When your computer’s operating system starts showing its age, it’s time for an upgrade to a newer version. But if the upgrade isn’t done properly, you can create a whole new host of problems.
One thing to keep in mind is that computers cannot generally support more than one operating system at a time. That means, users need to delete their old system before installing the new one. Failing to do so can mean that a computer will no longer operate stably.
A clean new installation is always better than a basic update, says Mark Perseke of Netzwelt, an online German technology magazine.
A fresh operating system is faster and more reliable than one that has been copied over another. A new system also does not need to spend a lot of time integrating pre-existing files and programs or creating new data paths.
“That’s why it’s recommended to completely format the computer and, afterward, install the new operating system.”
Technically, only software and programs can be de-installed. When discussing the de-installation of Windows, one is actually talking about erasing the operating system, explains Klaus Eickemeier of Computer Bild, another German computer magazine.
There is no proper de-installation routine for Windows. The two most common methods are to boot up a computer with the operating system CD installed and then to format the drive or, alternatively, to boot up the computer with a formatting program CD installed. If you want to be sure to erase all data, opt for the second method.
DBAN is a freeware program guaranteed to delete Windows. Once downloaded, it can be burned onto a CD and then used to boot up a computer. If you want to get your formatting program from the store, Acronis offers Director 11.
Once the drive has been wiped, the user can then simply start up the computer with…