.

I would suggest booting to safe mode (f8 at startup) first, however, and run a diagnostic startup, to make sure it's not something simple. To do this, after the system is up to the safe mode desktop, go to start -> run -> type msconfig and hit enter. Put the radio button in "Diagnostic Startup" and re-start the computer to normal mode. If all is well, then start -> run -> msconfig and go to selective startup, and start selectively adding items, until you run into the problem again, then diagnose it from there.

If you have any questions about that, feel free to contact me, will give further information =)