How to do a Clean install of Vista

lilbopeep

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I agree Doug and I'm holding off till November or early December to see if it works as well. I want no part of vista but do own Windows XP pro and Windows Media Center. I've never liked upgrading new OS systems and when I do I usually take it down to a bare HD, then start again with a fresh install.
do you write your drive to zeros before a fresh new install? if so what program do you use. when i reinstall there is always a copy of the old install left on my drive. i want a clean install but can't find a good free program to write the drive to zeros.
 

Doc

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Re: Good Price for a Laptop???

killdisk will wipe your disk but so will formating the disk before you begin your install.
Beware both will delete all data on the disk.
killdisk does have a free download.
http://www.killdisk.com/downloadfree.htm
 

Adillo303

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Re: Good Price for a Laptop???

What Doc said - During the installation of windows, you have the option ot reformat the disk. That will make everything og away.
 

joec

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Re: Good Price for a Laptop???

FDisk (part of a repartition program with all versions of Windows) once the partition is removed then re installed followed by a format not much will servive at all. Now if I deleted files that need higher security then I would use a program like kill disk for individual files only.
 

buckytom

Grill Master
Re: Good Price for a Laptop???

you need to write a pattern (not necessarily all zeros) at least 7 times in order to clean a drive so that the data cannot be forensically retrieved.

i think the n.s.a. requires 35 write patterns.


lefty, if you're not in a hurry, i'd go with what josie said and keep checking tiger direct. they're having very good back to school sales.

i just bought a 1 tb drive for $100 from them on sale.
 

FryBoy

New member
Re: Good Price for a Laptop???

There's no need to do more than reformat the HD if you're "just" installing a new OS and all your programs/data. Wiping the drive to military standards makes sense if you're discarding it, but doing so won't make the new installation work any better -- it would just be a waste of time, IMHO.
 

Lefty

Yank
Re: Good Price for a Laptop???

US Department of Defense 5220.22-M Clearing and Sanitization Matrix
a. Degauss with a Type I degausser
b. Degauss with a Type II degausser.
c. Overwrite all addressable locations with a single character.
d. Overwrite all addressable locations with a character, its complement, then a random character and verify. THIS METHOD IS NOT APPROVED FOR SANITIZING MEDIA THAT CONTAINS TOP SECRET INFORMATION.
e. Overwrite all addressable locations with a character, its complement, then a random character.
f. Each overwrite must reside in memory for a period longer than the classified data resided.
g. Remove all power to include battery power.
h. Overwrite all locations with a random pattern, all locations with binary zeros, all locations with binary ones.
i. Perform a full chip erase as per manufacturer's data sheets.
j. Perform i above, then c above, a total of three times.
k. Perform an ultraviolet erase according to manufacturer's recommendation.
l. Perform k above, but increase time by a factor of three.
m. Destroy - Disintegrate, incinerate, pulverize, shred, or melt.
n. Destruction required only if classified information is contained.
o. Run five pages of unclassified text (font test acceptable).
p. Ribbons must be destroyed. Platens must be cleaned.
q. Inspect and/or test screen surface for evidence of burned-in information. If present, the cathode ray tube must be destroyed.


Now get back on topic!!! :yum:
 

Doc

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Re: Good Price for a Laptop???

There's no need to do more than reformat the HD if you're "just" installing a new OS and all your programs/data. Wiping the drive to military standards makes sense if you're discarding it, but doing so won't make the new installation work any better -- it would just be a waste of time, IMHO.

I agree 100% with Doug. :agree:

US
.....
Now get back on topic!!! :yum:


I'm a New Egg customer and have been very happy with all the stuff I've bought from them. I've built 10+ computers over the past few years and I bought all the parts from New Egg.

I never visited Tiger Direct until today. They do have a good buy on a lap top. Small screen though 15.6 with a 1.6Ghz 64 bit processor, 3gb memory, 160gig hard drive. Not to shabby for 399.

then they have a Sony Vaio Core 2 Duo 4 gb laptop with Intel Core 2 duo 2.10 GHz CPU, 4GB DDR2 memory, 320 GB hard drive, DVD Burner with Vista premium 64 all for 699.

I have a need for another laptop but it's boating season ....maybe this fall I'll spring for it.
 

