Formatting?

Ewan_C · 17th June 2006, 10:07 AM

Im getting someones old laptop which doesnt run very well, Im planning on formatting it and reinstalling windows to see if if its just the shite she has got on it over the years that is making it so slow.

How do I go about formatting it?

The computer will only be used to run a virtual synth, for some live gigs, dont need it to be super fast but need it to be reasonably relieable!

corduroyboy · 17th June 2006, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ewan_C

Im getting someones old laptop which doesnt run very well, Im planning on formatting it and reinstalling windows to see if if its just the shite she has got on it over the years that is making it so slow.

How do I go about formatting it?

The computer will only be used to run a virtual synth, for some live gigs, dont need it to be super fast but need it to be reasonably relieable!

What version of Windows are you thinking of putting on it? I think most laptops are set up to try and boot from a CD before the HD, so if you've got a Windows install CD in, when booting, it'll probably take you straight in. Here there should be options to format the HD, or install Windows into another folder or whatever.

humndislocation · 17th June 2006, 02:12 PM

I'd argue that if you don't know how to format a computer, then you probably shouldn't be doing it yourself, unless you're computer savvy and just happen not to have formatted a computer before.

But yeah, if you boot the computer with the windows CD in, it should boot from the CD and let you reformat.

If it doesn't boot from the CD automatically, then you'll have to go into the BIOS and change the boot order of the disks. (when you first switch on the computer it should tell you what button you have to hit to get into the bios screen)

krashd · 17th June 2006, 05:04 PM

I'd agree with Bryan, especially if it was a case where you had to have it ready for someone else or if there was an urgency to have it ready but if you are doing this for yourself with no time constraints it's a great chance to familiarize yourself with the process. If you set something up wrong or decide you'd rather have installed a different feature you can just format again and try over

Windows CD's have been bootable since Windows 95 USB version so you've no problem there, all you have to do is get the disc of the version you want. I'd recommend obviously Windows XP if the laptop already has it or you think it'd be capable of running it, or Windows 98 Second Edition since that operating system was the definitive 9x system.

put the CD in and reboot, as the computer resets it'll popup with an option for you to press any key to boot from the disc or it'll just load back to windows, if it does the latter then as Dave said you'll need into the BIOS to change the boot-up order (usually rebooting and holding down DEL* will take you in there), if it does the former and you hit space then the disc will load up and everything else will be plain-sailing, windows will take you thru all the steps

*the majority of PC BIOS's require you to hold down DEL when booting but some others will require a different key, so you may want to just reboot and read what it says whilst booting, once you are in there, again many BIOS's are different but they will tend to tell you at the top or the bottom of the screen how to access the various menus and options. the option to set the CD drive to boot up may not be under an understandable menu, it might be under something called "Advanced Options" or it might be under "Fruit n' Veg", Motherboard manufacturers are renowned for overcomplicating but just check thru each menu, if you don't find what you need just ESC back out and try the next menu. Look for Boot Order or something similarly titled and the options will either be C:, D:, E:, etc or HD, CD, Floppy, etc just make sure you know what letter the drive is beforehand (usually D

change the option, save, exit and/or reboot and you're off

Sorry if any of this seemed patronizing, but hopefully you'll no have to much to pester us with now :P

Ewan_C · 17th June 2006, 11:43 PM

Cheers, believe it or not I am fairly computer savvy, just havnt installed windows in such a long time I couldnt remember if it allows you to format during setup, I just have bad memories of trying to reinstall win98 years and years ago but had no fucking luck getting the drive formatted, cant remember why.

I have no idea how much memory or what processor thats in the laptop, getting it monday. It has windows xp installed on it and it has the orginal driver cd with it, so all should go well!

Its mainly going to be used to run a software synth, connected up to a firewire/usb audio interface, with a midi keyboard.

Hopefully Absynth will run fine on it, system requirements for it are Windows XP, Pentium III, Athlon 700 MHz, 256 MB RAM. If not a less demanding snyth will be used.

Already have another laptop for recording etc.

krashd · 18th June 2006, 01:47 AM

I'd reckon the laptop would have atleast those requirements in it, as when those components were the norm laptops were big bulky beasts and nobody is likely to have kept one form that period (the cretaceus i think it was.)

Ewan_C · 22nd June 2006, 12:21 PM

Ah well it came with system restore cds, so solved that problem! But fuck microsoft, its a genuine copy of windows(its an HP laptop with HP system restore cds) but windows and there genuine shite wont let me download the service packs, fuckers!

Can you get the service packs off the torrent sites?

It runs Absynth fine, as it stands but Im getting a new firewire aduio interface for my other laptop(the one we use for recording), so the old one will be used with the 'new' laptop so hopefully it will have absynth running great on it and maybe we will be able to record on that one as well.

Any idea where I can get cheap memory for an HP laptop?

