View Full Version : [OT] Test Your Might
Hell-demon
15-04-09, 01:20
Okay you cyber jockeys and computer know alls I need help. Recently my fiance's computer got corrupted by a virus of godlike proportions (my fault) and the only cure is to wipe the computer's hard drive. This virus has really fucked it up.
My question is this...how do I format a hard drive and reinstall an operating system? I wanna wipe the hard drive clean, no files, no windows and no pr0n.
Oh help me o' wise computer gurus.
You have a full windows CD ? or was it a preinstalled OEM windows with a crappy restore partition system ?
actually that "crappy restore partition" is by far the easiest way of totally wiping ur hdd and reinstalling, mostly just the press of a button et voila, fixed...
otherwise, if you have a windows install cd, just put it in, when it asks where to install, first select Format partition, and then it should work out just fine (installing windows isn't difficult, it's the not fucking it up later part), oh and my hint is not to activate it immediately (pull out ur network cable until it's fully rebooted n stuff), cuz if you fuck up u wanna reinstall and then u have to call them again :(, that is of course, if ur windows is legal
Before doing ANY of this, find out what model of PC you have; go to the manufacturers web site, and download ALL drivers (Or just the wireless ones). Put them on a disc or USB stick.
1. Turn on your computer
2. Put in your windows disc whilst it's booting up
3. Press ctrl+alt+del to restart
4. When prompted, press any key to boot from the disc
5. Depending on the OS, you will be given options to 'Repair' existing installation, or start a new installation. Click the option to start new installation.
6. Somewhere in here, it will advise you to select which drive to install to. Look for the one with the largest capacity. Click it, and you should see something giving you drive options.
7. FIND THE WORD 'FORMAT' and ensure this is selected/clicked.
8. Once drive is formatted, Windows proceeds to install
9. Enter stupidly long serial key
10. Wait for bloody ages
11. Install drivers from the previously created disk/USB stick.
12. Run a windows update, and let it download everything.
13. Stop looking at pr0n on your fiancee's computer. ;)
That's from the top of my head!
it's his fiance's comp, meaning his own is still on the internet...
still, check if u have a restore partition, works wonders
6. Somewhere in here, it will advise you to select which drive to install to. Look for the one with the largest capacity. Click it, and you should see something giving you drive options.
by default I keep my C drive less than 50 gb on an xp installation (5gb for xp, rest for programs that need installing, Vista needs far more, like 20gb just for the os), while the rest of the stuff (movies, series, data) goes on the d and e drives, which are 200gb each, so no, don't look for the one with the largest capacity, look for the right one ;) (check before u format in windows how large the C: drive is)
here ya go.. step by step instructions, and comes with pictures of what it "should" (and usually does) look like while you're doing it :D
http://helpdesk.its.uiowa.edu/windows/instructions/reformat.htm
by default I keep my C drive less than 50 gb on an xp installation (5gb for xp, rest for programs that need installing, Vista needs far more, like 20gb just for the os), while the rest of the stuff (movies, series, data) goes on the d and e drives, which are 200gb each, so no, don't look for the one with the largest capacity, look for the right one ;) (check before u format in windows how large the C: drive is)
It's about as basic a guide as it needs to be. If he's asking for help reinstalling an operating system, it's highly unlikely they've partitioned their HD. To my knowledge, manufacturers don't do this, unless setting up a recovery partition.
So yeah, you're probably looking for the one with the largest capacity (;))
Doc Holliday
15-04-09, 13:38
It's about as basic a guide as it needs to be. If he's asking for help reinstalling an operating system, it's highly unlikely they've partitioned their HD. To my knowledge, manufacturers don't do this, unless setting up a recovery partition.
So yeah, you're probably looking for the one with the largest capacity (;))
hate to say it but biglines he is very right in this. your over complicating it all. i think when sometimes you know so much about something you forget that others dont and lose the ability to communicate with the less knowledgable.
looks like rab still knows.
mr fang. do you work in IT tech support ;)
mr fang. do you work in IT tech support ;)
Nahh man; but I do run a game server provider. The amount of times I have run the monotonous task of installing an operating system is beyond normal human tolerances.
I loathe doing it. Windows 7, I have found to be far quicker to install. The future's looking good, at least.
He's right about one thing I overlooked; he still has his PC, so the drivers don't necessarily need to be downloaded in advance!
Hell-demon
15-04-09, 14:11
oooohhhh good responses. Get this done and my fiance can't guilt trip me any more.
Her comp runs vista so all these instructions about xp might be useless. It's still a bit confusing and I just got out of bed.... :wtf:
Basically can someone give me the bare bones. Just wipe the hard drive and install the operating system. The virus is tenacious and I can only use the computer in safe mode. So I am lost in a sea of shit.