FryBoy

New member
Re: Good Price for a Laptop???

US Department of Defense 5220.22-M Clearing and Sanitization Matrix
a. Degauss with a Type I degausser
b. Degauss with a Type II degausser.
c. Overwrite all addressable locations with a single character.
d. Overwrite all addressable locations with a character, its complement, then a random character and verify. THIS METHOD IS NOT APPROVED FOR SANITIZING MEDIA THAT CONTAINS TOP SECRET INFORMATION.
e. Overwrite all addressable locations with a character, its complement, then a random character.
f. Each overwrite must reside in memory for a period longer than the classified data resided.
g. Remove all power to include battery power.
h. Overwrite all locations with a random pattern, all locations with binary zeros, all locations with binary ones.
i. Perform a full chip erase as per manufacturer's data sheets.
j. Perform i above, then c above, a total of three times.
k. Perform an ultraviolet erase according to manufacturer's recommendation.
l. Perform k above, but increase time by a factor of three.
m. Destroy - Disintegrate, incinerate, pulverize, shred, or melt.
n. Destruction required only if classified information is contained.
o. Run five pages of unclassified text (font test acceptable).
p. Ribbons must be destroyed. Platens must be cleaned.
q. Inspect and/or test screen surface for evidence of burned-in information. If present, the cathode ray tube must be destroyed.


Now get back on topic!!! :yum:
Doug's Easy Cleaning and Sanitation Matrix:

1. Take hard drive out of computer.
2. Smash with large hammer.
3. Drill one or more holes through disk(s).
4. Throw in trash.
 

buckytom

Grill Master
Re: Good Price for a Laptop???

Doug's Easy Cleaning and Sanitation Matrix:

1. Take hard drive out of computer.
2. Smash with large hammer.
3. Drill one or more holes through disk(s).
4. Throw in trash.


this method works for all of my kiddie porn. :glare:
 

lilbopeep

🌹🐰 Still trying to get it right.
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Re: Good Price for a Laptop???

What Doc said - During the installation of windows, you have the option ot reformat the disk. That will make everything og away.
VISTA leaves a copy of old files EVEN when i choose to wipe all old data and reformat. here is a screen capture of my c drive after 2 reformats and reinstalls of my OS. notice there is my windows folder and 2 folders named windows.old and windows.old.000 (1 for each time i reinstalled).

windows-old-2.jpg
 

Doc

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Re: Good Price for a Laptop???

Have you tried to delete those folders manually? (not windows but windows.old*)
But that means it must be keeping registry also.
Download a copy of FreeDos and make a floppy or CD and boot from it. Then format c: and all should be gone.
edit to add:
Or ....if you have a copy of Red Hat or CentOS or any Linux just install it using the whole disk. It will format and get rid of all the windows garbage. Then you can reinstall Vista and not have any of the old settings around for the install to see.
Linux is a very easy install. No worse than Windows. Note: I've never installed Vista and hope I never have to. But I've installed about every other windows OS so I have a feel for how the installs go.

edit to add ...one more time.
If you don't have a linux distro you can download one for free. Go to:
http://distrowatch.com/
and you'll see lots of candidates. If you are not comfortable with downloading the ISO you can order a CD of any distro for a few dollars. And you might find a couple that are free to mail. Ubuntu used to be that way.
 

Doc

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Moved all the above posts from Lefty's Laptop thread as the question deserves a thread of it's own.
 

lilbopeep

🌹🐰 Still trying to get it right.
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Re: Good Price for a Laptop???

Have you tried to delete those folders manually? (not windows but windows.old*)
But that means it must be keeping registry also.
Download a copy of FreeDos and make a floppy or CD and boot from it. Then format c: and all should be gone.
edit to add:
Or ....if you have a copy of Red Hat or CentOS or any Linux just install it using the whole disk. It will format and get rid of all the windows garbage. Then you can reinstall Vista and not have any of the old settings around for the install to see.
Linux is a very easy install. No worse than Windows. Note: I've never installed Vista and hope I never have to. But I've installed about every other windows OS so I have a feel for how the installs go.

edit to add ...one more time.
If you don't have a linux distro you can download one for free. Go to:
http://distrowatch.com/
and you'll see lots of candidates. If you are not comfortable with downloading the ISO you can order a CD of any distro for a few dollars. And you might find a couple that are free to mail. Ubuntu used to be that way.
yes i have deleted the "old" folders but i think you are right about it keeping the old regisrty. after a new install it seems like it keeps old settings and the problem has not been completely resolved. i have never used any platform but windows not sure if i will know how to use Linux.
 

