: How to Format a Hard Drive With Windows XP

If you want to format a hard drive while using or installing Windows XP, you've come to the right place. This can be very useful for clearing everything off a secondary drive or when installing a fresh copy of Windows. Formatting a computer hard drive is simple and can help eliminate viruses, storage issues and other hard-to-resolve problems.

From Quick Guide: Computer Troubleshooting

• 
  
  

Preparation

1. Step 1
   When you format a computer hard DRIVE you will lose everything that is on the drive. Therefore, it is very important to back up anything you might want later. Additionally, if you are going to be formatting and installing XP you need to make sure you have the discs for any applications or third party hardware you use since you will need to re-install your programs and drivers after re-installing Windows.
   
2. Step 2
   Take a moment to think of anything that you have on the computer that you wouldn't want to lose. Generally, you probably want everything in your My Documents folder, and you also want to save things like your favorites or bookmarks from your Web browser. Remember that each user on the computer has his or her own My Documents folder, Desktop items and Favorites/Bookmarks.
   
3. Step 3
   Save everything to a CD, DVD or a hard drive that you won't be formatting.
   

Formatting a Secondary Hard Drive

4. Step 1
   Right-Click on the "My Computer" icon either on your desktop or in the Start Menu and select "Manage."
   
5. Step 2
   A new window titled "Computer Management" comes up. Select "Storage" from the left hand side by clicking it once, then select "Disk Management(local)" from the right side by double-clicking it.
   
6. Step 3
   Now in the lower part of the main frame (right side) of the window you should see a nice visual of all your hard drives. Each line is a different drive. Each box on a line (with a colored bar at the top and a size displayed in MB or GB) is a partition on the drive. Partitions are separations of space on a drive. Unless you are doing something specific that requires multiple partitions, you only want one partition per drive.
   
7. Step 4
   First you must delete any existing partitions on the drive you are going to format. Do this by right-clicking on the partition's box and selecting "Delete Partition..." Since you already know that you will be deleting everything on the drive, and have already backed everything up, you can safely say yes to any warning the computer presents you with.
   
8. Step 5
   
    
   If there are multiple partitions make sure you have saved everything off them since they might each have different drive letters (i.e. "D:" or "F:"). Then repeat the above step for each of them. If you only want to format one partition that is OK and you can continue to the next step without deleting the other partitions.
   
9. Step 6
   The box for the drive to be formatted should now have a black bar at the top of it and should say "Unallocated" under its size (see picture). Right click on it and select "New Partition..." The New Partition Wizard comes up.
   
10. Step 7
    In the New Partition Wizard click next. On the next page make sure "Primary Partition" is selected and click next. Now make the size equal to the maximum (it should already be set to it), and click next again. On the next page the computer will automatically choose the first available drive letter for the new drive. However, if you like you can choose another drive letter from the drop-down menu, and then click next.
    
11. Step 8
    Finally the New Partition Wizard asks if you would like to format the new partition and if so what format. Choose "NTFS" as it is faster and more secure. Leave the "Allocation unit size" as "Default." In the "Volume label" field enter whatever name you want the drive to have. Simple is better. Avoid using spaces. Lastly, if the drive is brand new and has never been used before check the "Perform a quick format" box. If the drive has been used before leave this box unchecked. Leave the "Enable file and folder compression" box unchecked and click next. Then on the next page click finish.
    
12. Step 9
    The wizard will now spend a little while formatting the drive. On old or large drives this may take a while. Do not close the "Computer Management" window until it finishes. You will know it is done when the word under the size of the drive changes from "Formatting" to "Healthy" and the name and drive letter you chose for the new drive show up. After it is finished you can proceed to use your newly formatted drive.
    

Formatting and Installing from the Windows XP CD

13. Step 1
    This section explains how to reformat a drive from the Windows XP installation CD. This can be used when installing a fresh copy of Windows onto a computer. Here it is especially important to backup all of your important information because upon formatting you will lose EVERYTHING that used to be on the drive. This includes all applications and device drivers, so you must back up everything you can.
    