It's about as basic a guide as it needs to be. If he's asking for help reinstalling an operating system, it's highly unlikely they've partitioned their HD. To my knowledge, manufacturers don't do this, unless setting up a recovery partition.
So yeah, you're probably looking for the one with the largest capacity (;))
so... checking to make sure is bad?
and yes, my pc came with a 20gb partition for windows, and a 40 gb partition for data, configured so it cud be reinstalled with all the data intact, while the c drive was formatted
all i was saying is that it is probably important to check the right size
still, sorry if i overcomplicated it
edit: (btw, i reinstalled xp 3 or 4 days ago, and I just remembered it remembers the drive letters, so just pick C:, shud be even easier ;))
make absolutely sure she has no files she need to have, unlike in big companies, most email accounts except gmail and hotmail dont save the emails on their servers, so u might need some help backing that up if she needs it (or better, print the important ones, then ur sure they arent virus infected ;))
does she have more than one partition? (c: and d: for example) if so, u need to decide if you want to back up the files, this is complicated, u better get someone to help u with it in real life (don't pay some big company to do it, they suck at it, get some geeky 15 year old from next door, they're usually better)
if u have only one drive which u want to completely whipe, it's easier. Check if she has a cd version of vista, or that it has some kind of recovery cd. If there is a recovery cd, just put it in the pc, reboot and follow the instructions. If not, I have no experience installing vista, but there is no harm in just putting the install disk in and see if you can wing it, seriously shouldn't be difficult at all, and if it goes wrong, just try again till it works since it's whiped clean anyway
Hell-demon
15-04-09, 14:29
She has got a c drive and a d drive and I think it's best to wipe both of the fuckers. I basically want to salt the earth here as the virus is a little bastard.
So how do I wipe the drives do I type format c into run or can both drives be wiped simply by putting in the vista install cd and installing vista?
I'm sorry how noobish I am. I cannot comapare to your wits and good looks. I am a failure and you all have massive cocks that can please any and every woman :(
and damn, this is getting to me, sorry if it's offtopic or anything, but i've been teaching people to do things on the computer for about 4 years now, but am i really overcomplicating this?
I still think you need to make sure u got the right drive, and just picking the largest one is maybe the simplest, but there are soooo many scenerios where it would be the wrong one...
I agree with u though that "when sometimes you know so much about something you forget that others dont and lose the ability to communicate with the less knowledgable.", but I had hoped that I hadn't fallen in that trap :(
oh well, good luck with it, and especially if u don't have to make backups, just try, it's the best way to learn how to work with computers
Vista is more simple than XP. When you've got the disk in, it'll tell you to select a drive.
You'll see a 'Drive Options' button under the partitions/drives. Click that, and it will give you an option in there to format (Or quick format). Quick format will more than likely work, but I'd recommend going for the full format.
Select the relevant drive (if you've done as Biglines said, you'll know which one to select - but it's probably, quite simply going to be C: )
Your best bet is to set it going, and if you struggle, post the point your stuck at on here. I bet half the people in here will be able to advise you what to do next.
EDIT - Chill out Biglines; it doesn't hurt to check, granted. I was working on the assumption that he couldn't boot up TO check. It appears he can get in under safe mode.
I'm certainly not questioning your ability. He asked a question, I answered. I'm not being a smart arse; merely trying to make it as simple as possible for him.
If he has a drive C & drive D, it's likely he has a recovery partition.
@ Hell Demon - What manufacturer made the PC?
no, in the xp installer, you would have to format them both I think, but seriously, ask first if she needs something backed up, cuz if you format it, it'll all be gone (i have over 20 backup dvd's lying around in case my hdd crashes)
if you need backups though, don't do it by yourself, we might know a lot about computers, but there is absolutely no substitute to being there.
EDIT - Chill out Biglines
hehe no worries, I was questioning my own, at least not meant to whine at you, I was seriously wondering if I had overcomplicated it ;)
So how do I wipe the drives do I type format c into run or can both drives be wiped simply by putting in the vista install cd and installing vista?
you wudn't be able to format your c drive with that, since you would be on your c drive running windows, possibly you cud wipe your d drive, but that would give the virus a chance to copy itself onto the newly formated drive
edit: never mind over complicating, no, you can't format in windows
Hell,
Put the disc in; the option to format is on there. It's pretty much part of the install process, as stated in my above post. Vista will give you drive options.
You can have the whole thing done in about an hour.
Good luck!
Hell-demon
15-04-09, 14:50
This virus is more of a bastard than I thought. I put the cd in but it tells me I can't install because I lack the hard drive space. I have 135gb of the stuff. I'm gonna keep trying.
And the make of computer is.....Dell :eek:
We are students we're poor!
