Whats the best way to reformat a computer?

Question

a_clan · Answer

using an OS installation CD

anonymous · Answer

With a hammer.

anonymous · Answer

Why reformat? To erase the data you would need to rewrite over every bit several times, then reformat. Or maybe you just wanna quick format the drive and re-install. Using a live CD is probably your best bet, but if you want to destroy all the information on a drive, either use the "quick format" (hammer), or the "super, mega long format" and use software to write over every bit several times.

anonymous · Answer

Notions of "best" are subjective.  It depends on what you are going for.  Having said that, I usually start installing Linux, abort midway through and then install another over OS over the partial installation.  The other OS will need to reformat the disk.  (If I want to install Linux, I let the installation finish.)