format c: and re-install Win98.

[Guest_imported]

Hello all!!

I would like to clean up my Win 98 PC. I need to format it and re-install the Operating system. I have Microsoft Win98 CD-ROM and Universal boot disk. I am a beginner in this field and would like to know this process. Is there any site on the web that can give step-by-step instructions to this process? Well, I just want to make it a success with no further complications. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!

 

[MIScoord]

The first thing you need to do is back up any data you have on your hard drive. I'm assuming that if you're ready to format, you've done that.

Second, I wouldn't trust a universal boot disk, since you are going to need the specific driver for your CD-ROM drive to be on the disk in order to make it work. I'd put a fresh, clean disk in the A: drive, click on add/remove programs in the control panel, go to the statup disk tab and click on create disk. This will ensure that the disk will operate your CD drive. Then reboot the system with the start up disk still in. It will ask you if you want to start with CD-ROM support. Say yes.

If your hard disk is partitioned, you will want wipe out all the partitions. Type "fdisk" at a command prompt and follow the instructions.

Then at a command prompt type:

format c: /s

You will then be asked if you are sure. Type "y."

After the drive finishes formatting, you'll want to switch to the CD drive. In windows, that's usually d. However, once you reformat, it will be e:, so at the command prompt type:

e:

which will switch you over to the e: drive

then with the Windows 98 CD in the drive type:

setup.exe

from there you just follow the instructions of the Windows setup program. The whole procress, if there are no problems, should take less than an hour.

Hope this helps

 

[Guest_imported]

Hey Thanks a lot..

I made up the create disk. I am trying to reboot the system but it won't give me a message that says "Do you want to start with CD rom support"? . After a while Win98 comes up. I don't understand how it boots with the help of floppy. I mean, even with the floppy in the computer at the time of booting, Win98 comes up successfully.

 

[MIScoord]

I assumed that your boot sequence was set to the default, which is A:,C:,CD-ROM. What you'll want to do is restart the machine and watch when it first starts up. You'll probably see a black screen that starts to give the bios information and run through the bios. It will probably say something like "to enter setup press F4." It could also say F10 or F8 or something else, depending on the bios of your computer. You'll have to be quick, because you'll have to press this before the computer starts to load Windows and you get the splash screen. I usually press it over and over and over.

This will take you into the bios of your computer. Every bios is different, so you'll want to look for something like "general settings" or "boot settings." Regardless, what you want to do is find some way to change the boot sequence so that the A: drive is first. That way, it will start from your boot disk instead of going straight to the C: drive. After you make the change, you'll want to save your changes to the bios and exit. Then the computer will start the boot cycle again and you should boot from the floppy.

Hope this helps.