BF2S Forums Need help with formatting:

"Do I delete the 'windows' partion and then create a new partion, which will lead me to instruction on formatting"
Yes

"deleting that 'windows' partion the actual format?"
No

"What is the 'unpartioned space'?"
Useless space on your harddrive that is not formatted and can not be used.

"Whats the most critical drivers I need to install?"
Windows CD usually installs all you need. Maybe sound drivers, maybe some extra if you have RAID...

"The Intel motherboard CD (I beleive this has my sound driver on it too, as it says it includes SOUNDMAX DIGITAL AUDIO)"
Yes you probs have intergrated sound then...?

"Also...does the XP CD come with Internet explorer? What else does it include?"
Yes to IE. Comes with most basic things. EG windows messegener, windows media player... all the basics you get with a new pc.

"Is there anything else I need to get my computer back up and running?"
GET SECURITY PATCHES. Install AV before you go on the net so you dont get Blaster worm.

anything else?

-[Silver.Inc* wrote:

G'day,

Ive tried everything to fix my BF2, with a shitload of help from EA tech support...but nothing seems to fix it.
The tech person said it was best that I format my comp.

My God!!! Thats what I call Technical Support - When the desk agent hasn't got a clue, and doesn't want to ak anyone for help then a full format will fix the problem without addressing the cause.

I work in Tech support and it really pisses me off when they fob the user off with a format instead of actually fixing the problem. The agent should have just said "Look I haven't got a clue"

If I tried pulling that at work I would get lynched!!!

What up.

What's the problem you're having with BF2?

Are you having problems with all 3d games/applications or is it just BF2?
If it's just BF2 what problem are you specifically having?

EDIT: Perhaps I should write a guide for reinstalling windows or showing how to do various repair type stuff.
Suppose I could make some videos and tutorials.
EDIT2: Melbourne, I may be off to Melbourne when I go to Australia. Undecided yet, definitely off to Sydney and then New Zealand for a week. (spending 4 weeks in Aus/NZ in late December 2006 through January 2007)

Last edited by EvilMonkeySlayer (2006-07-21 07:59:36)

-[Silver.Inc* wrote:

Nope, thanks alot, that first question was the main one.
I beleive my Intel CD comes with norton.

If my windows CD says 'includes SP 2' does that mean I won't get infected by the worm if I go on the net?

[edit] I don't have an anti-virus program at the moment (yes, shoot me) so what are some good free ones that I can install onto my computer before I download all the windows updates after I format?

Dont quote me on this but i *think* SP2 includes the patch against Blaster. Better to be safe and do the following...
1. Download a free AV from the net now (either AVG http://www.grisoft.com/doc/1 or my favourite Avast http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html)
2. Install 1 if you want to familarise yourself (optional step).
3. Save the AVG or Avast setup file (the .exe you downloaded) to a flash drive or cd or whatever.
4. Reinstall windows.
5. Install the AV from the flash or cd on your new windows BEFORE GOING ON THE NET.
6. Go on the net and immendiately patch and update the AV.

(you might also want a firewall - zonealarm, and some antispyware - ewido, ms defender, spybot, all free)

Anything else?

If I remember correctly you had an installation error and you couldn't even get BF2 installed or wasn't it SF?

I don't know but I'm going to vote for a reformat as well. You've spent enough time trying to fix it, and if your not "irratated" at this point you have a godlike ammount of patience.

So, to reformat, your confusion lies in the partitions. The partitions are just sections of your hard drives that can act as individual hard drives in something like explorer. IE, you can have two "Drives" on the same hard drive, like C: drive and D: drive on one hard drive in your computer. It's a handy feature.

If you don't have any special need for certain partitions (I have two drives, 3 partitions and very specific settings for each one) or RAID or that when you get to the partitioning screen delete all the partitions. There will be instructions on that page to tell you how.

Then, make a new partition in the full size of your hard drive (again, it will be on screen) and install windows on it (on screen...).

Read everything carefully so you know what you're doing, and it will be fine. A clean and simple reformat is alot easier then anyone thinks.

What I can reccomend is burn to a CD or a thumb drive or something:

1: AVG Free
2: Spyware Blaster
3: Spybot Search and Destroy

And when you reformat your computer DISCONNECT THE NETWORK CABLE! Do not be connected to the internet at all until you've installed the anti virus and firewalls.

After that, fire up teh intarwebs and download all the updated drivers for your hardware in this order:

Motherboard/Chipset and all things associated with that. Nows a good time for a BIOS flash.
Videocard
Soundcard

and then any other hardware that you have but before anything, get your motherboard drivers in. If you don't the other driver installs could go FUBAR and you'd have to reformat again.

Last edited by Defiance (2006-07-21 13:16:41)

I'm not bothering trying to fix the problem anymore (except install it on another computer today to see if the disk is the problem...if it works on that computer i'm formatting) because I can't try anything more.

@Defiance,

Thankyou very much...that helped me a shitload.

JahManRed,

Yep ive got all the info of my computer printed out using device manager.

Last edited by -[Silver.Inc* (2006-07-21 15:46:33)