Reformating. Plz help

[Jordan#1]

Ok, i have Windows 98SE and i want to reformat and put Win ME on. I have the win ME installation CD. Could u plz tell me all steps that i need to do to clear out (uninstall 98SE)and install Windows ME?. Is there anything that I can do to clear out the hard drive and freshly install Win ME? I was wondering if Dos acctaully has a comand that tells the computer to clear out everything.

I would love it if someone was to write down the steps for me. I would really appreciate it!


For your info: The Computer specs are:

Cyrix MII 300 (233 Mhz), 192 MB Ram. Fugitsu 4.3GB, 4200 rpm hard drive.

Please help.

[rextex]

You just make a Windows Startup Disk.And Then Format.
Go to start,settings,control panel,add/remove programs,Startup Disk,Create disk.You'll need a 1.44MB floppy disk.
Then when its made put the disk in and reboot.
Select command prompt with CD support.
After the Cd Driver loads and all is done at the prompt type:

A:

(you should then see A: prompt displaying - which means you are at the A: drive)
then type this to format:

format C: /s /u

(Leave the spaces in)
It will format.
After you are done, to Install Me;type
E:
(This changes to the Drive letter i.e. change to the CD drive,usually it gets moved to E: but if you need to check it just use the dos command:
Dir /p/ogen
This will give you a list of files on whatever drive you're looking at alphabetically first by folder.If you see Winme you are there.)
then;

Setup


That's it.
Note that you should be sure you have copies of your motherboard and video hardware drivers for both Winme and Win98 preserved on disk before you do this.And modem and anything else.

[buffguns]

That was a great explanation. Just beware of ME.......There are new drivers all over the place, and some of the 98/98SE drivers will not work with ME. Before you do all of this, download all the new ME drivers to a CD/Zip drive where they'll be safe, and then have fun.

[Shinta]

doesnt he have to fdisk? T_T

[madfish]

no, a format is fine.

Madfish

[userserver]

FIRST
Make sure you have the boot order in BIOS set to CDROM, Floppy, Hard Drive. Put the win98 or winMe CD in the drive and make sure you can boot to the CD. Remove the CD and reboot.

NEXT
If you already have a Win98 Startup Disk place it in the floppy drive. If you don't have one put a blank floppy in the drive and go to the Add/Remove Programs applet in the control panel. Click on the Startup Disk tab, and then click Create Disk. Leave the startup disk in the drive and reboot.

NEXT
The system should boot to the floppy. Select either of the first two options. Once you get to the A:> prompt, type FORMAT C: /C/U, then press <Enter>. The hard drive will format unconditionally and attempt to recover any bad sectors that might have been marked previously. When that finishes, you will be offered the opportunity to select a volume label. Just hit <Enter>.

LAST
When you get back to the prompt, remove the floppy, put the Windows Me CD in the drive, shut your computer off for 30 secs and turn it back on. Let it boot to the CD and you will get the menu that lets you start the installation.

Print out these instructions, follow them, and life will be good.

[Jordan#1]

hey Rextex! Thanks so much for your helpful input. One thing I ran into stopped me from going any further. Here's the problem. I put a blank floppy into the drive to make it a startup disk and tried to create it but a window popped up saying to "please insert windows 98 SE disk". I guess the computer needs files from that disk to put on the floppy. Problem is my friend has the disk cause its his. so then I stuck the WIN ME CD in by itself & rebooted. got to A: symbol like you said. I typed in the format C: /s /u and the computer said.....bad command. I put the letters together and even changed the order and it still said "bad command".

If I had the startup disk, would it have worked or is it something else?
What do I do now???????

[rextex]

Stop where you're at for now!Don't format!

[rextex]

Sorry, I thought you had the disk.Don't format!You need the cd driver on the start disk or you won't be able to get the CDrom working.
Now you need some help.
Look while I (and anyone else like userserver; who is very expert by the way) work on this just keep Win98 on there for now.

--O.K. try this: Go back into Windows and try to make the startup disk again.When it asks put the WinMe disk in.I doubt it'll work but it may.

[Jordan#1]

Rextex. Don't worry. I didn't go any furthur than that. (Can't anyways)


I think I already tried the ME disk and it didn't work like you thought. My friend who last formated the hard drive and put on windows 98 SE on it, saved a Win98 file that was very big under C drive. Lots of cad files. He said that would save me from needing the disk when formating again in the future. Now, could that big file be used to help make that startup disk????? If so what files do I copy to the blank floppy?


Jordan. Thank you for you patience.

[rextex]

No don't mess with fdisk!It is for partitioning.It will nuke your drive and you'll be stuck!Just hold on a few!

What is the disk you are using?Does it have a list of files on it?Go back into Windows.Look at it.

[rextex]

Can you download?If so go to this link:
http://www.drd.dyndns.org/index2.html
Select the Win98 or Me bootdisk and download.

[userserver]

Originally posted by rextex
...What is the disk you are using?Does it have a list of files on it?Go back into Windows.Look at it.

