Reformat question...urgent.

[safeguy]

Guys, this is urgent. Please help me..

I just need to know as to whether I am going to lose my documents if I reformat my PC. My OS Windows XP is in C: drive while my data (documents and that includes my music, pictures, etc.) is in D: drive.

I really hope it will remain intact after reformat coz I have not much time to backup my stuffs and everything...and trust me, it will take ages if I do that.

Please tell me asap. I know there's Google but I trust Raymond.cc members more.

Thanks.

P.S. I am not reformatting my PC on my own. I have no experience and it seems hard. Furthermore, I don't think I have the right 'tools' (such as recovery disk, etc) and my OS is OEM. Hence, I am thinking of sending it to my ACER service centre...they can help me with it...but the problem is I need to be rest assured that my documents are safe without backing up. Can someone please tell me am I doing the right thing? And yes, please post a reply asap...it's really urgent...I am going to send it within an hour or so from now...

[luffy]

Guys, this is urgent. Please help me..

I just need to know as to whether I am going to lose my documents if I reformat my PC. My OS Windows XP is in C: drive while my data (documents and that includes my music, pictures, etc.) is in D: drive.

I really hope it will remain intact after reformat coz I have not much time to backup my stuffs and everything...and trust me, it will take ages if I do that.

Please tell me asap. I know there's Google but I trust Raymond.cc members more.

Thanks.

Just leave D: drive alone.

[safeguy]

Just leave D: drive alone.

Thanks for the reply but I don't really get you. I have already transferred all of my documents into D:drive. I have Googled regarding this issue and it seems that some techies say this works...However, what makes me worried is that there are some users who complained that their documents and folders were corrupted after doing this. I am really confused. Can someone here enlighten me? Pls...

[Kazemagic]

i have done this a month ago to my laptop got help from Ray and other members here
i did similar to wat ur gonna do.however i did a full system resotre,which rests everything baks to the normal.other words reiunstalling the OS and the same settings when i bought it.
It does not delete the d files but it deletes and over write the c files.
im not sure about reformat.just do a full system restore

[safeguy]

Thanks but as far as I know system restore and reformat are two different things. I have done system restore before and surely enough, I had no problems with it. Whereas reformat is a much more complex thing(at least for me)...I don't think it works the same way. Nvm though, thanks for the effort...appreciate it.

Anyway, where's Raymond? I am sure he can help me.

[luffy]

Thanks but as far as I know system restore and reformat are two different things. I have done system restore before and surely enough, I had no problems with it. Whereas reformat is a much more complex thing(at least for me)...I don't think it works the same way. Nvm though, thanks for the effort...appreciate it.

Anyway, where's Raymond? I am sure he can help me.

I am saying that do not reformat your D:
Put the CD XP first, then reboot your computer. It will show 2 drives. You need to choose to delete your C drive first. Then it will ask for where do you want to install your windows XP. Choose the C drive.
Hope it help.

[YuMeng]

If you reformat C drive, it won't make anything in D drive disappear or what, format C drive won't format D drive.

[Kazemagic]

if you do a reformat it will delete everything and u have to reinstall ur OS manually (thats wat i assume)
but if you do a factory reset.it will reinstall ur OS and keeps the D driver files

[safeguy]

Thanks guys...from what you all said, I am assuming that it is safe enough to go and reformat my PC. I am getting ready now to go to the Acer service centre. I am taking a risk here but hope it turns out well.

[Raymond]

We have to get the terms right.

Format = Will delete everything on the partition. Example, format C: drive means it will only delete everything in C: drive and doesn't touch other drives like D: or E:.

Windows System Restore = This is a built-in feature in Windows that restores your computer back to the date which it was backed up.

System Recovery = A lot of branded computers such as HP, Dell, IBM has system recovery which restores everything back to factory settings like when you first got your laptop. It will also wipe out everything on your C drive but doesn't touch your D drive.