It only has 256MB in it, only the one slot so I think the max for it is 512MB.

17th June 2006, 10:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
Ewan_C Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Glasgow Posts: 796 Band: Freedom Is Terror	Formatting? Im getting someones old laptop which doesnt run very well, Im planning on formatting it and reinstalling windows to see if if its just the shite she has got on it over the years that is making it so slow. How do I go about formatting it? The computer will only be used to run a virtual synth, for some live gigs, dont need it to be super fast but need it to be reasonably relieable!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
new formatting tags	kj	Site Announcements and Feedback	20	20th May 2004 10:03 PM

17th June 2006, 02:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
humndislocation Hardcore is serious guys Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 5,996 Band: Blasphemous Necrorapist	I'd argue that if you don't know how to format a computer, then you probably shouldn't be doing it yourself, unless you're computer savvy and just happen not to have formatted a computer before. But yeah, if you boot the computer with the windows CD in, it should boot from the CD and let you reformat. If it doesn't boot from the CD automatically, then you'll have to go into the BIOS and change the boot order of the disks. (when you first switch on the computer it should tell you what button you have to hit to get into the bios screen)

17th June 2006, 05:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
krashd Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Kirktonia Posts: 2,064 Band: Crosby, Stills, Nash, krashd and Young	I'd agree with Bryan, especially if it was a case where you had to have it ready for someone else or if there was an urgency to have it ready but if you are doing this for yourself with no time constraints it's a great chance to familiarize yourself with the process. If you set something up wrong or decide you'd rather have installed a different feature you can just format again and try over Windows CD's have been bootable since Windows 95 USB version so you've no problem there, all you have to do is get the disc of the version you want. I'd recommend obviously Windows XP if the laptop already has it or you think it'd be capable of running it, or Windows 98 Second Edition since that operating system was the definitive 9x system. put the CD in and reboot, as the computer resets it'll popup with an option for you to press any key to boot from the disc or it'll just load back to windows, if it does the latter then as Dave said you'll need into the BIOS to change the boot-up order (usually rebooting and holding down DEL* will take you in there), if it does the former and you hit space then the disc will load up and everything else will be plain-sailing, windows will take you thru all the steps *the majority of PC BIOS's require you to hold down DEL when booting but some others will require a different key, so you may want to just reboot and read what it says whilst booting, once you are in there, again many BIOS's are different but they will tend to tell you at the top or the bottom of the screen how to access the various menus and options. the option to set the CD drive to boot up may not be under an understandable menu, it might be under something called "Advanced Options" or it might be under "Fruit n' Veg", Motherboard manufacturers are renowned for overcomplicating but just check thru each menu, if you don't find what you need just ESC back out and try the next menu. Look for Boot Order or something similarly titled and the options will either be C:, D:, E:, etc or HD, CD, Floppy, etc just make sure you know what letter the drive is beforehand (usually D change the option, save, exit and/or reboot and you're off Sorry if any of this seemed patronizing, but hopefully you'll no have to much to pester us with now :P

17th June 2006, 11:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ewan_C Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Glasgow Posts: 796 Band: Freedom Is Terror	Cheers, believe it or not I am fairly computer savvy, just havnt installed windows in such a long time I couldnt remember if it allows you to format during setup, I just have bad memories of trying to reinstall win98 years and years ago but had no fucking luck getting the drive formatted, cant remember why. I have no idea how much memory or what processor thats in the laptop, getting it monday. It has windows xp installed on it and it has the orginal driver cd with it, so all should go well! Its mainly going to be used to run a software synth, connected up to a firewire/usb audio interface, with a midi keyboard. Hopefully Absynth will run fine on it, system requirements for it are Windows XP, Pentium III, Athlon 700 MHz, 256 MB RAM. If not a less demanding snyth will be used. Already have another laptop for recording etc.

18th June 2006, 01:47 AM	#6 (permalink)
krashd Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Kirktonia Posts: 2,064 Band: Crosby, Stills, Nash, krashd and Young	I'd reckon the laptop would have atleast those requirements in it, as when those components were the norm laptops were big bulky beasts and nobody is likely to have kept one form that period (the cretaceus i think it was.)

22nd June 2006, 12:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ewan_C Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Glasgow Posts: 796 Band: Freedom Is Terror	Ah well it came with system restore cds, so solved that problem! But fuck microsoft, its a genuine copy of windows(its an HP laptop with HP system restore cds) but windows and there genuine shite wont let me download the service packs, fuckers! Can you get the service packs off the torrent sites? It runs Absynth fine, as it stands but Im getting a new firewire aduio interface for my other laptop(the one we use for recording), so the old one will be used with the 'new' laptop so hopefully it will have absynth running great on it and maybe we will be able to record on that one as well. Any idea where I can get cheap memory for an HP laptop? It only has 256MB in it, only the one slot so I think the max for it is 512MB.