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"Re-installing Windows - help needed"

Hi

How do you format the harddrive and then re-install Windows 95/98/ME through BIOS?, because in the past when Windows has had errors I have found that I have needed to do a clean install of Windows but I did not know how to do this so I always had to pay someone else to do this for me.

Any tips and step-by-step guides you can give me would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks if you can help.

No problem!

Did you get it done?

Hi

Thanks for all your help.

Andy

You shouldn't need to install mouse drivers, as Windows will detect the mouse and install basic drivers automatically. Any custom drivers for a 'special' mouse can then be installed later from the CD that came with the mouse.

I'm not even sure you can move the mouse pointer using the keyboard any more. It's something I've not done since Windows 3.1 to be honest! There is an option in Windows called 'MouseKeys' which you can turn on... but of course you need Windows installed to do that!

Hi

Thanks for your help so far.

How do you move the mouse pointer by using the keyboard?, and how would I re-install the mouse drivers after a re-install on Win ME/98SE?

Thanks if you can answer my question

Just following on from what Reaper said, but providing file paths etc...

WinME is great, as it gives you CD-ROM support. The procedure is identical for both ME and 98/98SE.


*** Make sure you have backed up everything you need first! ***


(This varies slightly from Reaper's version, but everyone has their own preferred way of doing things... the end result is the same.)


Create a Startup Disk (Start menu -> Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs -> Startup Disk)

Make sure the Startup Disk has the program 'format.com' on it. I can't remember if it's put on by default; if it's not there, use Windows Explorer to find it on your C: drive and copy it over.

With the Startup Disk in the floppy drive, shut down and reboot the PC.

The PC will boot from the floppy, into MS-DOS. When you get the list of options, select "Start the computer with CD-ROM support".

Eventually you'll get the DOS prompt 'A:\>' (not 'C:\>' as Reaper said... :-)

Type 'format c:' to format the C: drive and answer all prompts accordingly.

When that has finished, put your WinME/98SE CD in your CD-ROM drive.

You don't need to reboot at this time, but you can if you want - just make sure you leave the Startup Disk in the drive, and choose the CD-ROM support option from the menu as before.

Go to your newly formatted drive by typing 'C:' and pressing Enter.

Assuming that your CD-ROM drive is 'D:', type 'D:\win9x\setup'

This will start the Windows installation. You should be able to take it yourself from there - but any problems, let us know.

Right, you should be fine - create a bootdisk in 98/ME (not used it in ages, someone will tell you how, or the windows help files..), or download this app, which is what I always use: http://ov.mine.nu/boot98se.exe - only 843kb, just stick a blnk floppy in and it'll make a bootdisk of it with CD rom support.

Boot the pc with that disk in the floppy drive and select "Start the computer with CD Rom Support", then wait until you arrive at a DOS Prompt (C:\>). Type format c: (Wookiee, the diagnostic tools can be run from the root of c, just read from the floppy), confirm whatever prompts it gives you and let the program do its stuff. Just /please/ backup anything you need first, heh, this will wipe all of your data on the drive.

Once that's finished, name the volume (Whatever you like), and reboot the pc. Boot in to DOS again using the disk you created, put the ME cd in and swap to your cd drive (Type D:, assuming it's lset as drive d). Someone else will have to tell you what the installer is called, can;'t find my cds at the moment, but find and run that program and go through the setup process, which it should lead you through step by step.

WòókieeMøn§†€® wrote:
> AndyJackson wrote:
> What do I do if I do not have a second harddrive?
>
> You only have a C-drive?
>
> Tell me the configuration of your disks, and which version of Windows
> you are using (95/98/98SE/ME).

I have Win ME installed on my computer, if you could tell me how to re-install Windows ME by formatting the hardrive and then doing a clean install, then that would be great.

My brother has Win 98SE on his computer so if you could tell me how do the same for his as well then that would be good too.

I also have a computer with Win 95 but it doesn't really matter about that one because it is more important that I know how to do a re-install for Win ME and Win 98SE.

Thanks if you can help

Snipe® wrote:
> Dont u boot up with your startup disk select with CD ROm support

Yes, but Andy said "Win95/98/ME" - Windows 95 does not install CD-ROM support on the startup disk it creates, where as Win98 onwards do.

That's why I've asked him which version of Windows! If it's Win95, I can provide instructions on creating a startup disk with CD-ROM support. Otherwise, I can tell him simply how to do it!

Maybe I am overdoing things here, but that's the habit you pick up when you work in IT!

if u format through the starup disk it will set teh volume of ur hard disk by itself.

WòókieeMøn§†€® wrote:
> I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think fdisk.exe resides in the root
> directory of c:\


Your right, i'm not sure where it is, I think Sniper's right, but you need to be in DOS to format your hdd, and thats what he wants to do.