Simviation Forums

...1: Re-format (delete everything) a Hard drive that im currenty using, but not install an operating system on it?.. reason is im planning on putting my IDE drive in one of those enclosures to make it external

...2: How do i COPY/TRANSFER all of my emails etc from Outlook to back up..?

Cheers all, sorry to be a pain in the arse, just needed to know these before i change computers over tomorow.

Cheers all, MUCH appreciated for any help given

James

put the drive in the caddy boot connect it to the pc boot  into windows and go to my computer.  

You then right click on the new drive and slect format (I think  I don't have explorer on my pc anymore).  If that dosen't work you can use the logical disk manager.

If you have a Western Digital drive, it comes with a program that can be used to format and partition, among other things.

Outlook uses hidden files, google up the question and follow links to the solution, save me typing it all out.

WinXP/Explorer allows hotmail as the optional default mail client, all your info is stored on their servers, not locally on the PC, so I never lose my addies/contacts etc.... but my stuff isn't critical, neverthelesss, I've never lost data using hotmail

I can't remember the last time I used Outlook.. Web-based email kinda made it obsolete, long ago. I guess it's useful if you need to read old email when you can't get online ? I think SBC gives me a 10GB mail box.

Your ISP (or Hotmail, if you choose to pay the $20/year for a premium account) is not only secure (if somebody knows how to, and is willing to, hack your Hotmail/ISP email account.. you got bigger worries than what you might keep there).. it's a great place to keep your redundant backups of really special pics, docs, etc..  Just zip'em up and attach them to an email and send it to yourself. If your HDD crashes and your backup CD is un-readable, your last resort is there.. safe and sound.

Hello Chaps!

Sorry for the delay in replying...>

The hard drive i wish to format is the hard drive im using NOW, and it is the only hard drive in my computer at the moment...

Cheers!

James

...1: Re-format (delete everything) a Hard drive that im currenty using, but not install an operating system on it?.. reason is im planning on putting my IDE drive in one of those enclosures to make it external

...2: How do i COPY/TRANSFER all of my emails etc from Outlook to back up..?

Cheers all, sorry to be a pain in the arse, just needed to know these before i change computers over tomorow.

Cheers all, MUCH appreciated for any help given

James

Its actually quite simple... Go to the website for the manufacture of the hard drive. Usually the manufacture will have a DOS based utility for formatting the hard drive or a DOS utilities disk available for download. Most will have an option for a floppy or iso for CD burn of those utilities. If you do not have a floppy drive, get the CD version.

Download and make the utilites boot disk. Once complete and assuming you have the computer set to boot from floppy or CD in the BIOS, you can reboot the computer using the disk. The hard drive utilites will then be available in DOS. One of the features will be to completely format the drive or you can choose to do a security wipe (write zeros to the drive).

As for the backup... is it Outlook or Outlook Express? I think Outlook has an Export feature however with Outlook Express, the best way to keep everything is to do the following:

Browse to:

C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR ACCOUNT NAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{YOU WILL SEE A BIG CODE NUMBER IN BRACKETS}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Inside that folder should be all your Outlook Express folders, simply copy them all to a backup source, usually a CD.

In order to restore, after Windows has been installed run Outlook Express and set it up for your account. Once finished simply copy the files you backed up from above into the new Outlook Express database folder (from the address above) and overwrite the originals.

When you open Outlook Express everything will be restored as it was.

Its actually quite simple... Go to the website for the manufacture of the hard drive. Usually the manufacture will have a DOS based utility for formatting the hard drive or a DOS utilities disk available for download. Most will have an option for a floppy or iso for CD burn of those utilities. If you do not have a floppy drive, get the CD version.

Download and make the utilites boot disk. Once complete and assuming you have the computer set to boot from floppy or CD in the BIOS, you can reboot the computer using the disk. The hard drive utilites will then be available in DOS. One of the features will be to completely format the drive or you can choose to do a security wipe (write zeros to the drive).

As for the backup... is it Outlook or Outlook Express? I think Outlook has an Export feature however with Outlook Express, the best way to keep everything is to do the following:

Browse to:

C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR ACCOUNT NAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{YOU WILL SEE A BIG CODE NUMBER IN BRACKETS}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Inside that folder should be all your Outlook Express folders, simply copy them all to a backup source, usually a CD.

In order to restore, after Windows has been installed run Outlook Express and set it up for your account. Once finished simply copy the files you backed up from above into the new Outlook Express database folder (from the address above) and overwrite the originals.

When you open Outlook Express everything will be restored as it was.

Aaah fantastic, much appreciated Nick.

I will download the hard drive utility now>>

Im using "Outlook", not outlook express...

Cheers Mate

James