Recover or Reformat?

[Kymberly_S]

I have put a new hard drive into one of our 'home' computers. It now is the only hard drive in the box. I wish to format it so it can be used as the main hard drive. When I put in the bootable disk that originally came with this computer (have set the comp to boot from disk) a screen appears requesting that I select either: Full Recovery or Exit..

I didn't want to select Full Recovery as this is not what I want to do.. I want to format the hard drive so that the computer can be used.

I don't want to fluff it all up so before I go further I thought I would ask here and check.

Thanks Guys.

 

[Namslas90]

Actually the OEM disk you are using is asking if you would like to "Recover the computer to the way it was when purchased", or exit.

So yes, select "FULL Recovery".

It will probably ask if you are sure or not becuase it will "completley erase all data on the HDD". That one is easy.

Have fun!!

 

[Kymberly_S]

Thanks for that. I have done this a few times but still choke when it comes to the 'moment'..

I dunno if it is going to be fun.. probably not.. which is why I don't do it too often..

I appreciate your help hey.. Here goes...!

 

[Kymberly_S]

The reformat won't budge?

I did what you said and then was told to remove the CD from the CD-Rom Drive, put in the recovery CD and then press the 'OK' button to continue

So I changed to the next disk but the OK doesn't appear to be being 'pressed'. Yes I have pushed enter on the keyboard which is what I have been using to get me through the other steps..

Any suggestions?

 

[Hayder_Master]

i use nortn ghost to recover my files

 

[Kymberly_S]

Norton Ghost?

I am sorry.. I have no idea what that is.. I am pretty green I'm afraid.

I wasn't trying to recover any files.. I wanted to format a new drive in an old computer.. The old drive died.

I did what Namslas90 said but then when I got to the next step .. and hit enter.. nothing happened.. sigh...

Anyway.. I am waiting on the next step.. Thank you for your input ...

 

[WhiteLotus]

could you format the drive in another computer?

 

[Polarman]

Goto the website of you hard drives manufacturer and download their utility (usually a disk)to mount the hard drive (format)

Exemple: I have a Western Digital HDD, i went and downloaded the "Data life guard tools" and it created a boot disk so i could use that to format my drive because windows would not recognise it.

 

[dirlan]

I have put a new hard drive into one of our 'home' computers. It now is the only hard drive in the box. I wish to format it so it can be used as the main hard drive. When I put in the bootable disk that originally came with this computer (have set the comp to boot from disk) a screen appears requesting that I select either: Full Recovery or Exit..

I didn't want to select Full Recovery as this is not what I want to do.. I want to format the hard drive so that the computer can be used.

I don't want to fluff it all up so before I go further I thought I would ask here and check.

Thanks Guys.

Hi,

Ypou might want to get this program to extract the OS from that recoverydisk. Then start setup and partition, format as you like .....

Cheers,

Dirk

 

[Kymberly_S]

slaving?

could you format the drive in another computer?

Do you mean, slave the second HD up to another computer..? Can I format it that way? I am not sure so I have to ask a lot of questions..

Thanks.

 

[Kymberly_S]

Hi,

Ypou might want to get this program to extract the OS from that recoverydisk. Then start setup and partition, format as you like .....

Can you start set up and partition from a new 'empty' HD? Then boot up from a disk.. Is this what you mean? (thanks)

 

[WhiteLotus]

Do you mean, slave the second HD up to another computer..? Can I format it that way? I am not sure so I have to ask a lot of questions..

Thanks.

yea that is what i meant. not to sure if it would work but could always give it a go.

 

[Kymberly_S]

one more thing

I have installed a new power box prior to the new hard drive if that makes any difference?

 

[Katanai]

Dude, just get a new Windows disk or whatever OS u are using, install it, use your CD-key and that should solve it...

 

[Chryonn]

I have installed a new power box prior to the new hard drive if that makes any difference?