14. Step 2
    Insert your Windows XP installation disc into your CD drive (Home or Pro--it does not matter).
    
15. Step 3
    Now as you computer boots a little more it will say "Press any key to boot from CD.." press a key to do so.
    
16. Step 4
    The CD will load up a blue screen and then spend a while loading files it needs. When it is finished it will list a few options, mainly "Press ENTER to set up Windows XP." Press Enter or Return.
    
17. Step 5
    Now you will be at a screen to select where to install Windows to. This is where you can delete old partitions and format drives. The box in the bottom half of the screen shows all your drives and the partitions that exist on them. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to highlight your "C:" partition and press the 'D' key (if all that shows up is "Unpartitioned space" and you have no C: or D: partitions, skip this step). On the next screen press the 'L' key to finalize deleting the partition.
    
18. Step 6
    Now you are back on the screen to choose where to install Windows. The box on the lower half of the screen should no longer show a partition but simply have an entry "Unpartitioned space xxxxxMB." Select this with the arrow keys and press the 'C' key to create a partition on the drive. The next screen tells you the minimum and maximum sizes the partition can be and lets you pick the size. The default size is the maximum, but double check that the number entered is the maximum and hit enter.
    
19. Step 7
    Now you will again be back at the choose where to install Windows screen. But this time you will have a partition that looks something like this "C: Partition1 [New (Raw)]xxxxxxMB." Highlight this entry and press enter.
    
20. Step 8
    The next screen lets you choose which file system to format the drive with. Choose NTFS as it is faster and more secure. If the drive is brand new and has never been used before then use one of the options that ends in "(Quick)." Or, choose one of the lower down options. Use the arrow keys to select the proper one and press Enter or Return.
    
21. Step 9
    From here you are all set and the installation of Windows will proceed starting with a format of your drive. This will take a while (over half an hour) so you can take a little break.
    

How to Open .Rar Files on a Mac

Rar is a file format that is used to compress computer files and make them smaller. .Rar files can be broken up into equally sized parts for archiving and they can also be password protected. To open a .rar on your MAC, you usually need special software.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mac running OS X 10.x
• .Rar files to open
• .Rar expander software

Expand the Files With Decompression Software

1. Step 1
   Learn about .rar files. .Rar files are popular with Windows users (the main .rar expander being WinRar), but you can also open .rar files on your Mac.
   
2. Step 2
   Use StuffIt Expander if your computer runs Mac OS X. This program is built in to the system. You can use StuffIt Expander to decompress .rar files on your Mac (see Resources below). StuffIt Expander also opens several other compressed file types.
   
3. Step 3
   Use a decompression tool such as UnrarX to open .rar files on a Mac (see Resources below). UnrarX is available for Mac OS X 10.0 and higher.
   
4. Step 4
   Download software such as RAR Expander, which supports Apple scripts and can also expand multiple archives at once (See Resources below).
   
5. Step 5
   Open .rar files on your Mac by dragging the files and then dropping them onto the icon for your expander software. The software will then decompress and open the files so you can use them.
   

How to Tune Up a Car

Your car should receive a tune-up (often referred to as a "major service") every two years or 30,000 miles, whichever comes first. During this tune-up your car will receive some new parts that will hopefully keep it out of the shop for a while. Here's what needs to be done.

• 

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fuel Filters
• Car Parts
• Spark Plugs
• Car Manuals
• Oil Filters
• Phillips-head Screwdriver Sets
• Distributor Caps
• Air Filters
• Spark Plug Gapping Tools

1. Step 1
   Replace the fuel filter. If you have a fuel-injection SYSTEM, regular cleaning isn't necessary unless the injectors are clogged.
   
2. Step 2
   Change the spark plugs (unless they're platinum, in which case you have 30,000 more miles to go). Also examine the spark plug wires and replace as needed. A new set of high-quality wires is worth the cost. They may be permanently attached to the distributor cap, so it will have to be changed as well.
   
3. Step 3
   Replace the distributor cap and rotor if your car has them (some newer models with distributorless ignition don't).
   
