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Removing everything off a pc?
bassett - 10/2/10 at 10:51 PM

Hi, my desktop has been running really slow of late so i havent used it and instead used my laptop for everything which with only 40gb is very fast and seems to cope ok. Other than moving my files across is there anyway to remove everything off the pc and then uploading the original software to see if it runs slightly smoother and could possible be useful for my grandparents?
Thanks
Adam

[Edited on 10/2/10 by bassett]

mookaloid - 10/2/10 at 10:58 PM

Move the files off that you want then reformat and reinstall the operating system

bassett - 10/2/10 at 11:13 PM

Thanks mookaloid, next question where is the reformat option located?

mookaloid - 10/2/10 at 11:17 PM

you will ideally need the original windows CD which came with the pc. failing that you may be able to borrow one.

Which operating system is it?

ashg - 10/2/10 at 11:20 PM

put the windows disc in restart the pc and follow the instructions it will ask if you want to format the hdd.

if it doesnt go into the windows setup screen you may need to press one of the F1-F12 keys when its booting on the black screens to to make it boot from the windows install disc

[Edited on 10/2/10 by ashg]

blakep82 - 10/2/10 at 11:21 PM

some PC's (IBM for one) don't come with windows CDs. worth bearing in mind.

never something i've had to do though, but don't panic if you never got the CD

hicost blade - 10/2/10 at 11:26 PM

you could try crap cleaner first, it removes all the unwanted 'crap' cloging up your PC

http://www.ccleaner.com/

Daddylonglegs - 11/2/10 at 08:25 AM

If you do go down the reformat route, ensure that you get everything you want off there first. I mean EVERYTHING!

There is nothing more frustrating than remembering just after you press the 'format' button that there was that one thing you forgot to back-up

Things like shortcuts, links on Internet Explorer etc. Sounds obvious but just a warning....

StevenB - 11/2/10 at 01:32 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mookaloid
Move the files off that you want then reformat and reinstall the operating system

I was considering this option as well
(PC is running like a dog) but wondered
if the OS was re-installed at a low level service pack status would it not immediately
go for auto updates and start installing
huge patches etc.

And if so would it slow down again?
s

bassett - 11/2/10 at 02:23 PM

not looking forward to moving all the files across as i know it will take an age to check what i need to keep as its just that slow. Thanks for the replies though as its given me a good idea what to do

D Beddows - 11/2/10 at 02:26 PM

Not if you turn off automatic updates for Windows I always have that turned off anyway because all kinds of unpleasantness can occur letting it download what it wants - if you do that though it's worth having a look periodically on the Microsoft update site to download firewall things etc.

I take it you both have decent Spyware protection? because without that things can easily grind to a halt!

I had serious slowness issues a couple of weeks ago and the hard drive was constantly whirring away to itself - I scanned with AGV free and it hung on a particular file...... I deleted the related program and all files associated with it and tried the scan again....... hung on another file - deleted that program etc and scanned for a third time - this time the scan finished and now everything works as it should and the hard drive only whirrs away when I ask it to do something difficult.....