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re: using IBM Recovery disk Saturday, June 9, 2007 at 7:24 pm Posted by gewg_ (3925 messages posted) |[...]the Recovery disk[...] |Does it recover disc space as if it was new from the factory? | Wanda The name "Recovery Disk" is misleading. What it does is DESTROY everything that happened since you got the computer: First it wipes off the hard drive, then it takes the computer back to the way it came from the factory. I would think this was a **BAD** thing as any **data** files on the computer will be erased[1] ...or don't you create documents / save email, photos, Internet Favorites, etc.? ...*OR* did you have a *wise* guru who taught you how to back up your files? [1] There are better, more selective ways to make hard disk space. ...and, in addition to losing your *personal* files, any *customization* you had done to Windows/programs will have to be re-done. This sort of "Clean Install" should be reserved for when there are MASSIVE problems with the computer. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: using IBM Recovery disk Sunday, June 10, 2007 at 7:23 pm Posted by Wanda (7 messages posted) Thanks for your response. I did save all my favorites, but, if it wipes off the hard drive, does that mean that all the disk space has been recovered? In other words, I didn't need a new computer? The new one is certainly not any faster than the old one, which is 8 yrs old. Wanda On Saturday, June 9, 2007 at 7:24 pm, gewg_ wrote: >|[...]the Recovery disk[...] >|Does it recover disc space as if it was new from the factory? >| Wanda > >The name "Recovery Disk" is misleading. >What it does is DESTROY everything that happened since you got the computer: >First it wipes off the hard drive, >then it takes the computer back to the way it came from the factory. > >I would think this was a **BAD** thing >as any **data** files on the computer will be erased[1] >...or don't you create documents / save email, photos, Internet Favorites, >etc.? >...*OR* did you have a *wise* guru who taught you how to back up your files? > > >[1] There are better, more selective ways to make hard disk space. >...and, in addition to losing your *personal* files, >any *customization* you had done to Windows/programs will have to be re-done. > >This sort of "Clean Install" should be reserved >for when there are MASSIVE problems with the computer. [Reply or follow-up to this message] Trying to free up hard disk space the least practical way Sunday, June 10, 2007 at 9:23 pm Posted by gewg_ (3925 messages posted) was: using IBM Recovery disk |if it wipes off the hard drive, |does that mean that all the disk space has been recovered? |In other words, I didn't need a new computer? | Wanda It would be interesting to know how these ideas got into your head. The *new computer* thing reminds me of Daddy's story about how Uncle Vince sold his new car when the tires wore out. Doing a FORMAT on your drive followed by a re-install of Windows and a re-install of all your programs[1] is the **LEAST** desirable way to achieve what you want. There are MUCH better ways to free up hard disk space. It sounds like a little housecleaning is all you need. If you don't purposely save a lot of files to your hard drive, I'll bet you can get your Free Space back to a nice number with a couple of easy steps: Look in your Recycle Bin and make sure there isn't anything valuable there. In MyComputer, right-click C: and select Properties. Click the Disk Cleanup button. Make sure all 4 categories are ticked. Click OK. Right-click on your Recycle Bin and select Properties. Grab the slider and move it down to 1%. Click OK. There. That was easy--and you didn't have to nuke the whole thing. Now go back to MyComputer; C:; Properties and see if the Free Space is a number you like. This would be a good time to DEFRAG your hard disk. Select the Tools tab then Defragment Now. (This step is going to take quite a while to complete.) [1] That is what the Recovery Disk does --and this assumes you haven't *added* programs since receiving your computer-- and (like I said before) any nice tweaks you have made to the way your programs look/handle would get nuked. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Trying to free up hard disk space the least practical way Monday, June 11, 2007 at 12:17 pm Posted by Wanda (7 messages posted) I had been cleaning out temp. files, documents, recycle bin, disk cleanup, and the defrag never seemed to work...I'd leave it on all day, and, yet, it would only register a 1% completion and the screen to view it, would never come up. I've been given the impression that computers just get "used up"..my AOL would send a message that they couldn't connect me because I had no disk space left. Oh well, I do have the new one, but, I had intended to give my old one to a 12 yr. old boy in my neighborhood IF the recovery disk had brought back some space. It's a chore for me to hook it all up again to check it out, that's why I put the question to you, folks, on here. Thanks for your in-put. Wanda On Sunday, June 10, 2007 at 9:23 pm, gewg_ wrote: >was: using IBM Recovery disk > >|if it wipes off the hard drive, >|does that mean that all the disk space has been recovered? >|In other words, I didn't need a new computer? >| Wanda > >It would be interesting to know how these ideas got into your head. >The *new computer* thing reminds me of Daddy's story >about how Uncle Vince sold his new car when the tires wore out. > >Doing a FORMAT on your drive >followed by a re-install of Windows and a re-install of all your programs[1] >is the **LEAST** desirable way to achieve what you want. >There are MUCH better ways to free up hard disk space. >It sounds like a little housecleaning is all you need. > >If you don't purposely save a lot of files to your hard drive, >I'll bet you can get your Free Space back to a nice number >with a couple of easy steps: > >Look in your Recycle Bin and make sure there isn't anything valuable there. > >In MyComputer, right-click C: and select