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Thread: Reformating my Harddrive

  1. #1
    AudreyLeigh
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    Default Reformating my Harddrive

    OK, Im seriously POd. My computer is so freaking slow. Theres so much CRAP on it that comes automatically installed by HP and its now really getting to me. It takes over 20 minutes for my computer to boot up.

    Ive gone in and taken some of the stuff off.

    If I use the HP CDs that came with the computer to reformat it - its going to reinstall all that shit. I want it all off. This is riduclous.

    How do i get all these stupid programs off my computer? I want nice clean empty (other than stuff i WANT) computer.

    Next time Im buying a freakin Mac...

    Help?!

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Reformating my Harddrive

    No need to reformat at least not yet. Though I do reccomend it sometime in the future but no need right now.

    Go to start then run. type in msconfig. go to the startup tab and click disable all. Click apply and then click Ok. This will disable all the startup programs and should speed things up considerably. Ill be checking here most of the evening so if that doesnt speed it up enough we can disable some of the services and that will help alot. Then once you have done that restart and enjoy a faster bootup. The rule is you dont want anything to startup without you telling it to. At least thats how I do it.

  3. #3
    Chicagoeditor
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    Default Re: Reformating my Harddrive

    ^^^ Also do a disk defrag. Most people think the utility that ships with Windows isn't very good--but it's better than nothing.

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Reformating my Harddrive

    Yeah completely forgot about a defrag. Run a full defrag and a full virus scan just because.

  5. #5
    AudreyLeigh
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    Default Re: Reformating my Harddrive

    Quote Originally Posted by Magnum126 View Post
    No need to reformat at least not yet. Though I do reccomend it sometime in the future but no need right now.

    Go to start then run. type in msconfig. go to the startup tab and click disable all. Click apply and then click Ok. This will disable all the startup programs and should speed things up considerably. Ill be checking here most of the evening so if that doesnt speed it up enough we can disable some of the services and that will help alot. Then once you have done that restart and enjoy a faster bootup. The rule is you dont want anything to startup without you telling it to. At least thats how I do it.
    Thanks so much! I was going into task manager daily to disable the programs!

  6. #6
    AudreyLeigh
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    Default Re: Reformating my Harddrive

    Quote Originally Posted by Magnum126 View Post
    Yeah completely forgot about a defrag. Run a full defrag and a full virus scan just because.
    How do i do that? - the disk defrag?

  7. #7
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    Default Re: Reformating my Harddrive

    Go to Start then programs then accessories then system tools and then Disk Defragmentor. If you have a multi HD system it will show more than one drive. If not it will only show one. Click on the drive and click Defragment. If you have multiple drives do one then the other. Make sure you do this with no programs running. Like restart and then do it.

    Yeah no one seems to know about msconfig anymore. Its perhaps the best program built in next to dxdiag. Helps yah do alot.

  8. #8
    Chicagoeditor
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    Default Re: Reformating my Harddrive

    ^^^ msconfig. That takes me back. I really want to wipe clean one or more of my old machines and install some yummy Linux.

  9. #9
    AudreyLeigh
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    Default Re: Reformating my Harddrive

    Quote Originally Posted by Magnum126 View Post
    Go to Start then programs then accessories then system tools and then Disk Defragmentor. If you have a multi HD system it will show more than one drive. If not it will only show one. Click on the drive and click Defragment. If you have multiple drives do one then the other. Make sure you do this with no programs running. Like restart and then do it.

    Yeah no one seems to know about msconfig anymore. Its perhaps the best program built in next to dxdiag. Helps yah do alot.
    I have vista so theres not a Programs button on the start menu

  10. #10
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    Default Re: Reformating my Harddrive

    Oh hmm. I know you can change it back to normal view. Right click on your start button and go to I think properties. ( Gf has my vista laptop atm at work so i cant check exactly ). Switch it to classic view or something like that. Should give it back to you the good way.

  11. #11
    AudreyLeigh
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    Default Re: Reformating my Harddrive

    OK, I switched to Classic view and the Programs thingy is showing up but theres no Accessories in it. Boo. Stupid Vista

  12. #12
    AudreyLeigh
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    Default Re: Reformating my Harddrive

    NM - found it!

    Disks Defragmenting now. I dunno what it is but its doin it.

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    Default Re: Reformating my Harddrive

    Basicly whenever your hard drive operates and stores/deletes files etc it doesnt do it in all one big line. It will do it in this spot and then in that spot and then delete part of one of them etc so theres a big gap. Overtime this gets bad and it takes longer and longer for your hard drive to find the information it needs due to it being fragmented. So a defrag basicly takes everything and mooshes it together into one nice coordinated sector.

    Hope that made some sense. Didnt figure you wanted the technical explanation

  14. #14
    AudreyLeigh
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    Default Re: Reformating my Harddrive

    I get it I looked more into it and I guess that degrager runs every wednesday at 1am so im all good.

  15. #15
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    Default Re: Reformating my Harddrive

    If you go to Accessories > System tools, there should be another program there called Disc Clean-up. Run that as well, it takes all sorts of old crap off the system.

    Uncheck the recycle bin option, if you want to leave deleted files in the recycle bin until you can manually confirm you want to delete them.

    Phil.

  16. #16
    AudreyLeigh
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    Default Re: Reformating my Harddrive

    thanks! i will do that!

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