how do i reformat a dell350?
152010
make sure you have all the drivers.... you probably have a driver cd from dell. just put a windows cd in the drive and when the pc boots hit f2 for bios, and go to boot order, make the cd rom first in the list. then the cd will boot before the HD, and it will give you the option to reformat
36489
firstly, have a bootup floppy or cd.\nmake sure you backup your necessary datas.\ninsert the bootup floppy or cd and restart the system, with such as floppy is to be booted up first, you can change it in your bios settings.\nNow with your boot disk booted up, select help option to get some quick help then format the disk by typing the command. x:format k:\nwhere x is the directory in which the system booted it can a drive or some cd drove,k is the hardisk drive which you want to be formatted.\nAfter formatting install your os or you can partion further by using partion magic.\nThank you
66004
try this. if u need any more help just mail me at ruben_swing@dellmail.com
871064
formatt the whole thing and reinstall windows
696654
Here's a great 'how to'\nhttp://www.lifehacker.com/software/windows/geek-to-live-how-to-format-your-hard-drive-and-install-windows-xp-from-scratch-157578.php\n\n///
987927
http://www.novacomputers.net/format.htm  <<that site will give you step by step instructions for formatting and install
164878
download bios from manufacturer and flash the one you have then install new stuff
182268
Dont format your Notebook it will erase everything! If its a pass that the Dell company gave you, you should contact them and get your password.
3292
Insert the recovery CD, and reboot your computer.  When prompted, choose "Restore to factory settings".\n\nIf you do not use the recovery CD, and want to hard-format your entire PC, you may void your Dell warranty and/or support contract.
383419
This is a general guide / overview on the procedure to format your hard drive.  If you have special problems not covered in this document, please ask your questions on  PCBUILD mailing list.\n\nNow to begin, you will need a MS Dos6.xx or Windows9x boot disk.\n\nSTEP ONE\nYou first need to decide what operating system you intend to load after formatting the hard drive.  It is best and easiest to use a boot disk for that Operating System, such as MS Dos6.2 or Windows95b or Windows98SE.   You will need the proper Windows95/98 boot disk in order to load the these operating systems on the computer, else it will reject loading due to the wrong Operating System on the computer. \n\nSTEP TWO\nInsert your boot disk in the floppy drive and start the computer.  Once the system has completed booting and an A: prompt appears we are ready to start. \n\nType: format C: /s      [press Enter]\n\nThis statement tells the system to format your "C" drive and when it is finished to copy the system files to the drive, (the /s switch for 'System').   You can format a different drive this way by using a different drive letter. \n\nFormat should display: WARNING, ALL DATA ON\nNON-REMOVABLE DISK DRIVE C: WILL BE LOST!\nProceed with Format (Y/N)? Type [Y]  [Press ENTER]\n\nYour screen should display the size of your drive and a countdown in percentage of formatting completed.  Depending on your computer's speed and the size of the drive it can take from a few minutes to over 15minutes.\n\nSTEP THREE\nWhen it reaches 100% complete, you will see a new message:   \nFORMAT COMPLETE. SYSTEM TRANSFERRED.   \n\nThis indicates that the files required to boot your computer from the hard drive have been copied from the floppy to the hard drive.  The computer can now boot from the hard drive without a boot disk in the floppy drive.\n\nYou will see one last message:\nVolume label (11 characters, ENTER for none)?\nType anything you like or leave it blank - [Press ENTER]\n\nYou can now begin to load your Operating System.\n\nSpecial Note:\nYou may receive the error message:\n"insufficient memory to load system files"\n\nThis is caused by the lack of a memory manager loaded at boot and your PC can only access the first 1mg of ram memory.  There are two possible solutions:\n\n1) Omit the /s switch when formatting. This is done by typing this:\n  FORMAT C:   [press enter]\n\nThen when the format is complete, manually add the system files to your hard drive by using this command:\n   SYS C:   [press enter]\n\n2) You will need to load a memory manager in order to overcome this issue. Not knowing what operating system boot disk you are using is an issue here. However, Windows98 boot disks load a memory manager, so let us assume it is either Windows95 or earlier.\n\nYou need to add the file HIMEM.SYS to your boot disk and then modify your Config.sys file on the boot disk.  \n\n  Download HIMEM.SYS  10k\n\nUnzip the file to your boot disk and add this line in the Config.sys, (make this the first line):\n\n  DEVICE=himem.sys\n\nNow, reboot your computer with the boot disk and it should work fine.\n\nYou will find that the boot disks we offer for download are all configured with a Memory manager and contain the file:  HIMEM.SYS\n\nmovables : http://freepctech.com/pc/001/002.shtml\n\n\ntarek
62322
