Format

[steveo1234]

haven't formatted my computer in a while but how long does it normally take to wipe everything off and start fresh?

[MoonlightSylv]

If you want to just reinstall Windows, about the normal time. If you want to get rid of everything FOREVER then you'll need to format it and fill it up again a bunch of times.

[Enderman]

what takes the longest time is installing all your programs and configuring stuff

the windows clean install can be done within an hour

[IsaacDaGrazin]

By saying you haven't formatted in a while, that means you do it on a regular basis. And you forgot too

Why do you format? You should format when you are either installing a new OS or selling the hdd/ssd, unless something is wrong I don't know why.

But it depends on how big?

Is it 500GB? 1TB? 2TB? by format you mean a proper format, filling everything with 000000s?

Not really sure on others but a 2tb hdd Seagate would take 8-10 hours, use that as a baseline or just google it up quickly (mods, I don’t know what size he has so this is why I'm saying google it up quickly and, I don’t mean it in a way where he should just go google everything himself or anything like that *cough*)

But yeah, try and supply us with more info and we can help you out more

[steveo1234]

recently i took my computer apart to clean up the cables but never put the harddrives back in the same ports which they were once in and now it takes longer than before for my pc to start up and is recently freezing alot and trying to click on documents just feels like it takes longer so hoping a full wipe and everything will do the trick and hopefully my computer is as fast as it was before.

[IsaacDaGrazin]

2 minutes ago, steveo1234 said:

Recently I took my computer apart to clean up the cables, but never put the hard drives back in the same ports which they were once in and now it takes longer than before for my pc to start up and is recently freezing a lot so hoping a full wipe and everything will do the trick and hopefully my computer is as fast as it was before.

Put them back in the same ports.....

[steveo1234]

Just now, IsaacDaGrazin said:

Put them back in the same ports.....

Already have its just has not been the same ever since

[IsaacDaGrazin]

Just now, steveo1234 said:

Already have its just has not been the same ever since

Did something get inside the ports? Its happened before.

[steveo1234]

Just now, IsaacDaGrazin said:

Did something get inside the ports? Its happened before.

Dont think so just think it didn't recognize the harddrives when i first put them  in and moved them about until i remembered which ports they were first originally  in before. but its strange 

 

 

 

when i put the harddrives in my computer it wouldn't make it further than the windows loading screen and took ages to start up as before it started up instantly :?  

[IsaacDaGrazin]

Just now, steveo1234 said:

Don’t think so, just think it didn't recognize the hard drives when I first put them  in and moved them about until I remembered which ports they were first originally in before. But its strange 

When I put the hard drives in my computer it wouldn't make it further than the windows loading screen and took ages to start up as before it started up instantly :?  

Wait they are mechanical correct? Did you move the HDDs around? Put them in the exact same place as before. Make sure they are right in and securely.

If you didn't and just moved the cables, check your HDDs have the cables correctly in it as above securely

Try that now and if nothing happens or nothing changes tell me and ill find another way

[steveo1234]

Just now, IsaacDaGrazin said:

Wait they are mechanical correct? Did you move the HDDs around? Put them in the exact same place as before. Make sure they are right in and securely.

If you didn't and just moved the cables, check your HDDs have the cables correctly in it as above securely

Try that now and if nothing happens or nothing changes tell me and ill find another way

everything is secured and everything is in place its a puzzle...?       maybe it just needs a fresh start in life? ahha

[Godlygamer23]

23 minutes ago, IsaacDaGrazin said:

Put them back in the same ports.....

The ports don't usually matter.

[Godlygamer23]

36 minutes ago, ShadowTechXTS said:

If you want to just reinstall Windows, about the normal time. If you want to get rid of everything FOREVER then you'll need to format it and fill it up again a bunch of times.

You don't need to fill it with actual data. Using programs like CCleaner to wipe the free space on the drive a few times after formatting works too, and is the preferred option.

[steveo1234]

1 minute ago, Godlygamer23 said:

The ports don't usually matter.

mean once i disconnected the harddrive cables to and from the motherboard  i put them back in maybe not in the same exact cables in the same place as before but my pc wouldn't boot up onto the start up screen then turning it on and off  and would slowly start to load up. trying to explain this as best as i can lol