Computer Help: Reformatting C:

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From:
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 03:26 AM

i just like to know what drivers do i need in order to format my windows 98. Do i need modem, hard disk, cdrom, sound, video and lan drivers. and how can i reformat my win98 i dont know the step ny step format of my reformatting tnx

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 09:08 PM

Turn off your computer. Put the first Win95 disk in the floppy drive and turn it back on. Follow the directions to install the operating system. Then reinstall all of your other software from the disks. And never format your drive for no particular reason. A boot disk wouldn't help with this if everything is gone.

SRS

Subject: REFORMATTING HELP!!
From: GUEST,Katie
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 08:46 PM

Ack! I reformatted my c: drive without thinking. more or less don't have a boot disc. I don't know how to fix anything! right nowany boot disc i have doesn't work... so I'm stuck in MS-DOS. My comptuer is a 95 (i did some uninstalling of xp before reformatting) and i have plenty of memory. still cant access my c drive


my email is [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Bernard
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 06:22 PM

Which version of Win98 is it? There are three main versions - the original release, Second Edition (Win98SE), and Millenium Edition (ME). plus all sorts of variations...!

It is quite likely that some of your hardware is too new to be recognised by Win98, and you may not be able to find drivers to make it work. There may also be BIOS issues...

Why not XP, anyway? I wouldn't go back to 98 - and I still keep a machine running 98 (and one running 95, too) for testing websites... but XP is much more stable - once you find where they've hidden everything!! ;o)

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: GUEST,Steve
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 07:12 AM

I reformatted the hard drive and istalled win 98 but now the graphics are really bad and sometimes the computer dosent boot up at all.
I tried to install an ethernet driver but i couldnt do it,maybe my cd rom drive is not working?
can anyone help?

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Bernard
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 05:07 PM

You need the correct driver for your graphics card. Do you know what card you have (even if it is an 'on-board' card built into the mainboard)?

Either use the driver disc that came with the card/mainboard, or find the correct driver on the web.

Usually the name of the graphics card pops up briefly when you switch the machine on - but it may flash by too fast to read, in which case you need to look at the chips themselves.

Email me if you need more specific help.

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 04:23 PM

thanks troupe, i did the reformat and installed windows 98 second edition, but the graphics on my computer are really terrible , i did all the window updates , and went in to the control panel and tried to adjust the pixles thinking maybe that would help but the slider does not move, and only 16 bit color is available,im not really sure where i went wrong here, hope u can help
      much thanks \   steve

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 02:18 AM

This revives a rather old thread, so some of the earlier stuff needs to be ignored perhaps.

Advice already given about making sure you have boot disk(s) and program reinstallation disks still apply.

Win95 and Win98 were not able to use hard drives over a certain size, because in the original "FAT" format they use only 16 bits to identify the location of the cluster where the data is written. There are a limited number of numbers you can write with only 16 bits available, so you can have only a limited number of clusters in use. If you set up a large disk with a single partition, the disk should work okay, but you can only use the first "n" clusters, and the rest of the disk is wasted.

Later versions of Win98SE can use FAT32 hard drive layout, which increases the size you can use on a drive since there are a lot more numbers available, with 32 bit word length, to label which cluster contains a given chunk of data. I haven't used Win95 for so long I don't remember, but I don't believe it is "FAT32 capable."

Some larger hard drives come with "overlay" drivers/controllers that allow larger drive sizes to be used without partitioning; but that's sort of another story.

Creating a new partition simply puts a "marker" on the disk that says "start a new disk here." The "marker" includes a new File Allocation Table (FAT), a backup copy of the FAT, and usually a "nearly empty" boot sector. The new FAT records where stuff is in the new partition.

The space up to the marker is your new C:\ (assumed, it could be your D:\, etc.) drive, and the space above it is your D:\ (or next available letter). You can have as many partitions as you want on a physical hard drive - up to where you run out of letters (at "Z") to identify them. Obviously, other kinds of drives may also use some of the the 24 letters available, after A:\ and B:\ are "reserved" for floppy (removable media) kinds of drives. (A:\ and B:\ shouldn't be used to identify hard drives - it confuses your BIOS.)

