Efficient Options for Reformatting Your Computer"s Hard Drive
Reformatting your computer is something that people have dreaded doing since we first learned how.
Essentially, you are trading in an older version of Windows for a newer version.
It used to be an incredibly slow process, and if you had to reinstall all of the applications that were previously on your computer, it could slow down the process even more to the point that you may have easily gotten frustrated and given up.
However, if you only reinstall what you actually need to use, you will save time and effort.
The good news is that there are newer ways to reformat your computer to increase your efficiency.
One of the better ways to reformat your computer's hard drive is through the creation of a Windows image file and using what is called Ghost reformatting.
If you have Windows XP then you should already have a system CD that includes the service packs required for that operating system; if you don't have it, contact Microsoft to obtain one before you start this process.
A service pack is a CD that contains the newer operating system along with all the essential programs that comes with XP.
Traditionally, you had to insert the CD to format the hard drive, and then install the new operating system and each individual program.
However, with XP you can obtain a CD that includes your most important programs to take care of the need in one shot, taking a lot less time.
Using Ghost, you create a mirror image of your computer and then reinstall the newer version.
It only takes about five minutes to reinstall as compared to the hours it took in the past.
This is because you decide which programs to install from the same disk.
By using a recordable DVD instead of a CD you can save even more time because DVD's hold more data.
It is important to make sure you keep only your operating system on one DVD and then your remaining programs on the other so that you always have one clean copy of your operating system.
Check your computer manual to see if it requires reformatting at any time.
Most people trade in their computers so frequently that this step is usually not needed.
However if you have an older computer and want to keep and update it to a newer operating system, you can do the reformatting yourself with little-to-no hassle thanks to more modern options available to do the job.
Essentially, you are trading in an older version of Windows for a newer version.
It used to be an incredibly slow process, and if you had to reinstall all of the applications that were previously on your computer, it could slow down the process even more to the point that you may have easily gotten frustrated and given up.
However, if you only reinstall what you actually need to use, you will save time and effort.
The good news is that there are newer ways to reformat your computer to increase your efficiency.
One of the better ways to reformat your computer's hard drive is through the creation of a Windows image file and using what is called Ghost reformatting.
If you have Windows XP then you should already have a system CD that includes the service packs required for that operating system; if you don't have it, contact Microsoft to obtain one before you start this process.
A service pack is a CD that contains the newer operating system along with all the essential programs that comes with XP.
Traditionally, you had to insert the CD to format the hard drive, and then install the new operating system and each individual program.
However, with XP you can obtain a CD that includes your most important programs to take care of the need in one shot, taking a lot less time.
Using Ghost, you create a mirror image of your computer and then reinstall the newer version.
It only takes about five minutes to reinstall as compared to the hours it took in the past.
This is because you decide which programs to install from the same disk.
By using a recordable DVD instead of a CD you can save even more time because DVD's hold more data.
It is important to make sure you keep only your operating system on one DVD and then your remaining programs on the other so that you always have one clean copy of your operating system.
Check your computer manual to see if it requires reformatting at any time.
Most people trade in their computers so frequently that this step is usually not needed.
However if you have an older computer and want to keep and update it to a newer operating system, you can do the reformatting yourself with little-to-no hassle thanks to more modern options available to do the job.
