reformating windows if you are blind

Category: Geeks r Us

Post 1 by Austin (the magic fan!) on Monday, 22-Jan-2007 23:18:51

Hey all. i've allways wondered if us blind people can reformat windows by ourselves? If so, let me know how you can do this. I don't need to reformat now but it would be good to know. thanks.

Post 2 by PorkInCider (Wind assisted.) on Tuesday, 23-Jan-2007 6:20:49

sure go off download a program called NLite and using your windows instilation disk you can create a self installing cd, that will go away do everything for you. it's easy, as long as you have the bios set correctly so you can boot from cd.

Post 3 by Austin (the magic fan!) on Tuesday, 23-Jan-2007 15:45:42

cool man. will check that one out.

Post 4 by Austin (the magic fan!) on Sunday, 17-Jun-2007 12:04:39

i've also heard of something called a windows unattended install as well.
anyone done with and also i have a usb floppy drive, can i still do it?

Post 5 by SingerOfSongs (Heresy and apostasy is how progress is made.) on Sunday, 17-Jun-2007 13:23:52

Possibly. Depends on your bios. Some bios will let you boot off of external drives like that. If so, then yes.

Post 6 by KC8PNL (The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better.) on Sunday, 17-Jun-2007 13:38:02

I'm in desperate need of a reformat. If I don't remove my lisence key for windows, will I have to reenter it? I'm running xp home, but I don't have the lisence with me. It was bought seperately from the computer

Post 7 by Austin (the magic fan!) on Sunday, 17-Jun-2007 13:54:08

oh shit scot. I don't know what ot tell you man. You can get coppies of xp home for cheap off of www.amazon.com or something like that. In your case, i'd say buy a new windows disc.

Post 8 by PorkInCider (Wind assisted.) on Sunday, 17-Jun-2007 14:10:38

Scot, You can find your key in ctrl panal and system i think, write it down, and then if you have to install yourself, use the program i said earlier to make an unattended instalation, at which point you can enter the key, so it installs it automatically for you.

Post 9 by frequency (the music man) on Sunday, 17-Jun-2007 22:26:37

either that, or go and find the Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder.

Also visit unattended.msfn.org for all unattended installation needs.

Post 10 by mr. Dillon (Account disabled) on Monday, 18-Jun-2007 10:59:28

All you need to get your XP key is a program called Belarc Advisor. It will also tell you the specks of your computer.

Post 11 by Austin (the magic fan!) on Monday, 18-Jun-2007 19:01:05

magical jellybean is the best one. if even saves a file for you so you can keep it.

Post 12 by Austin (the magic fan!) on Monday, 09-Jul-2007 18:01:35

ok all. so does this program reformat the pc all the way and when it's done will the xp music come up automatically? i can get around the out of box thing with narrator.

Post 13 by Austin (the magic fan!) on Friday, 27-Jul-2007 16:36:27

OK ALL, NLITE IN KINDA CONFUSING. WHAT IF YOU DON'T WANT A BOOTABLE CD? CAN NLITE STILL REFORMAT THE PC WITH OUT IT? IF NOT, WHAT'S A BETTER WAY TO DO IT? SORRY ALL, I'M JUST CONFUSSED.

Post 14 by b3n (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Saturday, 28-Jul-2007 8:45:28

A few things:
1: I don't really like nlite, granted it does what it takes many other programs to do in one program, but the only thing that nothing else can do is strip components out of windows.
2: You don't need a floppy drive.
3: Why wouldn't you want a bootable cd? Nlite doesn't format the pc, it creates files that automate the process of formatting the pc.

BEN.

Post 15 by Austin (the magic fan!) on Saturday, 28-Jul-2007 14:43:11

what's a good free ico burning program? i don't mind doing a bootable cd.

Post 16 by jmbauer (Technology's great until it stops working.) on Saturday, 28-Jul-2007 14:56:51

CDRecord is free, but it's a console app and requires both a sigwin emulator and an aspi library, both of which aren't included in the package. Google is your friend.

Post 17 by Austin (the magic fan!) on Saturday, 28-Jul-2007 15:20:20

sorry if i'm confusing you all. i just want to reformat windows with out no one's help. I mean sited help. I've never doen it before and i'm just finding the best to go about doing this. Thank you.

Post 18 by Austin (the magic fan!) on Saturday, 28-Jul-2007 15:21:00

too bad nlite just can't burn the cd? that would be nice. but it's all good. I wished nero was free.

Post 19 by Austin (the magic fan!) on Saturday, 28-Jul-2007 15:21:28

but i'll check out cd record though

Post 20 by ¤§¤spike¤§¤ (This site is so "educational") on Sunday, 29-Jul-2007 20:38:35

Regarding your search for a free and easy to use iso burning program, I'd recommend deepburner, either free edition for your pc, or portable edition for your usb drive.

Post 21 by Austin (the magic fan!) on Sunday, 29-Jul-2007 22:18:41

oh yeah i forgot about deep burner. it's damn good.

Post 22 by frequency (the music man) on Sunday, 29-Jul-2007 22:52:39

like i said before, run over to unattended.msfn.org. they have most if not all of your needs covered.

Post 23 by daredevil (Account disabled) on Tuesday, 31-Jul-2007 16:20:19

The latest version of N-lite will burn the iso onto cd for you too! N-lite will insert your drivers for you, help you strip out unwanted components, create the unattended answer file Windows needs to automate the process of entering in your product key..Hell, it'll even insert sata drivers, which some of the newer drives require in order to install Windows. It's a very neat tool.
There's another tool that will also download all of the windows updates and hotfixes for you so you can use n-lite to integrate them into your cd.
I have an uninstalation kit I've put together with these various tools. If anyone wants it, send me a PM.

Post 24 by Squiggles (Account disabled) on Friday, 10-Aug-2007 19:43:55

Simple solution go to www.jfwlite.com, click programs and download the windows xp unattended setup kit. You will need a floppy all instructions are in that file. As for the key they are all over the web just go and get one I'll even give you mine if it is an oem copy which I believe it is. home or pro? Once the floppy/cd are prepared, stick the cd in and floppy in and reboot, walk away and come back an hour later and you will be at the desktop. If it is a usb floppy drive you might try it and pray it works or you might need someone to varify in bios what the boot priorities are set where. When booting the CD, keep tapping space until the cd stops wurring usually after 30 seconds.

Post 25 by Austin (the magic fan!) on Monday, 19-Nov-2007 13:32:34

is there an easy ot do this? i'm real confused on how to do this. i know it's not hard. i need a good tutorial that doesn't use a floppy. Anyone ever done it successfully with nlight? thanks. and without neerrow either i don't have that shit of a program. I need a good free or cheap cd program that can burn bootable cds. thanks.