what's the best way to totally reformat my computer?
399991
Put in the Windows CD (assuming you have windows) and there should be an option to reformat, then let her go! (This is for  Windows XP)
642982
To reformat a computer, you need to have the original restore discs that came with it- or you will have no files or operating system.  You will also lose anything you added After you began downloading programs that did not come with the computer.\n\nHave you tried to turn it completely off and then restart it?
491672
If you want to start over then just reformat the drive and reinstall Win XP
294729
If all you want to do is reformat then you could use FreeDOS or Knoppix.
590413
http://www.resnet.uni.edu/docs/reformatxp.html\n\nIf you are unsure, don't do anythign. Seek someone else who know.
315597
Format your hard-disk and re-install windows.
621736
Re-Install Windows, this is the best way
77671
You don't have to reformat!  Just go to the Start button, then click on it, then click on Programs, then Accessories, then System Tools, then System Restore.  Then try "going back" one at a time until you find one that's far enough back before you made whichever screw-up you made, and you'll be good to go.  That's all assuming you have Windows XP.
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.
1025667
reformat the hard drive and install a full version of windows 98
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/
743297
First of all, you do NOT reformat a computer. You can reformat the hard drive, which will erase all the data currently on the drive (or more correctly, on the current partiton of the drive which you are reformatting)\n\nDifferent computer Operating Systems have different commands to reformat their drives. If you are using windows, and you reformat the main hard drive (probably called C:) you will loose windows and then need to re-install windows from a CD.\n\nIf you are reformatting a different drive, (not the drive Windows is installed to) you can open My Computer or Windows Explorer and go to the FILE menu and choose FORMAT. Be sure you have selected the proper drive before you choose format.\n\nOn other systems, the commands and ways to get to them are different, and the best thing would be to consult your computer's reference guide (if you have one)\n\nSpecial Note: As I stated earlier, reformatting a drive ERASES EVERYTHING on it. Be absolutely sure you are reformatting the right drive, and that there is nothing on the drive you want to keep. While there are ways to get data back after a reformat, they are time consuming, don't always work, and usually require buying a software package.
137022
3 Easy steps to a full format\n\n1) BACK UP all relevant information, work, and personal files, a good rule to know what to keep is When in doubt KEEP THE FILE.\n\n2) GET YOUR ORIGINAL RESTORE DISKS find the original disks that came with your system, If you dont have them it´s probably best to go out to your computer dealer BEFORE you format. this is specially important for your video drivers, and other wierd bits.\n\n3) Format (Best if you can do it from the applications directly on your original restore disks) second do it directly from the kernel (Dos) and last but still useful go via windows.\n\nIf you backup first the worst thing that can happen is youll be off line for a couple of days until you bring a new system up to speed.
756105
The first thing you wanna do is copy onto disk all of your important files.  Then use the original system disks that came with your computer, place them in your CD drive and it walk you through reformatting and reinstalling your operating system
752442
Get hold of CrapCleaner from FileHippo. Its free and it will tidy things its safe to tidy.\n\nYou can also delete restore points and change restore settings to save fewer restore points (or turn off system restore).\n\nIf you don't mind the risk, you can also delete all Windows update uninstallation folders - but do this the right way - they take up 800MB on my PC.
102382
When you start the installation for XP, it'll ask you to format or remove the current partition.  You can remove all partitions and reformat this way.
1065349
Just reformat it as you would any device, plug it in, go to my computer, right click on it and format!