4. Step 4
   Change the points and condenser if you have an older car (roughly 1978 or older) that doesn't feature electronic ignition. You'll actually want your points changed, or at least adjusted, every six months or so (if they're changed, check the ignition timing as well).
   
5. Step 5
   Check the ignition timing and adjust as needed (rare for a car with electronic ignition--post-1980--and some cars don't allow this at all).
   
6. Step 6
   Adjust the valves as needed (unless your car has hydraulic valves). Be sure to replace the valve-cover gasket as well, especially if you see oil on top of your engine.
   
7. Step 7
   Check the belts. Replace if worn.
   
8. Step 8
   Check the fluids under the hood and replenish as necessary. Change the oil and oil filter if it's been 3,000 miles since the last oil change.
   
9. Step 9
   Replace the air filter, which should be changed between major services--every 15,000 miles--as well.
   
10. Step 10
    Adjust the clutch, if you have a manual transmission (although some cars now sport self-adjusting clutches).
    
11. Step 11
    Service the battery, adding distilled water (if required), cleaning terminals and cable ends.
    
12. Step 12
    Replace the PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) valve. It can make your car run rough or stall if it gets clogged, and it's cheap and easy to replace.
    

How to Install a Car Amplifier

To get the full effect of your car's audio system, you may want to install a car amplifier to power the speakers. Additionally, if you wish to use subwoofers you'll need an amplifier to power them. Installing a car audio amplifier yourself is a fairly simple task that will save you money on your car stereo system. This guide shows you how to install a car amplifier for either of the above purposes.

From Quick Guide: Car Amplifiers

• 
  
  
• 
  
  
• 
  

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wire Cutters and Pliers
• Car Manual
• O-ring Ends
• Car Audio Cables and Wires
• Sandpaper
• Utility Knife
• Masking Tape and Pen
• Wire Strippers
• Female Spade Connectors
• Screwdrivers
• Car Audio Amplifier

Preparation

1. Step 1
   Choose where to put your new amp. If you are installing subwoofers it's usually best to put the amplifier in the trunk next to or attached to your subwoofer enclosure. If you are going to power your main car speakers with the amplifier then it may be better to put the amp under the passenger's seat.
   
2. Step 2
   Purchase the following wiring for the amp: A thick power cable (the thickness required depends on the total wattage of your amp, ask a sales rep or consult your amplifier's manual for the proper gauge) that will have to reach from your battery to the amp (the power cable should also have an inline fuse to protect the amplifier); 3 feet of ground cable of equal thickness as the power cable; an RCA signal cable to carry the left and right signals from your head unit to the amp; a "remote on" wire which can be any thin wire (20 to 24 gauge) that will also run from the head unit to the amp; speaker wire (if you are powering subwoofers you should only need about 3 feet of 12-gauge wire per sub, if you're going to power your main speakers you will need enough 16-gauge wire to reach each speaker from the amp, 12 feet per speaker is usually safe).
   
3. Step 3
   Gather the following tools: Screwdrivers, wire cutters, wire strippers, pliers, a utility knife, sandpaper, masking tape with a pen for labeling, 2 crimp-on o-ring ends for the power and ground cables. If you're hooking the amp to your speakers, you'll also need 2 crimp-on female spade connectors for each speaker.
   
4. Step 4
   Find a manual with instructions on taking off the dash of your car (not the whole dash--just the head unit, in order to hook wires to the back), and also to get at your car's speakers if you are hooking the amp to them.
   

The Installation

5. Step 1
   Disconnect the ground (negative) cable from your battery. Never work on the electrical system of your car with this connected.
   
6. Step 2
   Attach the side with the fuse of the thick positive (+/red) power cable to the connector on the positive terminal of your battery; the o-ring can be sandwiched in the bolt on the connector that connects your car to the battery. Now put the fuse in the fuse holder.
   
7. Step 3
   Run the power cable through the firewall of your car (there is usually an opening on the driver's side) and to your amplifier. If your amp is in the back it is usually best to run this wire under the plastic molding that goes along the bottom edge of your car. Be careful where you run the wire because the power cables should never be near the signal or speaker wires.
   
