:confused: hard drive problem?

[johniroc]

ok i think i got myself into alot of problems(not so good at computer). I have this old computer and i formatted it and deleted everything which i wanted. But now i can install windows back on it, when i tried to this message comes up "If you have NPFS or NTFS installed on you hard drive you will need to create a MS-DOS boot partition to set up windows." I did some reseach on it and told me how to creat on but all the dos files are gone so i can't create one. If anyone knows where there is any website that i can download from, or have anysuggestion please reply.
thanks

[Midknyte]

I would zap the drive first, then try installing your OS:

http://service.boulder.ibm.com/storage/hddtech/zap.exe

[leprechaun_40]

OK, a few questions first, one, what O/S you installing? 9X or XP/2000?

If you are installing a 9X O/S, you will need to run fdisk to create a DOS partition and then format and install. You will need a boot disk to run this from. If you don't have one, you can get one at http://www.bootdisk.com

[johniroc]

i am going to install windows 95 cause its a slower computer. i would choose this one from bootdisk.com
DOS - Windows 9X/Me/NT/2K/XP Excellent Bootdisks
could you explain how to go though the process to create a DOS partition and then format and install. Because I tried doing it but don't know if i have to change anything.
Thanks for helping!

[johniroc]

oh ya by the way whats the difference between windows 95 original and windows 95 version B? Those are the ones i would choose right?

[Midknyte]

version b has fat32 support.

[leprechaun_40]

OK, first, boot to the bootdisk. Once at an A prompt type fdisk and hit enter. It will ask if you want to enable large block support, say yes and hit enter. Then you should have a menu that has 4 items. #1 should create the primary dos partion. Tell it you want to use the entire drive for it when prompted. Now, reboot after it's done. Back at the A prompt type format C: and enter. Once that's done, again reboot this time making sure you have cd-rom support and keep track of which drive letter it assigns your cd drive( also, be sure your win95 cd is in the drive). Switch to that drive and type setup, the rest is history.

[johniroc]

thanks everyone i got it going!

[Direct1]

Do what Midknyte said. You need to Zap your drive to remove any NTFS partitions. After you ZAP your drive...

Put in your bootdisk and re-start your PC. You do not need "CD-ROM" support at this time...
At the A:\ Prompt type FDISK and hit enter (caps are not needed)
Hit enter (for Yes) at the next screen...
Create a partiton... When asked if you want to use the whole space say Yes... When it is done, Re-boot... This time you DO want CD-ROM support (note what drive letter your CD is). Type Format /u C: (at the A:\>) and hit enter. Then "Y" to proceed. When done formatting, you'll be back at the A:\> prompt. Put in your Win 95 CD... Type CD E: hit enter (subsitute E for your REAL CD-ROM Drive letter)... When at the E: Prompt (or whatever yours is) type CD WIN95 hit enter... You should be at E:\WIN95... Type SETUP and hit enter...

Note: I would install from the hard drive personally. You can create a place to store the installation files on your hard drive. To do this, after format, from the A:\> type MD Windows\Option\Cabs and hit enter. Type CD C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS - hit enter. With your 95 CD in, type E: - hit enter. At E:\> type CD Win95 - hit enter. At E:\WIN95> Type DIR - hit enter. Again at E:\WIN95> type COPY *.* C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS - hit enter. When done copying type CD C: - hit enter. You should be at C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS> - type SETUP & hit enter. Installation will install from the hard drive.

Also, after setup starts, you will be prompted which folder to install to because you already have a Windows folder. Just tell it to install into your current Windows folder. Good luck!

[Billforce]

You must like to work a lot. I simply create a directory called WINX and tell the File manager to select the files in the entire disk and copy it to the directory.
One easy motion.

[Direct1]

What "File manager" with no OS installed?

[Billforce]

If no O/S installed, I boot with a 98 floppy, make a directory WinX and copy the entire disk via DOS. Then install from the H.D.

[Direct1]

Yeah, that will work but 2 things... 1. You don't need to copy the whole CD -- just the Win9x folder. 2. The standard folder is Windows\Options\Cabs and some new users see a folder on their C: drive called Winx and may delete it. No biggy except when they install a new printer or something that requires the setup files, they won't be there. Horse apiece I guess.

[Billforce]

Right on! Most of the PC's faster than 1 gig will copy the entire disk in less than 5 min. now.