How do I install Windows 95 if my boot disk doesn't work?

[TyroneOwen]

I'm trying to install Windows 95 on an old Gateway machine that I've been running NT 4.0 on. When I use the NT boot disks everything works fine, the moment I use a 95 boot disk it all goes wrong. The floppy disk starts to be read but then stops and the system freezes, I can't even ctrl+alt+del. I've tried a number of different boot disks and I've even tied just installing DOS 6.2 but I get the same symptoms. Can anyone help please?

 

[csdb1]

First, ensure that the windows boot disk is okay by booting up another system.
However, I believe you main problem is that the Gateway now has an NTFS file system on the hard drive. You will need a special utility (special FDISK) to remove the NTFS and re-partition the hard drive to put a DOS OS on the hard drive. I believe the NT utility is DELPART. Which can be downloaded from:

http://hercules.lss.ksu.edu/download/MSSTUFF/

After, you remove the NTFS you can then run a standard FDISK to re-install the DOS OS (Windows 95/Windows 98).

 

[TyroneOwen]

Thanks for responding. I've downloaded the software you recommended, now how do I use it? While booted into NT? I'll give you more info. on my problem just in case that helps, as follows:

While booting up the normal memory count takes place then the following messages appear:

Keyboard detected
Mouse detected

Hard Disk 0 Installed ST320413A
ATAPI Device Installed FX140S

Floppy A: Installed

This is where the process halts if I use a windows 95 boot disk. If I use an NT boot disk the setup will continue. I've tried using the DELPART floppy to boot also but it stalls in the same place.