8. Step 4
   Find a metal bolt or screw on the metal of your car near the amp to connect the ground cable to. This should be as close to the amp as possible, never more than 3 feet. Unscrew it and clean the metal surface with sandpaper. Attach the ground to it with the o-ring and screw it back down firmly.
   
9. Step 5
   Remove your head unit and run the signal and remote on wires from behind the head unit to your amp. Connect the RCA connectors and the remote on wire to the back of your head unit.
   
10. Step 6
    (If you are installing subwoofers and not running your normal speakers off the amplifier skip to step 7.) Run the 16-gauge wire from each one of your speakers to the amplifier. On the amp side use the masking tape to label each wire so you know which speaker it is. On the speaker end-strip a 1/4 inch off the ends of the wires and crimp on the female spade connectors with your pliers. Connect the spade connectors to your speakers making sure to match the positive (+/red or white) with the positive terminal and the negative (-/black) with the negative one.
    
11. Step 7
    Connect everything to your amplifier. Only strip off as much as you need off the end of each wire to make a solid connection, you don't want any exposed wire hanging out. If you have subs, attach them to the amp with the 12-gauge speaker wire.
    
12. Step 8
    Secure your amp to something. If it is in the back you can screw it directly to your subwoofer enclosure. If it is under a seat you may just want to get some straps that hold it down.
    
13. Step 9
    Reconnect your car's negative cable to the battery. Test your system and make sure everything works, going around to see that every speaker is on before you put everything back together.
    
14. Step 10
    Put everything back together.
    

How to Write a Formal Business Letter

The business-letter format is very important for communicating formally with a company. You shouldn't write in the same voice as when you write family or friends, a business letter needs to be more formal. These steps describe the full block format, in which all lines start at the left.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Envelopes
• Computers
• Printers
• Printer Paper
• Postage Stamps

1. Step 1
   Type the letter using a word processor. Formal letters should not be written by hand.
   
2. Step 2
   Use your own letterhead. If you don't have letterhead, use formal, 8 1/2-inch-by-11-inch stationery with a matching envelope. Avoid store-bought note cards.
   
3. Step 3
   If you don't have preprinted letterhead, type your name, title and return address four to six lines down from the top of the page.
   
4. Step 4
   Type the date two to six lines down from the letterhead or return address. Three lines below is the standard.
   
5. Step 5
   Choose your alignment: left aligned or justified on both sides.
   
6. Step 6
   Skip two lines and type the recipient's full name, business title and address, aligned at the left margin. Precede the name with Mr., Ms. or Dr. as appropriate.
   
7. Step 7
   Skip two to four lines and follow with your greeting, again using the formal name and closing with a colon "Dear Mr. Jones:" for example.
   
8. Step 8
   Skip two more lines and begin your letter. Introduce yourself in the first paragraph, if the recipient does not already know you. Examples: 'We recently met at a seminar at the Biltmore' or 'I recently purchased an insurance plan from your company.'
   
9. Step 9
   Continue with the body of the letter, stating your main purpose for writing. This may be to lodge a complaint, compliment the business on its products or services, or request information. Be as brief and concise as possible.
   
10. Step 10
    Skip two lines and conclude the letter with 'Sincerely,' 'Thank you' or 'Best wishes,' followed by a comma.
    
11. Step 11
    Leave at least four blank lines for your signature, then type your name and title. Sign the letter in ink in the space created.
    

How to Address a Cover Letter

is your first chance to make a good impression. That makes how you address it a very important part of that impression. When given a name to direct your resume to, the answer is simple. Unfortunately, it isn't always that easy and sometimes you will need to work a little harder to address your cover letter properly. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cover letter

Find Out the Correct Contact for Your Cover Letter

1. Step 1
   Check the website for the school or company you are applying to for a more detailed description for the application process. Often, a job board ad will not include a contact name, while a listing on the corporate website might.
   
