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How do I erase everything in my computer?
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javeryh:
I just got my hands on an old computer (Pentium 1) and I want to erase everything on it and use it solely for Mame (and a front end).  It has Windows installed on it among other programs.  Since the computer isn't that great, I want to maximize performance (who doesn't? ;)).  

Any suggestions?  Thanks!
SirPoonga:
Are you going to reinstall windows on it?  If so seelct format drive during the installation process.

If you are going to put linux on it you can do the same during installation.

If you are going to put dos on it you may have to format the drive before you install.  The setup should have something, if not you just need a boot disk (www.bootdisk.com, I suggest the windows 98 disk) and format the drive from that.
javeryh:
Thanks for the reply!  Do you think I should I put Windows on it (would you?)?  I just want to run Mame and a front end as easily as possible without anything else hogging memory.  Thanks!
MonitorGuru:
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com

Download BootItNextGeneration (BING) and run the install to place it on a floppy.

It has a real graphical GUI (not character UI) interface and lets you format, slide, copy, image (compress) burn a cd/dvd, restore from cd/dvd/partition.  All of this works without limits on the downloadable version.  If you pay $30 then you can also use it to do boot management where you can have it hide/unhide partitions in any order so operating systems are separated from each other so they can't even see the other installs.

This is a indispensible tool.  No, it won't create a "bootable" parition with dos boot code, but it will format and do everything else with a partition you can imagine, prepping a drive for installs.  

All of this on a < 1.4 meg floppy disk.. really amazing.  No, I don't work for them, just  a very happy customer since 1997 on their original products.


You can image a windows install to a tiny area (< 650 meg with full XP install and windows updates, so long as you turn off the swap file and hibernate area before you image with BING).  Then if you need multiple identical paritions, just expand the image to various spots, size as you want, and you dont even have to reinstall windows!  Very nice tool.
Thenasty:
easy all you have to type is:



echo y | format c: /q

thats it.

or you can do FDISK
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