i have alot of information to back up before I reformat can i transfer this to my desktop hard drive temporary
152534
If you are backing up a laptop, which seems to be what you are suggesting, you can put both pc's on the same network workgroup and share the C: drive on the laptop allowing you to copy files to the desktop hard drive.
866260
Well for storage burn an image of it to your harddrive ...iso
785893
Just save it to your Hard Drive (use the CD for archiving) and there should be no problems. Otherwise copy the file from your cd to your hard drive and then change its properties
571671
Just move your data files to the D drive.
818481
Reformat and reload.\n\nCoach
1089686
Save ur data and files same where in an external hard disk or CD or what ever and then format and reinstall the operating system again\n\nthe main thing to back-up is ur Desktop, My Documents and Favorites\n ( it's in c:&#92;Documents and Settings&#92;"the user name")\n\nDon't forget Outlook and any other program that has data to be backed up.\n\nn_n Good Luck
352425
If you are talking about a quick whipe its not very possible.  Your best bet would be to keep sensitive information in 1 location so that you can use a "shredder" on all of the files without looking for them, or having ghost copies elsewhere the disk or another drive.  (dont forget your swapfile)\n\nThe time it would take to 0 out a substantial amount of information would be enough time to physically remove a HD and physically destroy it.
932197
the same way as you do it for an internal HD. go to My Computer, right click the drive and select Format.
65768
Get a jump drive. You can put files on it an move it to the other computer. Or you could burn a blank file cd and put all your files on it. Those worked great when i got a new computer. This is the quick and easy way.
985376
Reformat the HD, and then install XP,but make sure your data is backed up.
134528
back up your data and then format everything.
1147464
Programs need to stay where they was installed.\nIf you does not have the installation discs, so you can uninstall it, and install it again on the new harddrive, then you only can move DATA-files. And remove temporary files.\n\nCreate a new folder on the new harddrive. Call it DATA.\nAnd move all files that is located inside My Documents, to there.\n\nYou can also delete everything inside the temp folders (your personal, and the system temp folder). You did not say what operating system you use, so I can't tell exact location.\n\nThen you can also empty your web-browser's cache, and then set it to be 20 Megabytes in size (default size for IE is much more, and deafault size for FireFox is 50 Mbyte, so you will save some space there).
799891
The same as you'd do with a desktop computer.\n\nI assume by reformat you also mean to reinstall Windows - if so the easiest way is to boot from your Windows CD.  You'll select to do a new installation, and when it brings up your partition table, you will delete the existing partition, and install windows to the "unformatted space".  Windows will then format and partition the hard disk and install a fresh copy of windows.
996020
Buy external hard drive. Move everything from your desktop there, then copy it to your laptop.\n\nor Setup a home network, so you can connect to your desktop from your laptop. Then you can copy everything directly from your desktop without having to buy another hard drive.
517040
you cant unless you have a backup program utility
375800
You can format your hard drive by right clicking the drive name under My Computer and selecting the format option.BE AWARE: all data will be lost.
547422
Don't listen to the answers below mine.\n\nFormat your hard drive.