I'm betting it is a startup disk. He probably clicked on something by accident in the add/remove window.....

[Jordan#1]

Does it matter which boot disk I use ME or 98SE. I could save both to the same floppy.

[rextex]

Userserver you wouldn't happen to know an easy extract method for the obtaining the disk would you?
I think I'd recommend just installing Me over or alongside 98 at this point.
Jordan#1 you might be better off because we don't want to get you stuck.

Here's something that might be wise.
Go in Windows and browse the ME disk.Now copy the ME folder to your C: drive.
This way you have a copy of the essential Part of the disk on your drive.

[rextex]

No just do one.
Oh cool Hey try the 98se.It is self extracting.
Hold on I'm trying it to make sure it works.

[Jordan#1]

I pulled out 2 floppies and picked the red disk picture for ME boot and 98SE boot. I read on that webpage that these are not DOS based or something like that? Anyways I have two floppies: 1 with ME and 98SE on the other. Do I have to extract these first in the floppy or can I just use it now to format??

If I extract it onto the other computer (the one I'm formatting) what file should it go into?

[userserver]

Thinking back, I bet that Jordan misrepresented to you the message on his screen while attempting to create the win98 startup disk.

"please insert windows 98 SE disk" was probably "please insert disk labeled windows 98 SE startup"

Windows should never need the CD to create startup disks.

[rextex]

Yes the win98se disk is good from them.I even booted my Win95 machine with it.
You'll want to start with it and then select start with CDrom support.:)

Copy the file to a folder on C: call it Jdisk or something.Just go back into Windows and do it.
Then you click the icon.
Put in a disk.
Then program is all set and creates the disk for you.
Make one of each if you like or just use one.
I checked the Win98se one and it works.So maybe use that for now.Or whatever.The other one is probaly good.

--P.S. Oh well userserver..Did your hear that jordan#1.It doesn't matter at this point.I found a good site for future reference.The disk I tested is identical to and is in fact a Win98se boot disk.
I'm glad I found that site!Comes in handy.

[Jordan#1]

Rex! Do I put both in at the same time (floppy and disc?) and then start machine? or just floppy on its own. So I don't have to extract the 98SE boot to the TEMP folder. Just use it the way I downloaded it?

[rextex]

No go into Windows and do it.The download file has to be run from Windows.Like I said just copy that file to a file Temp or whatever.Then click the icon.Then it'll start / put a floppy in and it'll make the disk.
That disk is now a Win startup disk.You boot with it in.It loads like its own little hard drive.That is the disk you'll use to format.
Then you can install Me as per the first instructions.

[rextex]

Look, are you sure you want to do this now?
I've got to ask you: Do you have your Motherboard and Video drivers on disk?Because you will need them.

--Edit(LOL:D ).. I hope you know what you're getting into.

What you might want to do is get Partition Magic or another program that can partion your disk as now without removing Win98.Then you could install Me as a dual boot in case anything goes wrong.

Do you have CDRW burner?

[Jordan#1]

I have my sound and video drivers. I think Thats all I need
As of now . Files are being copied to the floppy to make the boot disk. I'll use the disk in a bit to format. Just to let you know. I never went to creat start up disk in the add/remove programs cause That never worked. BRB in a few min.


I have a CDRW burner in both computers.

[userserver]

Well, Rextex, you got it Toyota. Looks like a long night ahead of you.... :)

[rextex]

You need your Motherboard drivers unless you have a really old board.
If you know the model go the makers website and download them.
If you know anything else about your system post it.
If you want to run aprogram that'll make a quick check of your board and bios go to:
http://www.motherboards.org/moboidtools.html
Download the ctbios program and run it (you'll need Winzip or some other extract tool).

--p.s.(hehe;) userserver!)I just help out here - I'm cutting out soon Jordan#1 - I've got to crash out !
I hope you take a little time to prepare.Now if you have a second computer to use O.K. go for it.But if not remember: You'll lose the Internet if something goes wrong!

[Jordan#1]

last post for me tonight. I put that boot disk in that was done. got to the A: part. typed in the format C: /s /u and even tried format: /c /u. Neither work. it says bad command or file name. Dam.


Talk to you soon.

[rextex]

Right on.Sorry!Look the command is format C: just switch to C: and try it.If it doesn't work then "format.com" isn't on the disk.
Copy it from C:\windows\command to the disk.Sorry I just didn't think of checking that.


--Well I checked.The ebd.cab contains it.That should extract during the boot.Try it from C: or D:



Goodnight Dude.:)

[userserver]

FORMAT C: /C/U


FORMAT<space>C:<space>/C/U<enter>

[userserver]

Originally posted by rextex
...Well I checked.The ebd.cab contains it.That should extract during the boot.
I don't think Jordan booted to the floppy. The autoexec.bat has the ramdrive in its path statement. Be sure to have Jordan watch the boot screen and tell you if the ramdrive is created and the drive letter assigned.

On a side note, I've found you are better off not using the /S switch when you are formatting in one O/S and installing another.