Erasing a computer's data
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brian albriton
What’s the simplest way to erase or at the very least format a computer, an old XP machine? Might I simply type format c: from the command line? All the best, Brian
Brian Albriton iPhone 2136103315 cocanut50@...
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Dave Durber
Hello Brian:
First of all, you cannot format the system drive on
any Windows computer while you are running a Windows session.
It is not just a question of formatting a system drive in order to remove
an installation of Windows from a system drive. You also need to delete the
existing partition as well, especially if you intend installing a new version of
Windows on the same drive.
Even if you wish to use the existing drive as a data drive, I would
suggest deleting the old partition, creating a new partition and, of course,
formatting the new partition.
If you need to recondition the system drive for a
computer running Windows, you will probably need to remove the system drive from
the particular computer, place it into a caddy, connect the caddy to another
computer, then, if it is a computer running Windows Vista, Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or
10, you will need to use the Partition Manager, to delete/remove the old
partition.
You should wait until the computer running Windows
you are going to use, is at the Desktop, before switching on the USB caddy
device containing the hard drive on which you wish to delete to
partition.
I would strongly recommend not connecting the drive
directly to another computer's motherboard and then starting that computer.
It is possible that elements from the version of Windows on the drive from the
other computer, might affect the Windows installed on the host computer. This
might also be true, if you turn on the USB caddy device before turning on the
Host computer.
If you are intending to install Windows 7, you can
use the talking install program to do that. As far as I know, there is not a
talking installation method for installing Windows 8 or 8.1. There may be a
talking install for Windows 10 but, I haven't come across one as yet , despite
performing many internet searches.
HTH
Sincerely:
Dave Durber
----- Original Message -----
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Alan Robbins <alan1057@...>
Dave,
Sounds like a lot of good advice for folks out there. Regarding a talking installer for Windows 10, not sure if there is one out there labeled that but my understanding is the latest Wind 10 release offers talk from Narrator almost instantly. What I hear is when booting from an optical drive, or more common these days a flash drive, after the first automatic boot, one can press win key plus ctrl key and enter to get speech from narrator to complete the install. I have not used this yet but am planning on trying this weekend when I set my new Intel NUC7i5bnh barebones kit up. Just need to install the SSD and memory first. I’m curious to find this out personally
Al
From: main@jfw.groups.io [mailto:main@jfw.groups.io] On Behalf Of Dave Durber
Sent: Saturday, August 12, 2017 3:05 AM To: main@jfw.groups.io Subject: Re: Erasing a computer's data
Hello Brian:
First of all, you cannot format the system drive on any Windows computer while you are running a Windows session.
It is not just a question of formatting a system drive in order to remove an installation of Windows from a system drive. You also need to delete the existing partition as well, especially if you intend installing a new version of Windows on the same drive.
Even if you wish to use the existing drive as a data drive, I would suggest deleting the old partition, creating a new partition and, of course, formatting the new partition.
If you need to recondition the system drive for a computer running Windows, you will probably need to remove the system drive from the particular computer, place it into a caddy, connect the caddy to another computer, then, if it is a computer running Windows Vista, Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10, you will need to use the Partition Manager, to delete/remove the old partition.
You should wait until the computer running Windows you are going to use, is at the Desktop, before switching on the USB caddy device containing the hard drive on which you wish to delete to partition.
I would strongly recommend not connecting the drive directly to another computer's motherboard and then starting that computer. It is possible that elements from the version of Windows on the drive from the other computer, might affect the Windows installed on the host computer. This might also be true, if you turn on the USB caddy device before turning on the Host computer.
If you are intending to install Windows 7, you can use the talking install program to do that. As far as I know, there is not a talking installation method for installing Windows 8 or 8.1. There may be a talking install for Windows 10 but, I haven't come across one as yet , despite performing many internet searches.