Doc

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Opps, I should have suggested the free kill disk program that I suggested earlier in this thread. Download it and make a CDof it to boot with and wipe that puppy clean.
 

Adillo303

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Peep - Let me see if I have this right. You want to clear EVERYTHING off your hard drive and reinstall Vista. Is tht correct?

Questions

1) Do you have the Vista disk and the serial number?
2) Do you have all of the disks for any software such as word, excel, etc that you want to put back?
3) Do you have a backup of pictures, music, documents and any other imprtand information?
4) Do you have any passords that are remembered by this computer?
5) Do you have the information (servers, etc...) to set up your e-Mail?
6) Do you have a copy of your e-mail?

If you have all of that, you are ready to go. The grahc that you posted shws tht windows was installed without erasing the drive. When you boot from the Vista installation disk. You will be offered the option to reformat the hard drive. If you had no problems with the hardware, you can do the quick format. If you had had problems do the full format (Should take about an hour for full format).

You do not need to do any of the fancy erasing. A quick format will likely be all you need.

Do not forget to install an Antivirus first thing after you come up. If the cost of an antivirus is an issue, AVASTand AVG both offer free ones.
 

Wart

Banned
If you had had problems do the full format (Should take about an hour for full format).

Yeah, thats the stinker of a low level format, it takes soo daarrrnnnneeeeeed looooooooooooooonnnnnng.


Do not forget to install an Antivirus first thing after you come up. If the cost of an antivirus is an issue, AVASTand AVG both offer free ones.

And don't forget to run Windows Update.

How does AVAST and AVG handle the Windows Update/ driver and program update process? I've noticed some anti-virus and firewalls can hang or delay the update process an excruciatingly long time if not stall or stop the process completely.
 
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joec

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How does AVAST and AVG handle the Windows Update/ driver and program update process, I've noticed some anti-virus and firewalls can hang or delay the update process an excruciatingly long time if not stall or stop the process completely.

I have the AVG Internet Suite which has its own firewall as well as the other things. I have my windows update set to run during the hours I'm not on my computer and have never had a problem with it. My Schudular is set to update AVG, Windows as well as several other function from about 1AM to 4AM daily.
 

Lefty

Yank
Check this out. http://www.vistax64.com/vista-installation-setup/127184-c-windows-old.html

Yes, you can safely delete the "C:\Windows.old". It is nothing but a copy of your previously installed OS from when you did a Upgrade install from within the old installed OS. You might poke around in there to see if you want to copy over any files from in it to your current OS.

Windows.old contains the remnants of an installation that you either
upgraded or did a reinstall of Vista. If you are satisfied that you have
recovered any data from it that you wish to save, then you can safely delete
it.
 

Wart

Banned
I have my windows update set to run during the hours I'm not on my computer and have never had a problem with it.

This is sort of OT, I'm not comfortable running in user accounts with Admin privileges. The 'normal' account is a restricted account.
 

joec

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I run always with administrative privileges as I'm the only one that uses both of my computers. I'm also running XP Pro not Vista nor would I.
 

Adillo303

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Wart, et al - I build a lot of systems. My routine

Format hard drive.
Load windows.
Load drivers.
THEN PLUG IN NETWORK CABLE
Download and install AVG free.
If the customer wants a different AV fine
We will sort that out at the on site install. .
Turn on automatic updates and leave on overnight.
.
Peep we are getting way off what you want. Would you like some help?
 

lilbopeep

🌹🐰 Still trying to get it right.
Site Supporter
Peep - Let me see if I have this right. You want to clear EVERYTHING off your hard drive and reinstall Vista. Is tht correct?

Questions

1) Do you have the Vista disk and the serial number?
2) Do you have all of the disks for any software such as word, excel, etc that you want to put back?
3) Do you have a backup of pictures, music, documents and any other imprtand information?
4) Do you have any passords that are remembered by this computer?
5) Do you have the information (servers, etc...) to set up your e-Mail?
6) Do you have a copy of your e-mail?

