How do i reformat my dell it does not come with a disk?

Question

would i t be poosible to reformat with out disk. I tried pressing F12 put then i cant really find a option to re format could some give like a follow throught on how to do it? My comuter is a Demension E510

Answer 1

You need the Windows CD. Your Dell should have come with it... probably either green or purple disk.



Without it, pretty much all you can do is buy a retail version of Windows to reinstall.



If all you want to do is format (not reisntall) use a bootdisk and do format c:

Answer 2

i have a dell too.. what i did was turn off the computer,turn it back on, when you see the dell logo on the screen.SHOOT!!!

just kidding, when u see the dell logo on the screen press the function button lower left side on mine(fn)and press the f11 key upper right side. you kinda have to b quick or try a couple of times but it should open dell diagnostic thinga majigger and one of the options on the screen will be to reformat it you hit that one it will be like starting from day one when you bought the thing you could create a restore point date prior to the day of disaster instead and not loose as much data possibly(might be better 4 u i dunno.... if you do what i say and it keeps going into the boot up process(after the dell logo disapears wiat till it boots, then do a formal shut down again and try again to hit (fn) and (f11) at same time till it takes ..one time it took me a while cause i had the caps lock on ore something(good luck)i have the inspiron b130 and mine didnt need cd reformat stuf my computer keeps a record of itself and windows etc inside so mine didnt come with cds thats probably why yours didnt either my computer is kinda old

Answer 3

Often Dell ships with a partition with the Operating System on it to allow restoring the operating system and does not include disks. You need the disks! Call Dell and have them send you the disks. This is a common request.



Get the system restore/XP install, drivers, and disk burner (Roxio?) discs, etc.



You will need the product key. It should be on a tag attached to the computer.



Once you get your disks.



Backup your data. Check each disk and make sure all the files are OK. I have found backup disks that had corrupted files.



Find your product keys, Run "Keyfinder Thing 3.1.6" and print out the results.

http://www.download.com/Keyfinder-Thing/3000-2094_4-10561260.html?tag=lst-0-1



Download and run the Belarc Advisor and print out the results.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html



For Internet Explorer:

Install and run: BackRex Internet Explorer (free)

http://www.backsettings.com/internet-explorer-backup.html

BackRex Internet Explorer Backup is a backup and restore tool for Internet Explorer. It allows you to backup favorites, history, proxy settings, fonts, dialup accounts, autocomplete passwords and cookies.



For Firefox:

Install and run: Firefox Extension Backup Extension (FEBE)

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/2109/

"FEBE backs up your extensions, themes, and (optionally) your bookmarks, preferences, passwords, cookies and just about everything else Firefox offers."



Create a directory such as "Firefox Backup" and "IE7 Backup" for each browsers backup data in your "My Documents Folder".

This way whenever you backup you files you will also backup your browsers settings. Repeat logged as each users.



Backup your data. Check each disk and make sure all the files are OK. I have found backup disks that had corrupted files.



Find all your drivers and software and software keys now and develop a plan on how you will reinstall everything.

http://www.thefuhrmans.com/reformat_hd.htm

http://blog.angrypets.com/2006/01/ultimate_prefla.html

http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/l0910/32l10/32l10.asp



Reformat and install. (Cleans drive loses all data)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313348

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/winxp/install.mspx

http://www.whitecanyon.com/reformat-the-hard-drive-in-windows-xp.php

http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/l0910/32l10/32l10.asp



Reload Drivers, Spyware/ Virus protection, All Microsoft updates, Programs, etc.



============================

In some cases some people like to overwrite the entire disk before reformatting and reinstalling windows to prevent any old files from being recovered and/or to eliminate any possibility (rare) of malware still being on the hard drive after formatting and reinstalling windows . Any of the following will accomplish this.





http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?forumID=5&threadID=194873&messageID=2115918

"You can find out the manufacturer of your HD and then attempt to download the formatting tool created by that manufacturer for their HD's. Most HD Mnufactuer have a Zero Fill Low level formatting tool available to erase their HD products. This will clean any existing OS files from your system as well as any viruses other files etc.."



Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN) free

http://www.download.com/Darik-s-Boot-and-Nuke/3000-2092_4-10165154.html

http://dban.sourceforge.net/

DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction.



Active@ Kill Disk - Hard Drive Eraser (Free version/ $29.95 enhanced version)

http://www.killdisk.com/

Free version limited to 1 erasure pass and first hard drive.

Active@ KillDisk - Hard Drive Eraser is powerful and compact DOS software that allows you to destroy all data on hard and floppy drives completely, excluding any possibility of future recovery of deleted files and folders. It's a hard drive and partition eraser utility.



WipeDrive by White Canyon $39.95 (no free version)

http://www.whitecanyon.com/

Completely wipe and erase all the information from a computer before selling or discarding it. WipeDrive makes it easy.

Answer 4

Do you have the D: partition with the repair files?