Posted: 12/28/2007 6:49:08 AM EDT
| My laptop has some type of major problem. It will start but can't load many of the programs. Would it be best to format the computer and start again? If so how do I do this? For a while now the volume on my laptop works sometimes and other times it won't work at all. The battery quit working on it. It's only about 2 yrs old and is an Acer. Will formatting this computer help? I'm on another computer typing this. |
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It may help if it isn't a hardware issue. If it is a problem with hardware, it may reoccur. A lot of times computer manufacturers will include a cd rom that will assist you in the recovery operation. Reseting the entire system to a brand new state can help wipe out a lot of excess crap you've gathered in two years. Just make sure you have all the software for hardware and drivers for other items before you do it, because all your files will go bye bye. ETA: Start googling your computer's make and model or go to the Acer website in order to find the things you need to do this. Doing it yourself will be a lot cheaper than taking it to the schmucks at Geek Squad. |
I'm going to buy a new laptop in a few months but just can't afford the $1000 price tag right now that IBM's receive. I'll gather any files I need and hopefully won't erase too many things that I do need. If there are drivers that I do need can I download them to a flash drive from another computer and install them that way? |
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Depends on the OS. Windows XP, 2000, 98, etc were all on one disc, with the exception of Media Center which came either on multiple CDs or one DVD. Vista now comes on one DVD IIRC. If you can't find the Discs for your computer, you could either borrow an OEM disc from someone or download an OEM version off one of the torrents to use. |
If it's 2 years old you have XP. The XP install disk is the only one you need to reformat your drive and reinstall the OS. Where in NY are you? |