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How to wipe a hard drive if OS is not install

Last answer on Jun 19, 2009 8:38:55 am BST Corey_08, on Oct 13, 2008 2:08:29 am BST 
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Hello,
My situation is this: A computer that had Windows XP got a virus that corrupted the Windows dll's. In an attempt to save time I brought the infected computer to my University Information Technology department...bad idea.... where they wiped the hard drive clean. After this I received the computer and did a compatibility check for Vista prior to installation. After an attempt to install Vista it is giving me this strange screen of scrambled Windows Vista colors which does not boot up properly, display any login controls, or any other useful information. How can I wipe the hard drive so that I can install XP back onto this machine, or fix my vista issue which seems to be a compatibility issue maybe with the graphics card? I do not know much about desktop support I am just a programmer can someone help me. Is it possible when they wiped the hard drive they did not completely eliminate the virus and once I installed Vista the virus was unleashed again? Thanks for any advice.

Configuration: Windows Vista
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1

xpcman, on Oct 13, 2008 2:39:13 am BST
  • +1

Change the BIOS to start from the CD drive.

When you start the XP install you should have a option to reformat the drive.

If this doesn't work I have had success with a product called "Partition Commander" I used it to delete a copy VISTA and format a laptop harddrive. It can be downloaded for about $40. Partition Commander is a bootable CD - you can delete the current partition - build an new partition and format it.

   
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3

asking4help, on Dec 18, 2008 1:46:56 am GMT

Hey sorry to bother you and all but i just got a new asus and it has vista on it, i changed the BIOS settings to cd-rom and put my xp cd + sata and it loads everything then when it says " starting windows set up " it goes straight to " a problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer " and i have tried using different window cds i have, including and educational one and others.

do you have any ideas of what i can do to get windows xp on my computer? coz vista can go kill itselff.

   
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4

xpcman, on Dec 18, 2008 2:01:39 am GMT

The current crop of computers have hardware that Windows XP doesn't understand. Vista works fine as long as you have all new printers/scanners and software. Try to Google your exact make and model and see if the extreme techies have figured a work around. You might be forced back to Vista or you could try Ubuntu Linux.

   
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5

Tifas Revenge, on Jan 3, 2009 6:14:55 am GMT

Boot and run "Darik's Boot and Nuke" (DBAN) on the hard drive in question from a CD-ROM (You gotta burn the ISO) or a floppy. It will wipe out everything irrecoverably, and is especially good if you want to get rid of stuff permanently. Just google it, it's a free download, or google Ultimate Boot CD (UBCD) and you'll get more than you bargained for.

   
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6

Pablete, on Jan 14, 2009 10:26:53 pm GMT

Just for curiosity... what data wiping tool did they use? Some of them don't wipe the boot sector unless it's damaged, then they write a new one on the drive.

I'm asking because I've had similar issues in the past, and I didn't know that was the cause until I bought the wiping tool at http://www.terminatedata.com , which was recommended by a friend.

   
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7

Lynne, on Jan 19, 2009 3:06:56 pm GMT
  • +1

You know what Corey, I have the same problem and haven't got a clue what to do. My local computer shop wiped it for me and i think he thinks i'm a pest ringing him up all the time. How did you manage to solve your problem in laymans terms!
Lynne

   
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8

harry, on May 8, 2009 9:31:15 pm BST

You should have some cd's with the desktop so there would be a drivers which will include your graphics driver and that will help. if not boot from windows xp cd and follow steps it allows you to clean your hard drive (format). but it is most likeley to be the drivers.

   
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9

 bananistanfighter, on May 26, 2009 7:52:54 pm BST

I had a similar situation, did the following:
0. hopefully your data are not on the same partition as the OS, as you have to format the partition where OS later resides, you know the key to get into your BIOS at startup,have OS installation CD, your PC is set to boot from CD at startup...?
In my case the virus made the CDROM crazy (by a malicious virus driver), so I could not burn my data, but had other partitions where my main data were stored and/or I could copy to there
1. if PC was just running shutdown, and unplug from AC
2. look in your motherboard manual how to reset BIOS, normally you have to pull a connector off some pins and connect the pins next to the first setting, wait for ca. 10 seconds and bring the connector back to position normal
3. start PC, go directly into bios, DO NOT LET IT start from hard drive or you better repeat the previous steps
4. put in OS installations CD,if your BIOS is not set to boot from CDROM drive set this feature to do so, startup procedure MUST NOT reach any hard drive and be able to boot from it
4. when OS installation has started from CD and you get to the partition/volume setup: format the OS partition (better avoid the quick format), (format ALL Windows partitions, if XP+Vista installed)
5. do a new installation into formatted partition

   
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