Before you start reformating your harddrive (C:&#92; -drive of the computer}, make sure you back up all important and needed files you have in the computer to a CD, another harddrive, or zip disks. There are computers made by manufacturers like Dell, Gateway, Compaq and others that came preloaded with the OS (operating system) that uses a Recovery disk to return the computer to its original factory condition. All of the programs that were installed after the first time you used the PC will be cleared out, and you will have to re-install them when the recovery process is completed. Always read the technical manuals it came with, and do not lose them. Most pre-manufactured PC has a hidden partition where the Operating System file is stored, therefore, if you reformat the harddrive you will erase the hidden partition and never recover your PC's functionality at all. So If your PC is preinstalled with the programs and Operating system from such manufacturers, DO NOT REFORMAT THE HARDDRIVE, instead read the manual and use the RECOVERY disk, and refer to their respective tech support by phone or on the web.\n\nIf the PC is self-built, or you built the PC from the ground up. Then it is safe to believe that you have your own original or copy of the operating system (OS - like; win98SE, ME, XP, and so on...), and also all the other 2nd and 3rd party programs that you have installed.  Proceed by backing up your most important files you made.  Then proceed with the reformating of the PC.  Most OS Installation are now autoinstalling, as long as the PC has the capability to auto-seek the CD ROM drive first, if installing from a cd disc. Some OS installing procedure uses a floppy to start up and prompts for the cd disc later. Some PCs may not do an auto-seek because the BIOS is not set up to do so, Since Bios are made by different manufacturers, the procedure in getting into its configuation utility may vary.  Most common is pressing the 'DELETE' key simultaneously on the keyboard, when the computer is just starting up (POST -post operating system test), just know when to stop pressing the key. From inside the bios utility, you can change many features of the motherboard that will affect the performance of you PC, or destroy it and other components, if you set something out of place, or out of the recommended parameters. It is best to approach this procedure with extreme caution, if you are not technologically familiar with this, ask someone who is familiar with BIOS settings. Once the auto-seek is set save the settings, open the cd rom drive place the OS cd in, then shutdown and restart the computer, continue with your installation. After the installation is completed, you may want to reset the auto-seek to go back to its default for the A:&#92; floppy drive, as most PC are expected to normally do.\n~meow
131637
Why refurbish an old computer when you can buy a new one for less than the cost of the parts?\n\nFor argument's sake, here is a list of parts:\n\nCase -- your case may be an AT-style case that will not work with the newer components.\n\nPower Supply -- if existing is not ATX and P4 compatible\n\nMotherboard -- your motherboard will not work with current CPUs\n\nMemory - your memory is probably old-style 168 pin SDRAM instead of the current 184 pin DDR RAM\n\nCPU - a current AMD or Intel processor\n\nHard Drive - You'll want a 7200 RPM drive with at least 8 MB cache to take advantage of the speed of your other components\n\nOptical Drive (or two) -- DVD burner and DVD/RO \n\nFloppy Drive -- good news!  Floppies have not changed!  You can use your old floppy drive!! :) :) :)\n\nGraphics Card -- AGP (or you can sacrifice gaming performance by getting a motherboard with built in video)\n\nSound Card -- Generally provided by motherboard and seperate sound card not needed these days.  \n\nNetwork Interface Card -- Generally provided by motherboard.\n\nModem - If your existing modem is ISA rather than PCI and a modem is not provided on the motherboard and you need a modem ....\n\nOperating System - Current Windows XP Pro OEM version is approximately $130.  You can't compete with Dell's sweetheart deal with Micro$oft, Dell gets 'em almost free.  You might consider a current version of Linux instead.
281733
If you are using it on another computer of your own, just plug it in as a slave drive and then if using Win XP, just go to My Computer and right click on the drive. Then select format and it will wipe it clean for you. \n\nIf you are just going to install windows on it then just format at windows setup.\n\nIf you are not going to be the user of this computer and want to protect your privacy use a tool from http://www.download.com to do a deep format - one in which data cannot be recovered.\n\nGood Luck
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.
626716
Go to Bootdisk.com, download a boot disk maker program. Boot the computer with the bootdisk in the floppy drive. Use the command format c:/S  DONE!! If you are using Windows XP, you can put the CD in the drive and reboot to it providing your BIOS is set to Boot to CD drive first, if not you can easily change it. The XP Cd will give you the option to reformat.
69663
Is the DELL computer bought recently??? If it has been bought recently, then there is an already installed software on the computer which can do the work for u. Its called PCRestore. It will totally erase the hard drive and install the whole of the operating system and all the software that might have come along with the computer. The computer's software would be as if was just taken out of the box. But, I must mention that this will erase everything on the comp. \n\nPC Restore can be done this way: \n\nRestart your comp and immediately you would see a blue bar on the top. At that point hold down the Control (Ctrl) key and keep tap F11 2-3 times. You would see, "PC Restore by Symantec". Now, use your mouse to click on Restore. Then on the next screen click on confirm. This process would take about 10 minutes to complete. But, I must warn you, all the information on the computer would be LOST and it would be as if just taken out of the box. \n\n\nOtherwise contact DELL Free Technical Support for assistance. The number is 1-800-6249896
840851
You need the original Windows disc that came with the computer.  I would reccomend having this done by a trained professional or somone that knows how to do it.  You may mess somthing up.\n\n\n\n\n\nhttp://www.techstatus.net/