You mean a Power Supply Unit (PSU)?
i don't think putting in a new PSU will affect the HDD apart from powering it.
i can't think of why the "next" button is greyed out..... it could be one or both of these things: 1. the recovery program doesn't like the new HDD if its a different size than the original that came with your PC when you bought it
2. it's the wrong disk you've inserted.
Ahh i've thought of a 3rd. maybe the program in the CD is checking for previous instances of Windows and won't proceed without some sort of file recognition.

Slaving the new HDD and formatting it is not a problem if you can do it.

 

[Kymberly_S]

Have done that

Hi,
Thanks for your response hey.

I have the original disks and am trying to install. I get to a point (from previous reply)
------
I did what you said and then was told to remove the CD from the CD-Rom Drive, put in the recovery CD and then press the 'OK' button to continue

So I changed to the next disk but the OK doesn't appear to be being 'pressed'. Yes I have pushed enter on the keyboard which is what I have been using to get me through the other steps..

Any suggestions?
-------
And the keyboard worked for the first step but when I was meant to hit Enter on the keyboard nothing happened. The OK didn't highlight.. nothing..

Am kinda stuck..

 

[Rock N Roll Rebel]

when you put in the recovery disk try pushing tab key and see if that high lights the ok butten if it does press enter

 

[Kymberly_S]

re tab

Thanks for that. Will let you know.

 

[Kymberly_S]

invalid system disk

I started again.
Booted from disk.. This time a message came that said.

Invalid system disk. Insert correct disk and press any key to continue.

This is the first time I have seen this. So I checked the disk and it is the right one.

It is the set that came with the computer.

So I tried it again and the same thing happened.

THEN I took the disk out and booted the computer (no disk) and the message came up again.

THEN I scratched my head (didn't help) and pushed the button that opens the CD drive but it wouldn't open..

(I hate being the one that does the fixing here)

One Question.

Is there any way I can format the drive by slaving it to another computer. Formatting it in a way that will allow it to be the Master Drive of another computer (essentially, the one I am trying to fix) ??

Thanks for all your help guys.

 

[sttubs]

Yes, you can set it up as a slave & format that way. After installing it as slave & booting into the master, go to "my computer", choose the slave drive, right click & one of the choices will be "format". Hope that helps.

 

[dirlan]

Can you start set up and partition from a new 'empty' HD? Then boot up from a disk.. Is this what you mean? (thanks)

Hi,

I mean, after extracting the OS, you can burn it to a CD/DVD and use it like any other setup-CD. Which gives you the possibilities to partition, format etc whatever disk needed....

Dirk

 

[Kymberly_S]

sounding better & better

OK.. Thanks for your support.

I have to get on with some other things here so will leave it till later on 2night and work it out then.

Sorry it is taking so long. I haven't touched the inside of a computer for a while..

Thanks again.

 

[Kymberly_S]

re slaving the HD

Following your advice.. The HD I am trying to slave up.. cont.

It is a Western Digital and the ends on the hard drive are different from the ends on the Master Drive in my other computer. The cord on the one I am trying to slave goes from the HD straight into the Mother board. (as it does in it's original computer) (little grey thin cord with different ends)

I have slaved it to a computer that has the needed connection on the Mother board BUT the computer is not recognizing the 2nd HD?

I have re set the jumpers and re booted, but the computer still wont pick it up.

An old HD (that doesn't work) has the jumper settings written on the circuit board but the Master HD (HD 1 in computer I am using to slave) and the Western.D. HD I am trying to hook up don't have the jumper settings written on the board.. Is it all the same across the board (pardon the pun)...

Just to re cap.. I am trying to format the 'new HD' so I can put it into a computer to use as the Master Drive..

Please check prior posts in this query as to what I have been trying to do. I can not boot the new HD up from the disks as it gets to a certain spot and freezes.

Thank you in advance.

 

[sttubs]

The manufacturer's website should be able to show you the jumper settings.

 

[Kymberly_S]

The manufacturer's website should be able to show you the jumper settings.

Thank you for that. will have a look...