Each "partition" acts as if it is a separate hard drive, as far as your operating system is concerned. For clarity, call a partition "logical drive x" to distinguish it from "Physical Drive 1 containing logical drives C:\ thru N:\."

On "primitive" systems, or using the "primitive" (DOS) method, you run FDISK.EXE to set up the partition sizes. If you use the DOS version appropriate to your OS, it should offer choices of the drive layouts (FAT, FAT32, NTFS) the system the DOS version came from can use.

After you've set up the partitions, you need to FORMAT each of the partitions. This, of course, erases everything on the disk. The FORMAT operation puts a marker at the beginning of each cluster, numbers them in order, and marks them as "empty."

There are programs available, generically called Partition Managers, that allow you to create, remove, resize, or change type of partitions without harming existing data, as long as you have sufficient free space on the drive to handle the "bookkeeping" involved. "Partition Magic" is one that's been around for a while, and reports have been good on recent versions. There are several others that have been reviewed favorably. I haven't needed to use any of them, but others here appear to know them.

One of these programs would be helpful if you have a lot of stuff that you'd have to put back, and you can sometimes avoid reinstalling the system.

Note that although the Partition Managers all say they can move the partitions around without damaging data, the all also say BACK UP ANYTHING CRITICAL FIRST. If you get a Partition Manager for an immediate use, the backup is recommended until you get some experience with the program. Once they're more confident, many people don't bother (everybody needs a few thrills); but you do need to be sure that it stays on the road the way you drive it before you omit the step.

All of the above applies if the purpose for adding a partition is to add another OS. A difficulty sometimes arises that for some combinations of multi-OS installations, a particular one must be installed FIRST. The root folder/directory for each OS must be in a separate partition, and the OS files should usually all be in the "root" folder for the applicable OS. You will need some sort of "multi-boot manager," so you should consult documentation on the one you choose for how to reinstall and get both OSs to work. Others here with multi-boot systems will possibly advise.

A possible complication with WinXP already installed is that many machines with WinXP on will have the hard drive already converted to NTFS format. Your Win98 OS will NOT be able to read anything in that partition, so any "shared files" - including programs - will need to be reinstalled in a FAT32 (for Win98SE) partition, or possibly even a FAT (for Win95) partition.

Some of the Partition Managers do claim to be able to change an NTFS partition back to FAT32 without damaging anything. WinXP will run from a FAT32 partition, but it's not really the best setup for the OS.

John

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 08:09 PM

1) make sure you have saved any data from the disk first.

2) as a complete newbie you are likely to not understand most of this, but I'll start off anyway, you can ask questions.

You need a Win98 CD & 'Boot Disk' floppy - if you have a legal copy, you will have these - if you don't have a legal copy, I'm not going to help you, as I don't condone theft.

Put the boot floppy in the machine and sturn teh machine on, or do a reboot - push the button on the case that does that, or hit Ctl Alt Del together.

When the PC gives you a prompt, you can type 'format C:'.

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: GUEST,Steve
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 07:58 PM

I a computer newbie and was wondering if anyone can tell me how reformat a hard drive that has windows xp so i can put windows 98 on?

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: GUEST,Clark
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 07:53 PM

Actually I've still confuse with dividing the Hard disk into a Partitions. Can anybody help me how to dig it?
One more things, how to created a TweakUi to my computer using the windows Rigedit?

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 03 Jun 01 - 04:24 AM

Yes Jon, that was fingers getting ahead of brain. I had tried CA and that was what I meant to say. CA have turned up useless twice in the rebuild stakes. FIrst they produce nothing of any use on the integration of thier starter fax with Outlook when it was written specially for that purpose. Second, they have ben offering a free antivirus programme called InoculateIt (and my McAfee which worked just fine was eaten in the crash and was a legacy updated by the use of free updates from a very old disk so that the restore path in no longer available) and I was never able successfully to downoad it with or without Download accelerator and GoZilla.

The Outlook fault of crashing if left to idle is still present too.

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 08:44 PM

Amos, I am not a fan of MS but however good the Mac and their operating systems are, I see myself sticking with PCs and Windows for the foreseable future. The availibilty of software and the ability to choose from more hardware, I think, makes them the more practical solution for many users.

