reformatting hd and reinstalling windows

synchro

i got an old enough pc
its really atm
the hd needs to be reformatted the OS(Windows ME) needs to be reinstalled imo
can someone please give me instructions on how to do this
thanks in advance
Ed

aidan_walsh

Boot from the CD, and follow the instructions on screen. They're pretty clear cut.

jaqian

Whats the spec on your pc? ME is a very resource hungry (read: crappy) OS usually slows down a pc. If I had a choice I'd install win98 SE.

I take it this HD has been used before? If not you'll have to create a partition. I'll asume its been used previously.

To reformat your HD you'll need a start disk, win98/ winME (if you haven't got one you can get one of a mates pc or I can post you one if need be) should do. Go into BIOS make sure you have floppy selected as first boot device. Restart pc with floppy inserted fully.

At the dos prompt e.g. A:\>
type "format c:" (without the "")
It'll ask do you want to proceed? Y/N Choose Y for Yes. This will take a few min as it formats and checks the disc. Once this is done you'll have to restart the pc again with the floppy inserted. Choose to Start with "CD Support"

Now insert your cd-rom (98/ME) you will have to change directory to the cd. The command for this is "cd" (change directory). Now your cd-rom will probably be on E: drive but to make sure just try cd-ing a few different letters. One of them will probably come up as MS-RAM DISC or similar ignore this and try next one. You'll recognise the cd-rom as it'll have a load of files on it.

So when pc starts up you'll be on A:
go through the drives like so:
(you don't type A:\ it'll be on your screen already)
A:cd c: (make sure there is a space between cd and c:)
Doesn't work? Try:
A:cd e: (don't bother with b: its not used)
Doesn't work? Try:
A:cd f: when one works and you realise you're in the cd-rom(again make sure it doesn't say MS RAM Disc) type "setup" this should start the installation of windows. If that doesn't work try "install" but setup should be the one. (Again don't type "").

Hope that helps. Need anything PM me. If you're in the Dublin area might be able to callout if you're stuck.

roamer

synchro wrote:

i got an old enough pc
its really atm
the hd needs to be reformatted the OS(Windows ME) needs to be reinstalled imo
can someone please give me instructions on how to do this
thanks in advance
Ed

How old is the pc? Many pcs can boot off the cd-rom drive these days.
Boot from the cd and you will get an option to format before the operating system begins to install. Its very easy.

synchro

roamer wrote:

How old is the pc? Many pcs can boot off the cd-rom drive these days.
Boot from the cd and you will get an option to format before the operating system begins to install. Its very easy.

o its year 2000
its new eenough i booted off the cd before but i forget wat to do like
thanks million there lads for the taking the time to reply
thanks

roamer

Just follow the onscreen instructions when you boot from the cd. Installing windows is dead simple and again you will get the format option before it begins to install windows.

synchro

roamer wrote:

Just follow the onscreen instructions when you boot from the cd. Installing windows is dead simple and again you will get the format option before it begins to install windows.

will it come up ewith the reformat option after pressing f12 of summit
its a dell!#

thanks lads yer hdelp has been gr8!

roamer

No if you boot from the cd, it will begin to load drivers to get into windows install mode (so to speak). Then it will go into a blue screen type interface. IIRC it will say your drive is formatted with some sort of filesystem (FAT or NTFS). It will ask if you want to re-install or format, select format to create a new filesystem, then you will have to agree to m$'s license and it will begin to install automatically. Then when it's finished installing it will reboot and ask you to set-up your timezone, computer name, accounts etc. When all this is done you will boot into windows, alot of your hardware may not have the correct drivers installed yet so you will have to get these!

NB. I haven't installed Windows in a while so the procedure may not be exactly accurate above but its not far off :-)

mordeith

Try here for a step-by-step tutorial.

synchro

roamer wrote:

Just follow the onscreen instructions when you boot from the cd. Installing windows is dead simple and again you will get the format option before it begins to install windows.

but i wanto reformat the hd also though

smeggle

As stated you would be better of reverting to the older windows98 system. me was a nightmare.

You'll need a windows 98 start-up disk and the 98 cd-rom..

You first need to run the "FDISK" utility and delete and re-create a "Primary DOS Partition". You then restart the computer with the start-up disk and at the A: Prompt type "format c:/s" . The "/s" is very important for the future install and stability of your new system. You can just format c: but in the long term this will cause stability issues with the system.

I can give you step by step instructions via pm if you wish....

You will also require all of your driver utility discs as well or you will need to download and make new copys to re-install. You will need your motherboard drivers, any Graphics card/Audio card/Modem/Printer/Scanner driver utility disks. These will all need to be re-installed after formatting - re-install.