If you have all of that, you are ready to go. The grahc that you posted shws tht windows was installed without erasing the drive. When you boot from the Vista installation disk. You will be offered the option to reformat the hard drive. If you had no problems with the hardware, you can do the quick format. If you had had problems do the full format (Should take about an hour for full format).

You do not need to do any of the fancy erasing. A quick format will likely be all you need.

Do not forget to install an Antivirus first thing after you come up. If the cost of an antivirus is an issue, AVASTand AVG both offer free ones.
andy i say this over and over again. I DID DO THE FULL REINSTALL WITH FULL FORMAT that is SUPPOSED to wipe/erase the drive and ALL the files. but i get the windows.old folders and i know there are old settings being saved from the previous install. if it had wiped all the old files then how can there be these windows.old folders? IT DOES NOT WIPE EVERYTHING OFF THE DRIVE. do you have VISTA? have you done a reinstall? sorry for the caps but i get so frustrated when people keep saying the same thing to me but they don't see what i have said.
 
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joec

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andy i say this over and over again. I DID DO THE FULL REINSTALL WITH FULL FORMAT that is SUPPOSED to wipe/erase the drive and ALL the files. but i get the windows.old folders and i know there are old settings being saved from the previous install. if it had wiped all the old files then how can there be these windows.old folders? IT DOES NOT WIPE EVERYTHING OFF THE DRIVE. do you have VISTA? have you done a reinstall? sorry for the caps but i get so frustrated when people keep saying the same thing to me but they don't see what i have said.

Are you sure you have a full version of Vista or a restore disk? I've seen this before when you buy a machine from some manufacturers they give you a full copy of the OS but with their stuff also installing with it. My son has an HP that he got basically a restore disk with and not a clean OS. I've seen this on other including my current machine a Dell Dimension 8400 which didn't even come with an OS disk. They simply did a back up of the system as it was shipped on a hidden partition which you could get to with one of the F keys. I quickly got a full OS disk from them and did an FDisk/Format and reinstalled with out their promo garbage programs. It has be a really good machine now for almost 6 years.
 

lilbopeep

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Are you sure you have a full version of Vista or a restore disk? I've seen this before when you buy a machine from some manufacturers they give you a full copy of the OS but with their stuff also installing with it. My son has an HP that he got basically a restore disk with and not a clean OS. I've seen this on other including my current machine a Dell Dimension 8400 which didn't even come with an OS disk. They simply did a back up of the system as it was shipped on a hidden partition which you could get to with one of the F keys. I quickly got a full OS disk from them and did an FDisk/Format and reinstalled with out their promo garbage programs. It has be a really good machine now for almost 6 years.
yes i have a full restore disc and only the basics are loaded (it is not the version that was preloaded at the factory) bare bones. i have apps and driver discs also to reinstall what i want after the reinstall.
 

Adillo303

*****
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Peep - Let me make it easy for you.

If you would like I will either help you

1) Get your hard drive erased so you can install Vista on an empty system
2) Wipe out your hard drive and reinstall Vista and give it back to you clean with Vista installed (no other software)
3) If you want to come to NYC we can do it together in my office.

I have not personally reinstalled Vista, my tech has. There was no windows.old directory. This was done at my direction and under my supervision.

I am really not trying to frustrate you.

Your choice

Andy
 

lilbopeep

🌹🐰 Still trying to get it right.
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Peep - Let me make it easy for you.

If you would like I will either help you

1) Get your hard drive erased so you can install Vista on an empty system
2) Wipe out your hard drive and reinstall Vista and give it back to you clean with Vista installed (no other software)
3) If you want to come to NYC we can do it together in my office.

I have not personally reinstalled Vista, my tech has. There was no windows.old directory. This was done at my direction and under my supervision.

I am really not trying to frustrate you.

Your choice

Andy

i hate driving in the city. maybe on the phone? i am having some weird problem with my CD/DVD drive. the draw keeps popping open on its own and when i booted up earlier the D drive was gone from my computer and the cd/dvd rom drive was gone from the device manager. i rebooted and it was back.
 
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