Formatting Storage Drives

[Arrovmaker002]

I have an old IBM laptop that has Windows 7 on it. The laptop works fine but  Windows 7 decided it would UN-genuine itself and now I can't run certain programs. I have tried a few reformatting actions such as going into the restore settings but there is this ghost administrator (the account got deleted but it is somehow still there) that keeps blocking me. When I tried to get through with the DOS command interface I just got confused. Can anybody help?

[ChineseChef]

Do you have a windows install disc?  Are you wanting to completely erase the HDD with windows installed on it?  Are you just wanting to get rid of the admin account?

[Arrovmaker002]

Yes I have two windows install disks but when I attempted to reinstall windows it crashed at the installation and wouldn't go further. Is there any way format a disk without going through a software?

[ChineseChef]

I am not sure what you mean by "not going through a software".  You will have to use some kind of program to erase/format the drive.  If you have a second computer that you can hook the drive into, you may be able to do it that way.  Or you can try to make a LiveCD version of Linux or some kind of Windows repair tool, something like Hirens Boot tools.  http://www.hirensbootcd.org/ 

 

This will still require a second compute to make the boot disc/USB drive, but that shouldn't be as requiring as connecting your HDD to a second computer.  Are you unable to get to the Windows install section where you are given the option to format the drive?

[Arrovmaker002]

Sorry for bad explanation but what I meant by going through 'software' is by completing the action without having to boot up windows and just using the laptop without going through the GUI (if that makes sense?). I will try to use the Hirens Boot tools that you recommended and in response to your last question I could get to the windows install formatting section but it wouldn't allow me to format it.

[Arrovmaker002]

Sorry but the Hiren's boot CD didn't work. Anymore ideas?

[ChineseChef]

Try making a linux or some other live/boot CD.  Or you may have to connect the HDD to another system and format it from there.

[Arrovmaker002]

Any tips on how to do that or the best places to get information on how to get Linux onto CDs, etc?