formating a laptop

pigeonpants

Hi all
please can anyone tell me the best way to format a laptop that i dont have the windows disc for?
if I format the drive will it take the operating system off as well?

many thanks

santer_2

Formatting will remove anything on the laptop

If you click start and then click computer, is there a drive shown as D or recovery partition?

pigeonpants

Santer
thanks, only a local disc c drive

santer_2

If the laptop has a sticker with the 25 character product key then you can borrow a same version Windows CD to format and re-install

If there is not a sticker then you can use speccy to tell you what it is

http://filehippo.com/download_speccy/

Run speccy, wait a minute then click operating system and check the product key is there

SIW will also tell you

http://www.gtopala.com/

Don't run a format until you have the product key and a same version windows CD. If you can get those then install using the product key speccy or SIW give you

CoolHotCold

WHOAAAA
Slow down, what make and model is it?

dg1dd1ngs_2

Pop Ubuntu on there....:beer:

pigeonpants

it is a Toshiba Equium with Windows XP

CoolHotCold

Yea Toshiba XP would of came with XP Discs to restore so either a OEM is required or Toshiba Recovery discs are required.

closed

factory restore partitions aren't always visible as a drive letter.

what does the manual say

https://backupmedia.toshiba.eu/serial.aspx

why are you formatting it?

santer_2

See if you can get a hidden recovery option, possibly open my documents, click tools, folder options, view, put the dot in show hidden files, folders and drives, click apply, look in my computer

Ask Toshiba what should have been installed as it is odd that you have not been supplied with any way of restoring it

http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe.com/innovation/generic/Customer_Contact/

pigeonpants

Closed
i am afraid i do not have that i am trying to do this for my Sister in law she purchased used and it did not come with a manual, i am going to try and google to find an e-manual
thanks