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Reformatting and Reinstall Windows 98 or Me |
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b Note: I have had my Computer with Windows 98 SE running for over a year and a half and have no problems, BUT, I do a lot of maintenance on it to keep it running smoothly, I use Norton System Works weekly to check for problems and Virus Scan all Emails in and going out of the Computer, if a new installed program creates problems, I remove it right away and I am the only person that uses the Computer. I also Update Windows, Drivers and Software monthly, Virus Definitions every Saturday. To Remove a Program that does not show up in the Add/Remove Utility or has no Uninstall feature, I use CleanSweep which comes with Norton System Works. It takes a lot of time after Reformating to Install and Update everything, so I go out of my way to keep my 98 running smoothly : )
Look at the Add/Remove Utility ( Screen Shot ) for Software you have Installed
Start Up Disk If you haven't done this yet, Go to Start-Control Panel-Add/Remove/Startup Tab * Screen Shot * use a new disk or a reformatted disk and create a Windows Startup Disk. You will need this to Boot up and use FDisk and to install Windows. Getting close to that scary moment, it still makes me nervous, Ok, this can take you a weekend to a week, depending on how many installs and updates are involved, depends on if you have them on disks or you have to redownload them from the net, if from the net with a phone modem, every night for a week. Excited ( : it's not all that bad, actually, for me it's fun, I love downloading free stuff, to bad you couldn't download free updates for your car, stove, refrig ( : Getting Prepared Have all your Driver disks for cards or hardware you have installed, if you have the same system you bought and have a Restore Disk this will be a cake walk. For those of us that love to power it up a little, have the disks at hand. If you only have a Restore Disk and you have add new cards or hardware, especially the CD-ROM you may have to reinstall at least the old CD-ROM in order to use the restore disk. The Restore Disk is an Image of what was on and in the Computer at the Factory, that means if it had brand A CD-ROM in it and you installed brand B the faster one, the Restore Disk want recognize brand B, because it wasn't in there when they Imaged the drive at the factory. So in order for the Restore Disk to recognize the CD-ROM it has to be brand A. The other stuff you will probably get errors on, but you can correct them, generally, in the Device Manager later, after the install is done or just pull them out before you install and reinstall them after.If you got a Windows Disk along with the Restore Disk, I would just us the Windows Disk, it will recognize all the new stuff. But there maybe a program on the Restore Disk you like, your call. ( : People using the Restore Disk Check your Computer Manual before you do this, each Manufacture may have, specific instructions concerning your particular system. Generally speaking,you put the disk in the CD-ROM and the 3 1/3 floppy if required, check your manual, reboot the Computer and follow the instructions, you still have to click that scary button, are you sure, you want to delete the information on this drive, if yes, click this button and say bye bye info. Reformatting for Windows Install Put your Startup disk in the A drive and reboot, your Bios must be set to check the A: drive first. You get a black Screen that says
Pick the, Without Cd-Rom support, it will go to the A:\>
Next Screen
Next Screen
Next Screen
Well that is a Reformat and Reinstall of Windows. Here are a couple of useful fdisk commands: 1. To transfere the System Files from the Startup Disk in the A: drive, restart with the Startup disk, at the A: prompt type sys a:\ c: 2. To overwrite the MBR using fdisk, ( fdisk /mbr ) checkout this MS doc on using this command FDISK /MBR Rewrites the Master Boot Record * Here is a Link to some more Detailed Instructions on Reformating, take some time and read this to.* * A link on more information about FDISK at fdisk.com * If you are a Power User and want to do a Clean Install and Reformat go to this page Clean Install of Window Print this page using the Printer friendly Page www |
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