Properties. >Click the Disk Cleanup button. >Make sure all 4 categories are ticked. >Click OK. > >Right-click on your Recycle Bin and select Properties. >Grab the slider and move it down to 1%. >Click OK. > >There. That was easy--and you didn't have to nuke the whole thing. >Now go back to MyComputer; C:; Properties >and see if the Free Space is a number you like. > >This would be a good time to DEFRAG your hard disk. >Select the Tools tab then Defragment Now. >(This step is going to take quite a while to complete.) > > >[1] That is what the Recovery Disk does >--and this assumes you haven't *added* programs since receiving your computer-- >and (like I said before) any nice tweaks you have made >to the way your programs look/handle would get nuked. [Reply or follow-up to this message] Using the Recovery Disk to prep this computer before giving it to someone else Monday, June 11, 2007 at 2:08 pm Posted by gewg_ (3925 messages posted) |I've been given the impression that computers just get "used up".. | Wanda | If you aren't *purposely* creating files (saving pictures, writing papers, installing programs, etc.), then any "used" disk space should be considered to be *temporary* files. Any of that can easily be reclaimed. |my AOL would send a message that they couldn't connect me |because I had no disk space left. | I described how to reclaim your Internet Cache space (1 of the 4 categories); cleaning out that single category should cure the bulk of your problem. |the defrag never seemed to work... |I'd leave it on all day, and, yet, it would only register a 1% completion | "Defrag (or Scandisk) Stalls" http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/1123187486 |Oh well, I do have the new one[...] |I had intended to give my old one to a 12 yr. old boy in my neighborhood[...] | Ah. That data point wasn't previously mentioned. If, instead of giving their perceived *solution* to a problem and asking how to implement that, folks would instead describe the *actual* problem and/or circumstances, a lot of false starts could be avoided. |[...]IF the recovery disk had brought back some space. | Yes, the wipe-and-reinstall that the Recovery Disk will do is apt for that instance. Any of your personal data (e.g. social security number, credit card numbers) will *pretty much* be cleaned off the hard drive and a fresh installation of Windows and of the bundled programs will be done. If *I* was giving away / selling a computer, I would do a FOR-SURE wipe of the drive --that is OVERWRITE (with gibberish) all the existing files / disk space. http://www.google.com/search?q=Darik's.Boot.and.Nuke FORMATting does *NOT* destroy data absolutely and disk space that is supposedly "blank" can still contain recoverable data; a "Wipe" utility like DBAN is the proper way to do this. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Using the Recovery Disk to prep this computer before giving it to someone else Tuesday, June 12, 2007 at 11:52 am Posted by Wanda (7 messages posted) Well, I just put my computer back together again..hard job lifting the monitor and modem. I can't believe that I didn't need a new computer. My IBM is 93% systems free and the disk space is 88% free. I sure can't throw this computer away. Thanks for your input and support. Wanda On Monday, June 11, 2007 at 2:08 pm, gewg_ wrote: >|I've been given the impression that computers just get "used up".. >| Wanda >| >If you aren't *purposely* creating files >(saving pictures, writing papers, installing programs, etc.), >then any "used" disk space should be considered to be *temporary* files. >Any of that can easily be reclaimed. > >|my AOL would send a message that they couldn't connect me >|because I had no disk space left. >| >I described how to reclaim your Internet Cache space (1 of the 4 categories); >cleaning out that single category should cure the bulk of your problem. > >|the defrag never seemed to work... >|I'd leave it on all day, and, yet, it would only register a 1% completion >| >"Defrag (or Scandisk) Stalls" >http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/1123187486 > >|Oh well, I do have the new one[...] >|I had intended to give my old one to a 12 yr. old boy in my neighborhood[...] >| >Ah. That data point wasn't previously mentioned. >If, instead of giving their perceived *solution* to a problem >and asking how to implement that, >folks would instead describe the *actual* problem and/or circumstances, >a lot of false starts could be avoided. > >|[...]IF the recovery disk had brought back some space. >| >Yes, the wipe-and-reinstall that the Recovery Disk will do is apt for that instance. >Any of your personal data (e.g. social security number, credit card numbers) >will *pretty much* be cleaned off the hard drive >and a fresh installation of Windows and of the bundled programs will be done. > >If *I* was giving away / selling a computer, I would do a FOR-SURE wipe >of the drive >--that is OVERWRITE (with gibberish) all the existing files / disk space. >http://www.google.com/search?q=Darik's.Boot.and.Nuke >FORMATting does *NOT* destroy data absolutely >and disk space that is supposedly "blank" can still contain recoverable data; >a "Wipe" utility like DBAN is the proper way to do this. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Using the Recovery Disk to prep this computer before giving it to someone else Tuesday, June 12, 2007 at 1:36 pm Posted by gewg_ (3925 messages posted) |I just put my computer back together again[...]disk space is 88% free | Wanda | That's what we're looking for. |I can't believe that I didn't need a new computer. |I sure can't throw this computer away. | Even with Windoze, things are rarely as bad as they seem. 8-) |Thanks for your input and support. | Pass a good deed along. It'll get back to me. [Reply or follow-up to this message] Tip: Use one of the [Reply or follow-up to this message] links above to add a message to this thread Search this forum Start a new thread on a different subject Report abuse of the forum Return to the Windows 98 Discussion Forum