Pending: need to wipe the hard drive clean - Page 2

devon · 2 Weeks Ago

so i can erase the hard drive and put a new OS on a USB stick and it should still work, correct?

devon · 2 Weeks Ago

so i can wipe out the hard drive, i know how to do that now.
my only concern is once i have erased the hard drive will I be able to install a new operating system from a USB stick or will the software that recognizes the usb stick be gone

TechnoHippy · 2 Weeks Ago

What motherboard do you have?
When the computer begins to boot press del/F2/F11/F12 (whatever it is on your mobo) to enter the bios. Now you will need to look around for something like 'boot priority'. Set USB as first boot device and HDD as second. Now save your changes and exit.
Now copy a bootable image to USB and reboot. If this runs then your question is answered. If not then first try another couple of bootdisks incase one is faulty.
I have never booted from USB so I am unsure but you may need to press a key during boot-up to boot from USB as with CD's.

Are you sure you'll be okay with an open source OS?
Good Luck

Arctos · 2 Weeks Ago

The Acer Aspire One has a recovery partition to re-install Win XP, if you use DBAN you will wipe this partition out and you will have nothing.

Read this article on how to factory restore Win XP at Nerd Fortress

I will quote the relevant bit here, but have disabled the links...

Let’s face it: Acer eRecovery Management needs a little love to get through this. Here’s what you need to do:
Create a System Rescue USB drive (Note: An alternative to the spyware-laden Daemon-tools for mounting the ISO file as a virtual CD-ROM is Virtual CloneDrive). If you have trouble with the System Rescue CD, you can try some other distros.

Reboot the netbook and go into the Acer BIOS settings. Change the boot settings to check USB first. Plug in your System Rescue stick, and restart the netbook.

Run “wizard”, and launch gtparted (icon towards the lower-left of the screen).

Delete partition 2, create a new one, then reformat it as NTFS

Mark partition 1 as bootable (right-click, edit flags). Remove USB drive.

Reboot into the Acer System Restore software. Choose to restore the system.

Plug the System Rescue USB drive back into the Acer netbook.

Reboot into the System Rescue CD/USB, go back into gparted, and flag the restored partition 2 as bootable.

Remove USB flash drive and reboot.

Wolfeymole · 2 Weeks Ago

Having re-read this thread I would advise that you do not download any more trash from P2P sites or you'll be an accident waiting to happen.

Wolfeymole · 4 Days Ago

Hello Devon

Has the assistance provided at PC Help Forum assisted you in remedying your issue yet?

An update would be most appreciated.

Thank you.

Marked as Pending

2 Weeks Ago	#8
devon Bronze Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 5 PC Experience: Some Experience	Re: need to wipe the hard drive clean so i can erase the hard drive and put a new OS on a USB stick and it should still work, correct?

2 Weeks Ago	#9
devon Bronze Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 5 PC Experience: Some Experience	Re: need to wipe the hard drive clean so i can wipe out the hard drive, i know how to do that now. my only concern is once i have erased the hard drive will I be able to install a new operating system from a USB stick or will the software that recognizes the usb stick be gone

2 Weeks Ago	#10
TechnoHippy Silver Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 158 PC Experience: Always learning something new	Re: need to wipe the hard drive clean What motherboard do you have? When the computer begins to boot press del/F2/F11/F12 (whatever it is on your mobo) to enter the bios. Now you will need to look around for something like 'boot priority'. Set USB as first boot device and HDD as second. Now save your changes and exit. Now copy a bootable image to USB and reboot. If this runs then your question is answered. If not then first try another couple of bootdisks incase one is faulty. I have never booted from USB so I am unsure but you may need to press a key during boot-up to boot from USB as with CD's. Are you sure you'll be okay with an open source OS? Good Luck

2 Weeks Ago	#11
Arctos Tech Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bundaberg, Australia Posts: 3,707 PC Experience: RTM Assoc. Dip.	Re: need to wipe the hard drive clean The Acer Aspire One has a recovery partition to re-install Win XP, if you use DBAN you will wipe this partition out and you will have nothing. Read this article on how to factory restore Win XP at Nerd Fortress I will quote the relevant bit here, but have disabled the links... Let’s face it: Acer eRecovery Management needs a little love to get through this. Here’s what you need to do: Create a System Rescue USB drive (Note: An alternative to the spyware-laden Daemon-tools for mounting the ISO file as a virtual CD-ROM is Virtual CloneDrive). If you have trouble with the System Rescue CD, you can try some other distros. Reboot the netbook and go into the Acer BIOS settings. Change the boot settings to check USB first. Plug in your System Rescue stick, and restart the netbook. Run “wizard”, and launch gtparted (icon towards the lower-left of the screen). Delete partition 2, create a new one, then reformat it as NTFS Mark partition 1 as bootable (right-click, edit flags). Remove USB drive. Reboot into the Acer System Restore software. Choose to restore the system. Plug the System Rescue USB drive back into the Acer netbook. Reboot into the System Rescue CD/USB, go back into gparted, and flag the restored partition 2 as bootable. Remove USB flash drive and reboot. __________________ Bikpela Google bilong mi wantok - Malware Prework Join the PC Help Forum WCG Team and fight cancer with us! PCHF open 24/7 Last edited by Arctos; 2 Weeks Ago at 07:26 AM. Reason: extra info...

2 Weeks Ago	#12
Wolfeymole Tech Support Team Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In the Slaughtered Lamb having a pint. Posts: 4,466 PC Experience: Smarter than the average Bear	Re: need to wipe the hard drive clean Having re-read this thread I would advise that you do not download any more trash from P2P sites or you'll be an accident waiting to happen. __________________ If PCHF has helped you please consider a donation by clicking this link Donate

4 Days Ago	#13
Wolfeymole Tech Support Team Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In the Slaughtered Lamb having a pint. Posts: 4,466 PC Experience: Smarter than the average Bear	Re: need to wipe the hard drive clean Hello Devon Has the assistance provided at PC Help Forum assisted you in remedying your issue yet? An update would be most appreciated. Thank you. Marked as Pending __________________ If PCHF has helped you please consider a donation by clicking this link Donate

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