What is the difference between format and system restore?

Gazza33 · 12-July-05, 04:50 PM

What's the difference between formatting and using a full system restore disk?

Don't they do more or less the same thing? Don't they both format the hard drive?

Monsignor Funkibut · 12-July-05, 05:47 PM

Well -

formatting is just formatting

A full system restore is a format plus:
1] An operating system
2] drivers for mobos, chipsets like on-board video
3] Annoying stuff like AOL set-ups that machine makers are paid to put on their restore disks
4] etc.

-MF

Darksamurai · 12-July-05, 06:11 PM

MF covered most of it...

I'll just add:

Formatting: Usually formating will involve rewriting the file system so an operating system can be loaded to it.

This means any data on the partition will be lost.

Gazza33 · 13-July-05, 02:14 AM

^^^ Doesn't a system restore disk do that too?

subdismal · 13-July-05, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gazza33


	^^^ Doesn't a system restore disk do that too?

A system restore disk is usually used to restore your computer to the state of which it was at before you did anything to it. It's basically turning it back to exactly the way it was made.

Formatting is erasing everything usually, including (as has already been mentioned) your operating system, file system, and everything...leaving you with a blank drive to install an operating system on for a fresh slate.

Should've cleared that up.

Gazza33 · 13-July-05, 01:45 PM

Ok then, I want to completely format my PC to sort my graphics card problems.

I want to completely format the hard drive and do a new install of XP, how do I format everything?

Cheers.

EstwingMan · 13-July-05, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gazza33


	Ok then, I want to completely format my PC to sort my graphics card problems. I want to completely format the hard drive and do a new install of XP, how do I format everything? Cheers.

http://www.helpdesk.umd.edu/topics/t...ows_2000/4349/

Gazza33 · 13-July-05, 02:21 PM

I didn't really understand that.:S

Can you give me the basics to start me off?

For a clean install, Do I do this run > command prompt > format c: ?

teh_spazz · 13-July-05, 02:36 PM

You're going to have to get into DOS. Or another easy way is using a Windows XP CD to boot up with.

If you have a CD, just go into your BIOS, set the boot order so that your CD-Rom boots first. When the "boot from this disk" comes up you will be able to format.

12-July-05, 04:50 PM		#1 (permalink)
Gazza33 Apex Techie Lite	What is the difference between format and system restore? What's the difference between formatting and using a full system restore disk? Don't they do more or less the same thing? Don't they both format the hard drive?

12-July-05, 05:47 PM		#2 (permalink)
Monsignor Funkibut Master VB Pr'hoe'grammer	A partial answer Well - formatting is just formatting A full system restore is a format plus: 1] An operating system 2] drivers for mobos, chipsets like on-board video 3] Annoying stuff like AOL set-ups that machine makers are paid to put on their restore disks 4] etc. -MF

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12-July-05, 06:11 PM		#3 (permalink)
Darksamurai Sam-Hoe-rai N-Hoe-mad	MF covered most of it... I'll just add: Formatting: Usually formating will involve rewriting the file system so an operating system can be loaded to it. This means any data on the partition will be lost.

13-July-05, 02:14 AM		#4 (permalink)
Gazza33 Apex Techie Lite	^^^ Doesn't a system restore disk do that too?

13-July-05, 01:45 PM		#6 (permalink)
Gazza33 Apex Techie Lite	Ok then, I want to completely format my PC to sort my graphics card problems. I want to completely format the hard drive and do a new install of XP, how do I format everything? Cheers.

13-July-05, 02:21 PM		#8 (permalink)
Gazza33 Apex Techie Lite	I didn't really understand that.:S Can you give me the basics to start me off? For a clean install, Do I do this run > command prompt > format c: ?

13-July-05, 02:36 PM		#9 (permalink)
teh_spazz Apex Master Tech	You're going to have to get into DOS. Or another easy way is using a Windows XP CD to boot up with. If you have a CD, just go into your BIOS, set the boot order so that your CD-Rom boots first. When the "boot from this disk" comes up you will be able to format.