Procedural questions on reformatting and restoring Win 98 SE

[bucksfanjimj]

Ok folks here's the deal. I have an HP Pavillion XE734(desktop) that I want to reformat and restore using the CDs that came with it. What I need I guess is a step by step walk through of the whole process. I have read through some of the other threads but am still left with some questions.
I have made a Win 98 start up floppy disk.

Here's what I understand so far:

1. Turn off PC and insert floppy
2. Run FDISK from floppy to format drive
3. After formatting insert CD 1 into CD drive and remove floppy
4. Shut off PC and wait about 1 minute
5. Reboot PC and the CD should start a prompt box?

Then it goes from there?

Chances are good I'm making this harder than it has to be. It is the first time I have tried this.

If you need more info please let me know and thank you for your help. :)

[jamesrpm]

Hp has step by step restore directions on thier web site:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&lang=en&cc=us&product=60947&dlc=en&docname=bph07141

[bucksfanjimj]

Thanks for the link. Don't know why I didn't check there. Looks much simpler than I thought. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Thanks again! :)

[kev7555]

Just put your boot disk in the floppy and your Windows 98 CD in the optical drive.

Select "start computer with CD ROM support". At the A:\ prompt, type in: format c: /s
exactly as I have written it.

When the format is complete, at the a:\ prompt type in D:\ (or whatever letter is your CD ROM drive). At the D:\ prompt type in:
setup

Windows install should proceed from there.


Keep in mind that as of June 1st 2006, Microsoft has announced that it will no longer provide support for Windows 98. No more windows updates, no more security patches. Machines running WIN 98 are likely to become security problems after that date.


-Kev

[glc]

Kev, this is not a standard Win98 CD - it's a HP restore CD. Jamesrpm has given the proper procedure.

[bucksfanjimj]

Just to let everyone know, I finally got around to the reformat. Went very smoothly. I was only asked for the first two CDs not all three. Just curious, what is on the third CD anyway?

My only gripe is that it installed [U]everything[U]that came with the computer. I didn't get an option on what not to install. For example, Money 2000, Quicken 2000, I know those programs aren't even supported any more. My sister won't even use them even if they were still viable.

Any way just wanted to update all of you and thank you for your assistance.
:D

Bucksfanjimj

[glc]

The third CD may be more useless software - I dunno.