Format Laptop Hard Drive

[angeejay48/]

I have A Toshiba A65 S1065 Laptop that needs the Hard Drive Reformatted so that I can reinstall XP. Every time I run Windows XP and I do a Complete Reinstall it only does an Upgrade no matter what I do. I also tried clicking on the C: Drive and choosing Format for the C: Drive but it still won't Reformat and erase the Drive so that I can do a CLEAN INSTALL of Windows XP........Help!

[Midknyte]

are you trying to run a windows setup from within windows? you should not get an upgrade option if you boot from the cd and format from there.

you said you clicked on C: drive to format. were you trying to format C: from within windows? you can't do that.

Toshibas are supposed to come with restore discs. Use that first. It will do a full factory restore.

[Sterling_Aug]

If you want to format, then get zap or DBAN the drive first.

[angeejay48/]

I don't have a Restore CD I bought the Laptop off of Craigslist and they didn't provide a RESTORE CD. I tried booting from the CD ROM and not within Windows. It still would not reformat the Hard Drive. What is ZAP or DBAN???? Is it FREEWARE??

[Midknyte]

You can get DBAN along with a lot of other tools on UBCD. Click on the Tech Tools link. There are also hd diags tools on UBCD, so you may want to run a test. Laptop hard drive failures are pretty common.

You should have stated that you didn't have the restore disc in the first place. You can try ordering one here:
http://www.restoredisks.com/

The restore disc would save you a lot of time since it has all the toshiba drivers and applications.

[angeejay48/]

Thanks! A Lot...I try both

[Lgbpop]

I don't have a Restore CD I bought the Laptop off of Craigslist and they didn't provide a RESTORE CD. I tried booting from the CD ROM and not within Windows. It still would not reformat the Hard Drive. What is ZAP or DBAN???? Is it FREEWARE??Did you check the boot order in the BIOS first? Many laptops are set with the optical drive last in the boot order as default.

[angeejay48/]

I found out that Toshiba has a Restore Disk that cost about $75.00. I believe the Dban was about $99.00. I just wanted to wipe out my HD and reinstall Windows XP but didn't have the Restore Disk......Just so you know.....I went to Fry's Electronics which is a very popular Computer Hardware Software retail store that is popular where I live. They had a program called "DRIVE WASHER" That ERASES your whole Laptop Hard Drive. It retailed for just $9.99....It was Great, Cheap, and Wiped out the HD in 35 minutes so that I could reinstall Windows XP. So FYI you do not need a RESTORE disk to Reformat your HD to reinstall XP
DRIVE WASHER is go for wiping the HD clean if you are selling your used PC, Laptop or just want to erase your HD. It PERMANENTLY! erases and removes all data that is unretrievable for HACKERS!!!.....The manufacturer of this software is:
MIGO SOFTWARE......I love it!!!!!!!!!

[Sterling_Aug]

DBAN is FREE, yes free, not $99.00 as you mentioned.

http://dban.sourceforge.net/


DBAN can wipe a hard drive using up to 13 passes with random characters so not even the FBI can retrieve the data.

[Midknyte]

I never said you needed the restore discs to do a format. You need them to reload the OS, drivers and apps that came with the system.

I already mentioned UBCD on tech tools, so i don't know why you were getting prices for DBAN.

[angeejay48/]

Thanks for the reply but the link I went on said it was about $99.00. Your link is FREE but I didn't see this link when I was looking for one. I'm satified with my $9.99 investment. Believe me it is a very good investment......But I will recommend this link to others......