OS wise, I'm still wishing that Linux would get it's act together but it seems to me that those developing it are more interested in upgreading to release 3.4.5.1.b or whatever and writing on that than considering trying to make it into something suitable for the average user... Guess thats what happens when something is developed by "nerds" who have the programming skills but not the hard sell skills or the interest in making something at least appear to be user friendly of my mate Bill...

Jon

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Amergin
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 03:38 PM

Yeah that's what I hear Amos....in fact I hear OS X is almost like a gift of the gods....because it is so stable....+

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 02:43 PM

Richard, if you mean Cheyene Bitware, it was made by Computer Assosciates (another Anti-virus company) not Symantic. You might want to try searching their site.

Jon

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Amos
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 02:20 PM

What Tsuris!!! It's a lot easier to manage all this from a PPC/Mac 9.1 interface. Why not sell all that junk and buy yourself a real computer?

A

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 02:12 PM

Yes, it probably was a registry issue. And for the curious, after 7 format Cs the manufacturer's support decided it was cheaper to take my computer back and fix it themselves (it was on a 3 year support contract)than to have me on the 'phone for hours at a time. But they would not lend me a computer so I had to buy a new processor box - 700 Mhz Duron with 64k memory and a CD reader and a floppy, internal 56k voicemodem, and a 20 gig hard drive, all for GBP 320 (new).

Now I have WIn 98, Office 2000, and all sorts of goodies but it still isn't right. the .pab's wouldnt go back into addressbook, the .psts wouldn't go back as old emails, I have given up getting Bitware to answer the phone adn there is no support fot version 3.30 on the Symantec site nor anything useful at Microsnot. In WIn 95 with office 97 faxes would open in Outlook perfectly but now although I can send via Symantex Fax Starter Edition I cannot receive through it, and if I leave Outlook to idle it "commits an illegal act".

But it sort of works. And GoZilla and Download Accelerator both impress.

When I get the old one back I'm going to install Win 98, transfer what I need over, then format C this one again, and then network them. I think! I already had to format this one once after the two modems for the two 'phone lines disagreed, but oddly I now seem to have two Windows folders, one called Windows and one called Windows 001 - but the first one must have been totally erased on t he format, mustn't it?

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Amergin
Date: 20 May 01 - 05:27 PM

Hmmmm....Richard.....that OE thing might have been a registry issue....

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Penny S.
Date: 20 May 01 - 05:00 PM

I've just done it, too. And spent ages reinstalling all the software, etc. It may seem obvious, but make a temporary note of all your passwords, usernames, contacts etc, and back-up anything that my be lurking somewhere else than My Documents. The first time I did it I was son concerned about it that I forgot things like that.

penny

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 May 01 - 12:21 PM

I'm about to format C.

Wish me well.

When I'm back I will of course reset my cookie and then tell you how it went.

The problem was so bad that the manufacturers' support could not delete the windows directory from DOS.

The consequence is that I was unable to get email for a week and then my emergency email from freeserve went too. About 30 k would download and then outlook would freeze. The three fingered salute then produced a diagnostic that mapisp 32 was not responding, and sometimes ImnXportRasConnect as well.

I have deleted Norton, and I have deleted Office and reinstalled.

I have installed windows over the top and it faults at

SU99407

ADDReg = processing error

(0x197)

and then it throws me back to the C prompt.

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Bernard
Date: 17 Sep 00 - 01:14 PM

Even at those prices a re-writer isn't worth the extra.

Rumour has it that re-writables aren't too reliable for backup purposes - they're fine for development purposes, though.

Back to the plot - Ed, are you sorted?! We seem to have gone off at a tangent!

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Escamillo
Date: 17 Sep 00 - 10:28 AM

Yes, I got a CD burner or writer, but here in Buenos Aires a GoldStar 8x32x costed me $ 320.00 . Each good CD (Hewlett Packard) $ 1.50 with plastic case.

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Bernard
Date: 17 Sep 00 - 10:06 AM

Funny you should bring that up, Escamillo! All my hard drives (I have three machines, with two in each) are in drive caddies, and I have at least a dozen or so other drives I can swap in and out.

One machine is mainly for sound work, one is my CD writer, and the other is this one - the internet machine!

