How do I fix it???

[Karenluvs6]

I got my puter about two years ago....when I bought it, I had never used one before, so everything was totally new to me.
When I first got it, I was downloading everything!!!
wavs, mpeg, mov, avi....etc...everything! I have installed and uninstalled tons and tons of junk....I have deleted tons of stuff....in the beginning I was deleting without uninstalling certain stuff. At first, I even deleted stuff without knowing what it was, and now I am missing files for a bunch of stuff...Well, basically what I am getting at is, I want to know if it is possible to start all over with it...like wipe out the entire thing and then start over from scratch. And if so, how do I go about doing that?
any input would be appreciated

[blinc]

{toothy} It has something to do with discs I think. Sure, glad to help Karen! hee hee

[kezzer]

I have a gateway and it came with a recovery disk. Any time I mess it up I put the disk in and it reformats the hard drive and then reinstall everything that came with it, Like windows and all the microsoft stuff. That's teh only way I know how to do it.

[RoadRunner]

If Windows is operating OK, I would just reinstall the programs that are messed up. That way you won't wipe out all of your data.

[dreuby]

If you really wnat to, you can re-format and re-install Windows, but you'd need to back up all your data, and any programs that you've downloaded and haven't got installation disks for, and don't forget (like I did!) your bookmarks / favourites.

I've just had to install a new hard drive, so I was amazed how quickly everything loaded - it's taking longer now I've started re-installing all those little progs that I "can't do without"!