HTH
Sincerely:
Dave Durber
----- Original Message -----
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Peter Tesar
Hello,
The latest Windows 10 Iso can be downloaded and then burned to a DVD disk.
Put the disk into the PC to be formatted and then power on. The PC should start with the DVD.
After powering on (with the Win 10 install disk, Use CTRL plus ALT plus ENTER
That will bring up Narrator then follow the choices. I did this only once and do not remember which choices I used to: delete, create and format a particular partition.
Peter T
On 8/12/2017 7:36 AM, Alan Robbins
wrote:
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Paul Martz <skewmatrix@...>
One tool that might help is Piriform CCleaner. It has a “Drive Wiper” tool that claims to securely erase data from all free space on a disk. CCleaner has several features, and this is one that I have not personally used. However, for the most part, CCleaner does appear to be accessible, and a free version is available. -Paul
From: main@jfw.groups.io [mailto:main@jfw.groups.io] On Behalf Of brian albriton
Sent: Friday, August 11, 2017 7:57 PM To: main@jfw.groups.io Subject: Erasing a computer's data
What’s the simplest way to erase or at the very least format a computer, an old XP machine? Might I simply type format c: from the command line? All the best, Brian
Brian Albriton iPhone 2136103315
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Dave Durber
Hello Al:
I tried using the Windows 10 Update Utility to
update one of my Windows 7 Professional computers, with no
success.
The Update Utility downloaded Windows 10 and
installed it on the computer. However, After I got the prompt, which said that
windows needed to restart to complete the installation and that Windows might
have to restart several times, I pressed ENTER to restart the
computer.
Well, I have no idea what happened after that. I
left the computer alone for about an hour and tried pressing the Windows key
combination to start Narrator but, nothing, absolutely nothing. After
another hour, I tried again to restart Narrator but, still nothing. So, I gave
up and forced a hard shut down of the computer and after about 20 seconds or so,
I turned the computer on again, only to find that the computer started in
Windows 7 Professional as before.
My conclusion is that the Update Utility detected a
problem during the reboot process, and got stuck at that point, never to
complete its mission. And, of course, without sighted assistance, I will
never know what the error was.
In order to make sure that any remnants
of Windows 10 or its Update Utility did not remain on the system, I used
Revo Uninstaller to first remove them from the computer, then I used CCleaner to
check if there were any left over files and folders. Happily, there were
not.
so, I have come to the conclusion for me at least,
performing a fresh install will be the way to go.
For those who used the Windows 10 Update Utility
with no problems or difficulties, congratulations, I am glad it worked for
you.
Al, please let us know how the installation of
Windows 10 goes for you, I for one, will be very interested.
Note 1: Do not bank on the Windows 10 installation,
offering a choice of deleting/removing the old partition, before it partitions,
formats and installs the new version of Windows. If it is like previous versions
of the Windows setup procedure, If an existing partition is detected, do not be
surprised if you are given the option to install Windows in whatever free space
which is available on the drive. This is why I strongly suggest deleting any
partitions on the drive first.
Note 2: If the computer has more than one Solid
State Drive or hard drive connected to the motherboard or connected to any USB
ports, disconnect them all, except of course, the drive on which you intend
installing Windows, before turning on the computer and starting the
installation from the bootable media.
Sincerely:
Dave Durber
----- Original Message -----
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Melissa Stott <mstott69@...>
I have had this happen a few times. So, when I get the prompt that windows needs to restart, I close out the update utilities, then go to the start menu and restart that way.
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
From: Dave Durber
Sent: Saturday, August 12, 2017 4:27 PM To: main@jfw.groups.io Subject: Re: Erasing a computer's data
Hello Al:
I tried using the Windows 10 Update Utility to update one of my Windows 7 Professional computers, with no success.
The Update Utility downloaded Windows 10 and installed it on the computer. However, After I got the prompt, which said that windows needed to restart to complete the installation and that Windows might have to restart several times, I pressed ENTER to restart the computer.