Have you considered writable CDRoms? A CD writer is about the same price as an HDD, and these days I'm paying about 35p (UK) which I think is less than 50c (?) per CD.

I use mine to back up graphics files and other space wasting data files. BTW, does anyone know how to produce a bootable CD?

I know cheap CD's get bad press for reliability, but I've found that if they write correctly in the first place, by looking after them carefully, they are reliable enough. The coating which is the disk surface is usually somewhat brittle, so be careful not to use sticky labels - the surface just pulls off! I use white board marker pens!

Is this thread creep...?

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Escamillo
Date: 16 Sep 00 - 11:28 PM

One thing that amazes me is that a simple and inexpensive device is ignored by 99% of the users: a small 5 1/4" box that is mounted in its bay, and allocates a container for a typical 3 1/2" hard disk. I have two of them installed in my PC, and there are 5 hard disks in the house, and some in my customer's offices. When I want to boot another drive, it is a matter of dismounting the main drive (pulling a small handle) and mounting the other. If the drives are different in size or cylinders, I go to the C-MOS setup and "automatically detect hard drives" each time I boot a different disk. Massive copies or backups are a snap too. It is absurd that we have to open the cabinet and mess around cables to change the main drive. The devices I got costed me 20.-, but in USA you may get a set for 10.- or less.

Un abrazo - Andrés

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Escamillo
Date: 16 Sep 00 - 11:01 PM

After three years it is very probable that your hard disk is too small. This would be a good opportunity to buy a new one. I guess for 100 or 120 dollars the boys in the corner will sell you a 10 Gb disk, AND install your Win95 on it for no charge (provided you give them all the original diskettes or CDs that came along with your video card, CD Rom, modem and sound card). Once you have the new HD running, you may reformat your old disk happily with no work-hour on your part.

Another condition: that the boys in the corner are trusty.

Un abrazo - Andrés

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Bernard
Date: 16 Sep 00 - 05:17 PM

Exactly what I was going to suggest. For the price of a hard drive there is no point in burning your bridges.

Word of warning, though, don't install your old drive as the slave until AFTER you've installed Windows, or problems can occur.

I reformat drives for Win95 (this applies to new drives, too) by using a specially prepared floppy:

Format a floppy with system files included. Add the files FDISK.EXE, FORMAT.COM, HIMEM.SYS, MSCDEX.EXE, and a driver file for your CDRom drive - usually available from the manufacturer's bulletin board.

In case of difficulty, email me via the 'clicky' and I'll send you a 'universal' driver which usually works.

You then need to make a config.sys file:

device=himem.sys device=(driver name).sys /d:MSCD0000

and an autoexec.bat file:

mscdex.exe /d:MSCD0000

These must be on the floppy to allow the CDRom to be accessed, and himem.sys is necessary because Win95 setup needs to run scandisk, which won't work without himem installed.

For Win98, you really need the floppy which is normally shipped with the Win98 CDRom. There are files on it required by Win98 setup, but you may well be able to download it from the Microshaft (oops! SOFT!) website.

At worst, I could email the vital files to you. If you've got a genuine copy of the CDRom, you are entitled to the files.

email clicky

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: oggie
Date: 16 Sep 00 - 02:46 PM

How big is your hard drive? On my old machine I opted out when I realised that even cleaned up it was not really big enough for the size of modern programs. Hard disks are relatively cheap so I bought a new one, moved the old one to become G drive and started afresh. Means I can still access stuff and I avoided a lot of nightmares.

All the best

Steve

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: domenico
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 05:32 PM

WARNING!!! WARNING!!!!!

In case you hadn't noticed it yet, while the Windows 98 Boot disk DOES include FDISK.EXE, it does NOT by default have FORMAT.COM. I have made some Uber-Boot disks that include everything but the kitchen sink, and am happy to share them with you, if you'd like. I use a utility known as DskImg (or DiskImage), and that plus the Uberboot image comes to 814kb zipped up.

