Instructions for reformatting / reinstalling Windows.

Written by Doug Gentry: all information below is subject to change.

If you are at this point, then we both know that all other efforts have failed or your system just simply needs a fresh start. The Windows operating system does degrade over time and in almost every case a fresh install is best. When I say degrade; what happens is the operating system looses files or receives a bad or broken update from windows, or even power outages can cause issues to the system.

Please, do not be intimidated or overwhelmed by the thought of reformatting your PC. Thanks to improved software and hardware, reformatting a computer is easier than you think. We will walk you through the necessary steps to get this done successfully.

Reformatting deserves a good explanation as too what you are going to do before you do it. In simple form… you are going to NIX! a.k.a. delete all the data from your computers hard drive. Before you do this there are  a few precautions that need to take place first.

Before you proceed, you need to be made aware that certain computer manufacturers offer what is called a restore partition on their PC's. You will first want to refer to your owners manual or contact the manufacturers support line for help. The restore partition can make short work out of reformatting your PC. Visit the SOS! section of the site for a list of manufacturers.

Step 1: Backing up your data

Back up any and all critical data that might be on your PC. This can be things such as Pictures, Music, Documents, your e-mails, etc. Your options when it comes to backing these items up are almost endless. Images and occasionally video files can be backed up to third party websites that offer free storage, I would strongly encourage this method so that you can protect your memories off site encase of any other possible problems with your machine.

Other forms of back-up methods could be CD’s, DVD’s, external USB Drives, secondary internal drives, another PC on the same network, and so on. Whether formatting or not. Backing up your critical data to a secure location would be strongly advisable. If something ever happens to your hard drive you will be grateful that you had protected that information.

Step 2: Disconnecting from the network/internet

We need to remove your PC or laptop from any networks or internet connection. Doing this with the conventional desktop PC, you simply need to unplug the network cable from the back of the PC. If the device connects wirelessly then you either need to move it out of range of the wireless connection or find a way to turn off the connection manually through the software of the PC.

The reason we disconnect you from the world is for the safety of you PC. When doing a fresh install of Windows your system is very vulnerable to viral attacks until it is patched and a suitable firewall and antivirus is installed on the machine.

Step 3: Preparation

Make certain that you have all your software gathered up. This list should consist of the following.

1. Operating System.
2. Driver disk.
3. Any proprietary software to the PC.
4. Office package, if applicable.
5. Commercial software disks.
6. Back-up media, depending on the option you chose in step 1.
7. Something cold to drink.
8. Final check.
9. A little tip. Network connectivity will be a must in an effort to patch you system. Make sure you have the driver for your network card ready to install shortly after the reformat. A little trick would be to use the speccy software found in the computer health section of the Support powered by whojah,LLC site at www.whojah.com. Once you have the information you should go to the manufacturer’s website to get the updated driver that matches that hardware.
10. If you have ever heard the phrase measure twice cut once comment, this is about the same. Be sure to go through your PC one last time and look for any data, tax records, financial's, Internet provider settings, e-mail settings, pictures, music, videos, or software back-ups that you may have missed on the first check because once we reformat your machine everything will be deleted permanently.
11. Make sure that you truly have the time to complete the reformat and re-installation of software, this process can take several hours to do depending on the amount of software and patches that need applied.

Step 4: Reformatting your hard drive & Operating system re-installation.

           (The process may vary depending on the operating system)  

1. With the PC turned on, insert the Windows CD into the CDROM drive.
2. Reboot the computer while the CD is in the PC. As it restarts it should either boot from the CD automatically or ask you if you would like to boot from the CD, just follow the prompts. If your PC does neither then we need to make a change in your BIOS to tell your PC to boot from the CD. I want you to consult the PC or the motherboards manufacturer for help on this matter.
3. Wait for the installation menu to come up. Choose "Install Windows XP" then it will go into a new screen that lists several steps.
4. From the menu choose "New Installation (Advanced)" and let the software do the rest.
5. When asked if you want to set up or repair, hit Enter to set up Windows.
6. Read the license agreement and hit F8 if you agree.
7. If the setup program detects an existing installation of Windows and asks if you want to repair it, hit Esc to skip the repair.
8. The setup program will ask you where to install Windows. Highlight the existing "C: Partition1" partition and hit D to delete it. Hit L to confirm.
9. Next, hit Enter to install Windows on the "Un-partitioned Space".
10. Format the space as NTFS and continue the installation.
11. The installation will prompt you to set a password. When you have to set a password for the machine, do not leave this blank and do not use an easily guessable password. A secure password contains a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols and is important because many new worms can spread via Windows sharing if an account has a weak or nonexistent password. If it does not ask you to set a password, when the computer restarts, you will need to set passwords in the "User Accounts" behind the control panel.

Step 5: Create passwords

Occasionally, intruders attempt to gain access to shared computer systems through the accounts of others. Their motives vary from curiosity to criminal malice. It is part of your responsibility as a computer user to create a strong password for both your Penn State access account and all operating system accounts on your computer. It is your privacy, your reputation, your files, and your computing resources that are all at risk. For detailed instructions on how to create a good password go to the SOS passwords page.

Step 6: Install Firewalls

Option 1 (Windows XP only): Enable Windows' built-in firewall

1.Click the Start button and open the Control Panel

2.Open "Network and Internet Connections"

3.Open "Network Connections" (icon on the bottom-right)

4.Right-click the Local Area Connection and choose Properties

5.Go to the advanced tab

6.Check the box next to "Protect my computer and network..."

7.Click OK

8.Connect your PC to the local network and configure it as needed NOTE: XP's built-in firewall is not active immediately when the computer is starting up. If you need to reboot for any reason before all patches are installed, you should disconnect from the network again until the boot process is complete.

Step 7: Automate live antivirus updates

New viruses are written and released on a daily basis. Many of the more common viruses "morph" or change frequently to make them more difficult to detect. Viruses spread rapidly and by many different ways (for example, via e-mail attachments; infected document files; Web sites that contain hostile code that can infect your computer through vulnerable browsers; and unprotected file shares). Using antivirus is a must. You will need to get a version of any antivirus installed just as soon as possible and make sure it is update just as soon as possible. All your work can be for none should something attack your machine while unprotected.