2. Step 2
   Scour the website for the manager or the head of the department. With smaller companies, it'll be quite easy to figure out whom to address the letter to. In larger companies, you'll need to know which department you're applying to and who does the hiring.
   
3. Step 3
   Speak to the receptionist at the company or admissions office. The person who answers the phones can usually tell you exactly who is looking at your resumé. Don't forget to ask for the proper spelling while you're on the line.
   

Decide How to Address the Cover Letter

4. Step 1
   Use a person's name whenever possible, instead of "Hiring Manager." If your cover letter is addressed properly, there is a greater chance your information will be reviewed rather than filed away unread. The correct name also ensure your resumé doesn't end up on the wrong person's desk
   
5. Step 2
   Skip the gender agreement if you cannot tell immediately if you are writing to a male or female. Simply write the person's whole name, such as "Dear Pat Smith." If the contact's name were Joan Smith, then a Ms. Smith would be appropriate.
   
6. Step 3
   Address a group of individuals if you cannot find a direct contact. For a safe greeting, try "Dear Human Resources" or "Dear Selection Committee."
   
7. Step 4
   Avoid using the stodgy "To Whom It May Concern." This not only sounds incredibly formal, it is generally considered too generic. Likewise, "Dear Sir or Madam" is simply out of date.
   
8. Step 5
   Consider skipping a salutation all together. While this should be your last resort, it works well in more informal cover letters and when applying online or by email.
   

How to Write an Executive Summary

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Word-processing Software
• Printer Paper
• Computers
• Printers
• Thesauri
• Report Covers
• Dictionaries

1. Step 1
   Plan to create a summary each time you write a business report exceeding four pages. Write the summary after you write the main report, and make sure it is no more than 1/10 the length of the main report.
   
2. Step 2
   List the main points the summary will cover in the same order they appear in the main report
   
3. Step 3
   Write a simple declarative sentence for each of the main points.
   
4. Step 4
   Add supporting or explanatory sentences as needed, avoiding unnecessary technical material and jargon.
   
5. Step 5
   Read the summary slowly and critically, making sure it conveys your purpose, message and key recommendations. You want readers to be able to skim the summary without missing the point of the main report.
   
6. Step 6
   Check for errors of style, spelling, grammar and punctuation. Ask a fellow writer to proofread and edit the document.
   
7. Step 7
   Ask a nontechnical person - for example, your parents or your spouse - to read the document. If it confuses or bores them, the summary probably will have the same effect on other nontechnical readers.
   

How to Watch Movies on Nintendo Wii

The Nintendo Wii is an amazing game system. With killer graphics, absolutely insane games, and a controller that has broken the mold with it's capabilities to "swing" and "punch" during game play. But your Nintendo Wii can also play movies! Here's how to do it!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Step 1
   Download the movie to your PC. It should be noted that downloading movies, or "ripping" content from studios without paying for them through a legitimate site (like itunes.com) is a crime. You can be prosecuted and face a stiff fine and jail time. However, assuming you rightfully paying for the files, download them.
   
2. Step 2
   Convert into the correct format. In order for you to play movies on your Nintendo Wii, they must be in one of the following formats: DivX, Avi, MPG or MOV. (Some files may already be in these formats.) If not, download "Virtual Dub" (by searching in your favorite search engine). It's free and it will make sure your files are in the correct format.
   
3. Step 3
   Download Wii Video 9. This is the integral program which will serve as the program which actually plays the file on the Wii. It is free to download, and literally only takes minutes to open.
   
4. Step 4
   Purchase an SD Card. The bigger the card the better. But make sure it's at least 2GB. These can be found on ebay, or at Circuit City or Best Buy.
   
5. Step 5
   Insert SD Card. Place the SD card into your computer and save the video file (which should now be in the correct format) on the SD card.
   
6. Step 6
   Place SD card in your Nintendo Wii. Place the SD card in the wii. Then turn the setting to the "photo channel," use your controller to press play and sit back and enjoy your movie! Congratulations, you have just learned how to watch movies on your Nintendo Wii.