Well, I have no idea what happened after that. I left the computer alone for about an hour and tried pressing the Windows key combination to start Narrator but, nothing, absolutely nothing. After another hour, I tried again to restart Narrator but, still nothing. So, I gave up and forced a hard shut down of the computer and after about 20 seconds or so, I turned the computer on again, only to find that the computer started in Windows 7 Professional as before.
My conclusion is that the Update Utility detected a problem during the reboot process, and got stuck at that point, never to complete its mission. And, of course, without sighted assistance, I will never know what the error was.
In order to make sure that any remnants of Windows 10 or its Update Utility did not remain on the system, I used Revo Uninstaller to first remove them from the computer, then I used CCleaner to check if there were any left over files and folders. Happily, there were not.
so, I have come to the conclusion for me at least, performing a fresh install will be the way to go.
For those who used the Windows 10 Update Utility with no problems or difficulties, congratulations, I am glad it worked for you.
Al, please let us know how the installation of Windows 10 goes for you, I for one, will be very interested.
Note 1: Do not bank on the Windows 10 installation, offering a choice of deleting/removing the old partition, before it partitions, formats and installs the new version of Windows. If it is like previous versions of the Windows setup procedure, If an existing partition is detected, do not be surprised if you are given the option to install Windows in whatever free space which is available on the drive. This is why I strongly suggest deleting any partitions on the drive first.
Note 2: If the computer has more than one Solid State Drive or hard drive connected to the motherboard or connected to any USB ports, disconnect them all, except of course, the drive on which you intend installing Windows, before turning on the computer and starting the installation from the bootable media.
Sincerely:
Dave Durber
----- Original Message -----
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Alan Robbins <alan1057@...>
Dave,
I had no trouble at all with the install of Win 10 without sighted assistance. Once I installed my memory and SSD correctly in my Intel NUC, I connected all the cables etc. I plugged my flash drive into one of the USB ports and turned the unit on. I waited about 15 to 20 seconds before trying to invoke narrator via Ctrl + windows key + enter. Once I hit that combination I had speech all the way through the install and reboots. I did the entire thing with no sighted assistance. Anymore questions write back
Al
From: main@jfw.groups.io [mailto:main@jfw.groups.io] On Behalf Of Dave Durber
Sent: Saturday, August 12, 2017 4:27 PM To: main@jfw.groups.io Subject: Re: Erasing a computer's data
Hello Al:
I tried using the Windows 10 Update Utility to update one of my Windows 7 Professional computers, with no success.
The Update Utility downloaded Windows 10 and installed it on the computer. However, After I got the prompt, which said that windows needed to restart to complete the installation and that Windows might have to restart several times, I pressed ENTER to restart the computer.
Well, I have no idea what happened after that. I left the computer alone for about an hour and tried pressing the Windows key combination to start Narrator but, nothing, absolutely nothing. After another hour, I tried again to restart Narrator but, still nothing. So, I gave up and forced a hard shut down of the computer and after about 20 seconds or so, I turned the computer on again, only to find that the computer started in Windows 7 Professional as before.
My conclusion is that the Update Utility detected a problem during the reboot process, and got stuck at that point, never to complete its mission. And, of course, without sighted assistance, I will never know what the error was.
In order to make sure that any remnants of Windows 10 or its Update Utility did not remain on the system, I used Revo Uninstaller to first remove them from the computer, then I used CCleaner to check if there were any left over files and folders. Happily, there were not.
so, I have come to the conclusion for me at least, performing a fresh install will be the way to go.
For those who used the Windows 10 Update Utility with no problems or difficulties, congratulations, I am glad it worked for you.
Al, please let us know how the installation of Windows 10 goes for you, I for one, will be very interested.
Note 1: Do not bank on the Windows 10 installation, offering a choice of deleting/removing the old partition, before it partitions, formats and installs the new version of Windows. If it is like previous versions of the Windows setup procedure, If an existing partition is detected, do not be surprised if you are given the option to install Windows in whatever free space which is available on the drive. This is why I strongly suggest deleting any partitions on the drive first.
