If I slick a hard drive and then try to use the "restor

[808smokey]

Hi,

I need to reformat a windows me hard drive and reinstall the OS. But I'm afraid I won't be able to use the key on the case with the bundled WinOS if I do a FULL format. I know there's a "hidden" file that makes it only work on that board it came with. I only ask because I can't remember how to reformat a bundled OS computer with restore CD's. i don't have a retail version of WinME so I have to use the restore ones that came with the comptuer. It's going into the exact same computer with the exact same hardware. I just want to reformat the HD because of all the viruses it has on it. It needs to be wiped bad. It won't work after a "restore" for more than a few days and everything runs real slllllllllloooooooooooowwwwwwwww.


Thanks for your help

[bazooka]

A restore should work; however, I recommend dumping M.E.

[Scottie]

I Also recommend not using ME

[808smokey]

personally i hate ME

But it's not my computer, i tried to convince them either to get win2k or get xp, they prefer ME for some reason. WHen I do a restore it doesn't reformat. That's really what I would like to do but I've seen many "restore" cd's not work after doing this, saying something like this is not the computer that came with this CD.