FNR

Updated: 02/07/2022 by Computer Hope
operating system reinstall

Short for format and restore, FNR is a term used by technicians to refer to proceeding with a format and restore of a computer system.

What does a format and restore do?

A format and restore erases everything from the computer's primary hard drive and then reinstalls the operating system, drivers, and other software that may have come with the computer. For example, OEM (original equipment manufacturer) computers (e.g., Dell or Hewlett-Packard) use a restore partition or restore disc to erase the hard drive and reinstall all software to make it like a new computer.

When should someone do a format and restore?

There are several reasons someone may want or need to do a format and restore. Below are some common reasons.

The computer has problems that cannot be fixed

One of the most common reasons someone may need to do a format and restore is a problem with the computer that cannot be fixed. For example, after troubleshooting a computer for several hours without success, it may be easier to fix the problem by doing a format and restore.

Selling computer

If you're selling or giving away the computer and want to make sure none of your information is erased, a format and restore is needed. By formatting and restoring the computer, all information is erased, and the computer is returned to like it was new.

Note

If you're concerned about confidential information, realize that an experienced user can recover data from a formatted hard drive. To make sure everything is erased, see: How to make sure all data is erased on a computer hard drive.

Removing malware or an infection

If a computer becomes infected with a virus or other malware, it can sometimes be difficult to remove all traces of the infection with 100% certainty. For some situations, it may be better to erase everything and start over with a format and restore to make sure the infection is gone.

The computer is full, messy, or slow

As software is installed over time, the computer can become increasingly full, in terms of storage space. Uninstalling software and doing other tricks to clean a hard drive can often help. However, sometimes it's faster to delete and reinstall everything, getting the computer back to how it was when it was new.

What if a format and restore doesn't fix the problem?

If a format and restore cannot complete or after doing a format and restore you continue to experience strange problems, there might be a hardware problem. Bad memory, failing hard drive, and overheating can cause random problems that can be difficult to diagnose and cannot be resolved by doing a format and restore.

Computer abbreviations, Hard drive terms, OSRI, Reinstall