The boot disk will contain: Autoexec.bat,Config.sys, Io.sys, Msdos.sys, Command.com, Himem.sys

SCSI Drivers: Aspi2dos.sys, Aspi4dos.sys, Aspi8dos.sys, Aspi8u2.sys, AspciCD.sys

CD Drivers: Atapimgr.sys, BtCDRom.sys, BtDOSm.sys, FindCD.exe, Flashpt.sys, Oakcdrom.sys, Sr_Aspi.sys, MsCDEX.exe

Utilities: Attrib.exe, Delpart.exe, Deltree.exe, Edit.com, Extract.exe, Fdisk.exe, Format.com, Move.exe, Scandisk.exe, Scandisk.ini, Sys.com, Xcopy.exe, Xcopy32.exe

With this boot disk, you can do damn near anything to a system that does not have a functioning copy of windows. My own advice would be don't bother blowing away the partition, and probabyl not even format it, but blow away everything you can from within Windows (assuming you've backed up what you want), then blow away the Windows directory, and then reinstall Windows. And as someone above advised, make sure you have full functionalility with your boot disk before you do anything detrimental.

If you want the boot disk, fire me a PM and give me your email address.

Domenico

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 05:16 PM

It is a long while since I tried a clean up program. When I decide the time has come for a fresh start, I want it perfectly fresh and therefore use the format method.

Jon

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: MMario
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 05:02 PM

I use "regClean" and "EasyCleaner" on a regular basis on (with the other members of my company) 11,000 plus computers and have never had either of them mess up a registry...

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: MK
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 04:58 PM

Well you're partially right Clinton...but...all of the "sweeper" programs have various short comings some of which involve removing DLL files that other non related programs might need, or, not removing registry keys, or other things that can get out of whack.

If you are not intimidated about doing a reformat and fresh install of the operating system and all other necessary programs, it is good recommended house-cleaning, and generally should be done once a year. Keeps everything running smoother. As well you should religiously get into the habit of running Scandisk and Disk Defragmenter on a weekly basis, to keep the seek and access times on your hard drive at its peak.

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: MMario
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 04:56 PM

ha-ha. I *do* know a fix for that....but will not post it publicly...

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 04:31 PM

Good Luck Ed. Whatever you do, make sure that your boot floppy is working and allowing you to access the CD before you reformat.

Many manufacturers provide downloads of driver files. It maybe a good idea to check what drivers you have and locate and download any missing ones before you start.

What Windows 95 CD do you have? The upgrade version requires proof that you are performing a genuine upgrade. You may need to locate disk 1 from a Windows 3.1 installation set to provide this proof.

Jon

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 04:25 PM

I'd like to throw my shoulder to the wheel here and also recomend that you try a "Clean Sweep" program rather than formatting your hard drive... It's not really necessary unless you've suffered a catastrophic failure somewhere along the way...

QuarterDecks, "Clean Sweep" Or FixIt 2000 are both good programs that allow you to clean up your hard drive, your regestry ect ect...

{~`

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 04:10 PM

Good Luck!!!
I've only done '98 format (several times) until the supplier realised that we had a faulty Hard Drive to start with. I did not understand the instructions given either. When I did ours there was someone at the end of the phone saying do this...there should be a screen saying...
It did seem pretty easy though, and the 'do you really want to?' screens are very scary.
I have just remembered that I can get in touch with someone who seems to know about win95.Emailing Now........

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: MMario
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 03:57 PM

Ed - a win98 boot disk will NOT allow you to install win95, though it will allow you to use your CD drive; (maybe) depending on the model of the CD you have.

you will need the dos drivers for your computer CD, MSCDEX.exe, a config file and autoexec.bat on the floppy (they will have to be manually contructed, PLUS you will need to manually copy fdisk and format to the bootable diskette....

NOT trying to scare you here, but I've spent too many hours reconstructing computers to go about it lightly...

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Ed Pellow
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 03:48 PM

Ivan,

I've heard that only the Win 98 start up disk has CD support.

I've been told to make a boot disk from a 98 machine, and then use that in my 95 system, but I'm not convinced.

Michael K,

Good to see you back! Some of what you say is a bit beyond me, but I'm very glad to see you back (if you ever use small text again, I'd be more pleased than annoyed.

Ed

Anyone with suggestings on the main question, gratefully listened to

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: MK
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 03:45 PM

Ivan's right. The instructions I wrote assume you are using Windows 98. If it's Win95, you will need to make sure you have not only the DOS drivers for your CD-ROM but also a copy of MSCDEX.EXE.

