"reformatting an HP computer with Win XP" Topic

HI… That dreaded day has come when I need to reformat my computer. HP has a system recovery thingy, but I have no idea how to use it or if its going to mean complete drive wipe anyway.

Also I added a USB card that required no disk to set up and an extra hard drive. I assume I will need to unplug the hard drive, so its not over written during reformat, but can I leave the USB card in? I hope so cause it was a to get it seated in there the first time.

any advanced info would be greatly appreciated…

HP System recovery disks will wipe the main HD. Therefore you need to back up all your data. You will also need installation disks/files and codes for all your applications.

By USB card do you mean an add in card (eg PCI) that has extra USB ports? That should be fine to leave in.

For extra safety unplugging the 2nd HD is not a bad idea. It should be ignored by the recovery program – but better safe than sorry.

Thanks Fred… I have done this all before, just not on an HP and not with additional internal hardware. I hate doing reformat/reinstalls because one they take up to much time and two you never know what problems you might have…

But then MS update is dancing with the devil as well. My system has been acting funny for awhile now and I think something that needed to update didn't properly a while back and this is the end results…