CPU, HDD wont some one please help me

[Haggis2001]

Hello
I'm going to in the near future upgrade my CPU i have been told that upon doing this the best thing to do is to re-format my HDD so what i would like to know being a newbie & computer novice will someone please advise me of the best way to re-format my HDD.
Please keep this explanation as simple as possible as i have not attempted to do this be4 the OS that i'm using is a Windows ME upgrade from "98" i have already made a start up disk on installing the upgrade.
Any help would be grately appreciated.

Haggis http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[CMonster]

Just to upgrade the CPU (as in the central processing chip itself e.g. P-III 550 to P-3 850 you do not need to format your hard disk. If you mean CPU as in a completely different box/motherboard and processor then you might want to format and do a clean isntall but it should not really be necesary as you can install Windows over the top of itself and install any additional drivers.

If you really must format:

Considering the nature of your query I would say the ideal thing for you to do in this case is have a computer savy friend standing by to help you though the entire process.

1. Boot from startup disk and and select start computer with CDROM support, when you get to the prompt type "format c:" and press enter (the drive may be "d" if the boot disk has created a ramdisk). Be sure you are formatting the correct hard disk - if you have more than one disk and you are not confident that you know how to do this properly then remove the data ribbon from the disk you do not want to format before you turn on the computer.

A:\>format c: <enter>

You will be warned that all data will be lost and given the option to continue.

When format is done give the drive a name -if you like.

2. You might have to install Win98 first then the ME upgrade, or it might be possible just to start with ME and swap in the Win98 CD when prompted - in any case, put one of the CDs into the appropriate drive and then change to that drive letter, type "setup" and press enter.

Now stand back, your computer will explode... http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif -just kidding

so to recap:

Boot disk -yes start with CDROM support

A:\>format c: (or d http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif <enter>

A:\>d: (or e: =CDROM drive)setup <enter>

Alternative method:

Boot from floppy and format hard disk, remove floppy and reboot - enter BIOS and set it to boot from CDROM, insert Windows CD and reboot.

good luck




[This message has been edited by CMonster (edited 06-01-2001).]

[Haggis2001]

Thanks C Monster i dont know if i will use this but it's handy to know in the future when i do have to re-format sorry you had to answer somthing so trivial but i have said it before and i will say it again I'm a newbie to everything computer based.
Haggis http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[CMonster]

We all had to start somewhere. But formatting a drive and reinstalling an operating system is not a tirvial matter.

I was so ignorant of computers that I once remember seeing a book on DOS and thought it meant "Do's" -as in "The Do's and Don'ts of computing."

[This message has been edited by CMonster (edited 06-01-2001).]

[Haggis2001]

So thats what that means iiiiis iiiiit.LOL
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif
Haggis

[surrealchereal]

A:\>format c: <enter>

cmonster, no need for the S as below?
A:\>FORMAT C: /s

hey and I'm dyslexic,, I've been up all night, so if I went the wrong way please forgive me.


[This message has been edited by surrealchereal (edited 06-01-2001).]

[CMonster]

the /s switch transfers the system files to the hard disk, if you will be installing Windows from a CD it will install the system files anyway.

[welsh wizard]

At first I was not sure of the merrits of reistalling ME, was going to surjest only 98SE, but as you are new to These fangled things, its better to just reinstall ME,

If all you are upgradeing is the CPU you should not need to reinstall windows, but if you do find any probs, Just do a soft install over the top, and let ME archive your present ME install.( you will be promted to save settings or archive)
To do a soft install, all you need to do is use your 98 boot disk,
Put boot disk in floppy while computer is off, turn on computer and wait for the Install from CD prompt to appear, answer Y ( yes)make sure you have you ME CD rom in The CD rom Drive and just follow the Windows install prompts ( you will require your ME licence # this will be on the ME manual or a sticker that came with ME for you to put on your system case.

WW

[This message has been edited by welsh wizard (edited 06-02-2001).]