Hell, I don't know if I made this clear or not;
Put the disc in, and restart the PC. You need to boot from the CD/DVD.
The virus won't affect (generally) what goes on from there.
You can't just put it in the drive whilst Windows is booted up.
If it's saying that you don't have enough free space, there's a good possibility you missed the 'Drive Options' section.
Hell-demon
15-04-09, 15:01
Ah you mean the boot setup at the start press f12 and all that.
Doing it now....
probably not the bios setup, it will say you haven't got enoug space, but can u see any advanced or drive options or location or something?
Hell-demon
15-04-09, 15:05
Hey it's working!
Let ya know more in a bit.
A quick word of advice in prevention....stop going to sexinthezoo.com
Hell-demon
15-04-09, 17:17
WELL DONE LOKI!
My fiance sends hugs and kisses to you. It worked. My fiance is happy she has her computer back and I'm happy that I'm not going to get dumped. While she was out shopping with mom I sorted her computer out going so far to find her old desktop background and downloading everything she had.
Suffice to say this was not caused by porn (a.k.a the cyber clap) it was actually a dodgy zip file that was torrented. Still, I and my fiance are in your debt, Loki. I can't offer you much more than thanks and possibly a million neocron credits (just PM me if you want them).
Thankyou also to everyone else's contribution, which also helped. You men have mighty bridge building phalluses and mine is meager baby carrot. I chose to ask this community because you are all so very supportive.
Mods feel free to close this thread. Thankyou everyone.
You men have mighty bridge building phalluses and mine is meager baby carrot. That will go down in history lol
You men have mighty bridge building phalluses and mine is meager baby carrot.
Please allow me to take this quote alone as payment, in itself. :)
For the record; I'm not really a techie, I've just done it so many times it pains me.
Anyway, I'm glad it's sorted mate.
For the record; I'm not really a techie.
why do all geeks say that? (For the record, im a geeky techie)
p.s. no offense, dunno if ur a geek, just all the geeks I know say that ;)
Doc Holliday
15-04-09, 18:37
for 1 week we should all use that in our sigs. it will be engrained in NC lore. :)
Get a cd called Active Killdisc ^^ Overwrite everything with the standard...
So nothing can be left... overwrite bootsec aswell :P
Put the Win Install CD in... select the hd where to install and make a partition.
Install :) Done...
BUT WAIT! Don't install a win version under sp2 .... and if u do the sp2 download update packs before...
Well I know :) It's not that genious and a no time explanation :P
greetz *neill*
why do all geeks say that? (For the record, im a geeky techie)
p.s. no offense, dunno if ur a geek, just all the geeks I know say that ;)
Define geek.
I write and read sci-fi, I have fought for England at Amateur level, and I have played guitar for 15 years. Oh, and I've been known to dabble in the occasional spliff from time to time. Did I mention that I sometimes where the hat, as shown in my sig? I also have a tendency to pull really retarded faces, and I like modified Japanese cars. Please see the below linked image to help you form your opinion of me.
http://forum.blackprophecy-game.com/showthread.php?t=209&page=2
I guess I look like a geek, sometimes. You tell me :p
i'm not sure whether smoking a spliff is cool in the uk, so can't say anything about that, can't see the pic either, so can't say anything about that, but a cowboy hat is something people here generally call geeky, I have no idea what u mean by "I have fought for England at Amateur level", reading and writing scifi is very cool, but also very geeky ;)
but hey, apparently geeky is the new alternative ;)
but tbh, u play nc, point proven ;)
i'm not sure whether smoking a spliff is cool in the uk, so can't say anything about that, can't see the pic either, so can't say anything about that, but a cowboy hat is something people here generally call geeky, I have no idea what u mean by "I have fought for England at Amateur level", reading and writing scifi is very cool, but also very geeky ;)
but hey, apparently geeky is the new alternative ;)
but tbh, u play nc, point proven ;)
Nahh, smoking weed is considered quite loserish (I made that word up for the purpose of this post); but I did say occasional - and by that, I mean, VERY occasional.
Granted, I'm a kickboxer that wears cowboy hats & plays NC.
I'm at least a semi-geek :(
Hell-demon
15-04-09, 22:03
Mods you can close this now.
All is well and I still have my balls firmly attached.
All is well,I still have my balls firmly attached. there, fixed it.
there, fixed it.
There was nothing to fix. There is, however, in yours. A comma requires a _space_ to follow it.
(lol)
to me, the fact that my balls were still attached would be 99% of the reason all was well, so I assumed that stating all was well, and next to that his balls were still attached was a typo ;)
and thanks to the mod that found the time to add a space in my post lol
No way!!! A mod did that??? :lol:
(PS - Close the damn thread already)
No way!!! A mod did that??? :lol:
(PS - Close the damn thread already)
well I couldn't have
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