Also, once you've booted, to find the drive letter that is now your CD-Rom, just try different letters by typing in D: and hit enter or E: or F: and hit enter. To view the contents of the drive type dir/p. When you find the contents of the Windows CD displayed you'll know you have the right CD-ROM drive. Then just type SETUP and hit enter...remembering to change the boot drive back to drive C.

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: MMario
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 03:41 PM

Ed - with a three year old computer, chances are you don't have the bells and whistles that will make this easy. You might want to look into a program such as "EASY CLEANER" which will remove all duplicate files, and clean all invalid entries out of your registry. Believe me, if you don't have the correct drivers, reformatting your drive can be a major pain in the tookus

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: IvanB
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 03:36 PM

Ed, I'm using Win98, so I don't know if this will help you. When I click on Settings, then Control Panel, then Add/Remove Programs, the dialog box I get has a 'Startup Disc' tab at the upper right. Clicking on that tab gives me a dialog for creating a startup diskette, which includes CD-ROM support. I don't remember if this was the case for Win95 or not. Even if it gives you the startup disc option, you'll want to make sure the resulting diskette has the CD-ROM drivers on it, along with the commands in autoexec.bat and/or config.sys to load them. I suggest you check it out and if not true, wait until someone familiar with Win95 weighs in. You're right, though that you will need a floppy startup disc with CD-ROM drivers in order to reinstall Windows.

Subject: RE: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: MK
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 03:30 PM

Make sure you have all critical files you will need to restore later, backed up. Then, if you've not already done so, make a Windows start-up disk.

Reboot your computer and hit the DEL button, which will take you into your computer's bios. In the section of the bios pertaining to BOOT or BOOT UP options, change it so that the computer boots from drive A (your floppy), save the changes and exit the bios. The boot process will contrinue and make sure you have the Windows start-up boot disk inserted in the floppy.

Continue to boot, choose the option when presented on screen, with boot WITH CD-ROM support. (Very important!!!) From your A drive (floppy) type format c:. And say YES, after it tells you everything will be deleted. Sit back and watch it reformat your hardrive. (If your not already using Fat32, you convert the drive to Fat32 once you've reinstalled Windows, or you can do it before the reformat, by typing FDISK and "enabling large disk support". Probably easier for you to do it once in Windows. (Fat32 allows hardrives larger than 2 gigs, to maintain just one large partition for the entire hardrive, instead of making additional partitions. Most people like it.)

Once the reformatting is done, insert your Windows CD, and go to the corresponding drive letter assigned when the startup disk ran. (It is usually drive E: because windows makes a temporary ram drive on D: -which your CD-ROM should revert back to once Windows is reinstalled.)

Once Windows starts installing and goes to do it first rebooting of your system, hit DEL again at bootup, and in the bios change the Boot-up options to your Hardrive (C:) instead of the floppy. The Windows installation process will then continue.

One important thing. Before you reformat, go into Network Neighbourhood properties, and write down all your TCP/IP properties (ie: DNS configuration, Bindings, etc.) so that you will easily be able to restore your net connections, just in case your ISP start up disk doesn't make the changes automatically. As well remember to back up your email addresses and enail filter file, if used. Good luck.

Subject: Computer Help: Reformatting C:
From: Ed Pellow
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 03:10 PM

WARNING ALL DATA ON NON_REMOVABLE DISK DRIVE C: WILL BE LOST! Proceed with Format (Y/N)?

I've had my current computer for almost 3 years, and it's full of junk: programs installed/uninstalled from cover discs, useless internet downloads, 30 day trials, useless fonts, clipart etc, etc. Basically, I have a hard drive and Registry full of rubbish.

I think it's about time that I did the ultimate spring clean, but I approach it with some trepidation.

The amount of data that I need to keep is quite small, and I can use floppys and/or one of the online storage services to keep everything I really need. I also have access to CDs for all the software that I want to reinstall. Reconfiguring all my drivers etc will be a huge pain but something I think I can deal with.

My main worry is what happens when I say 'yes' to formatting 'C:'

I assume I'll need a boot disk of some description, and some sort of driver for my CD drive. I'm using Windows '95.

Any advice much appreciated, as the moment I press Y to reformat fills me with potential dread.

Many thanks

Ed