Note 2: If the computer has more than one Solid State Drive or hard drive connected to the motherboard or connected to any USB ports, disconnect them all, except of course, the drive on which you intend installing Windows, before turning on the computer and starting the installation from the bootable media.
Sincerely:
Dave Durber
----- Original Message -----
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Dave Durber
Allen:
Congratulations. You had better luck than I did. I
downloaded the 64 BIT ISo image Windows 10 file from Microsoft, burned the image
to a DVD, loaded a blankn ssd into my HP laptop, inserted the dvd into the
DVD drive, connected the power cable, switched on and waited for about a
minute, before pressing the key combination, CTRL+WINDOWS DEY+ENTER, to start
Narrator.
Well! I waited! and I waited! Absolutely
nothing.
I pressed the
power button and a few seconds later, the computer shut down.
I took the SSD out of the laptop and tried the same
procedure in a desktop computer. I got the same result.
Where did you get your copy of the Windows 10 ISO
image file?
There is something at work which is preventing
Narrator from starting. The version of the installation process may not have
been set up in the same way as your version or, it is the brothers, sods
and Merpheys Law, who are up to their usual mischief, which, of course, is meant
to frustrate me. Don't be concerned about me, I am not being
paranoid.
Again, congratulations, I am glad it worked for you.
Sincerely:
Dave Durber
---- Original Message -----
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Jonas Voll
Tutorial for installing Windows 10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YisbQGCa7nU&t=94s
Jonas
Voll Envision: To improve the quality of life and provide inspiration for the blind and visually impaired through employment, outreach, rehabilitation, education and research. From: main@jfw.groups.io [mailto:main@jfw.groups.io]
On Behalf Of Alan Robbins
Dave,
Sounds like a lot of good advice for folks out there. Regarding a talking installer for Windows 10, not sure if there is one out there labeled that but my understanding is the latest Wind 10 release offers talk from Narrator almost instantly. What I hear is when booting from an optical drive, or more common these days a flash drive, after the first automatic boot, one can press win key plus ctrl key and enter to get speech from narrator to complete the install. I have not used this yet but am planning on trying this weekend when I set my new Intel NUC7i5bnh barebones kit up. Just need to install the SSD and memory first. I’m curious to find this out personally
Al
From:
main@jfw.groups.io [mailto:main@jfw.groups.io]
On Behalf Of Dave Durber
Hello Brian:
First of all, you cannot format the system drive on any Windows computer while you are running a Windows session.
It is not just a question of formatting a system drive in order to remove an installation of Windows from a system drive. You also need to delete the existing partition as well, especially if you intend installing a new version of Windows on the same drive.
Even if you wish to use the existing drive as a data drive, I would suggest deleting the old partition, creating a new partition and, of course, formatting the new partition.
If you need to recondition the system drive for a computer running Windows, you will probably need to remove the system drive from the particular computer, place it into a caddy, connect the caddy to another computer, then, if it is a computer running Windows Vista, Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10, you will need to use the Partition Manager, to delete/remove the old partition.
You should wait until the computer running Windows you are going to use, is at the Desktop, before switching on the USB caddy device containing the hard drive on which you wish to delete to partition.
I would strongly recommend not connecting the drive directly to another computer's motherboard and then starting that computer. It is possible that elements from the version of Windows on the drive from the other computer, might affect the Windows installed on the host computer. This might also be true, if you turn on the USB caddy device before turning on the Host computer.
If you are intending to install Windows 7, you can use the talking install program to do that. As far as I know, there is not a talking installation method for installing Windows 8 or 8.1. There may be a talking install for Windows 10 but, I haven't come across one as yet , despite performing many internet searches.
HTH
Sincerely:
Dave Durber
----- Original Message -----
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