Basic Win2K Questions

[Kubie]

I have never used W2K before and I have some questions.
Do I need to Fdisk, Format, and Partition the HDD first?
Would it be a good idea to disconnect from my router before installing?
Does W2K accept hardware changes easily? This will be on a my test machine.
I know I can set the "boot to cd" in BIOS. Is that all I need to do?
Any little quirks I need to look out for?
TIA
Carl

[RJ]

Hi,

no, you don't use fdisk and format anymore, those were DOS commands, and Win2K doesn't have DOS. Besides they can't handle NTFS.
Installation is very easy. You just boot from the Win2K CD, run setup, and follow the instructions on the screen. Somewhere at the beginning of the installation you'll be able to create and format your partitions, preferrable with NTFS not FAT32.
Hardware changes shouldn't be a problem with Win2K.

Have fun with Win2K, it's really nice.

RJ

[Kubie]

RJ,
Thanks for the quick response.
W2K will clean off the existing Win98se apparently?
I assume so since I can format and partition at the beginning of the install.
Carl

[RJ]

No Win2K won't clean off the existing Win98 automatically. At the screen where you need to create partitions (it's actually basic FDISK functions within the Win2K setup) you can remove the existing Win98 partition, and then create new ones. If you want to stay with FAT32 you only need to reformat the existing partition.

RJ

[Kubie]

Again RJ, thanks for the quick answer.
I think what I'm going to do is install a 30GIG HDD that is nice and clean and try a install and put the other HDD aside.
That way everything is fresh.
Carl

[HAL9000]

RJ has it down pretty good. Just boot from the CD and let it walk you thru. It will ask you about creating/deleting/formatting partitions and is pretty straight forward.

Leave your system connected to the router, you'll be up on the internet at the end of the installation process.

Hardware changes aren't to bad if you're talking things like vid cards, modem, sound card. When it comes to complete overhauls, sometimes it gets ugly with say a motherboard swap.

[RJ]

Yep, do it the way you like. Once you are in setup and are able to play around with the settings you'll get more comfortable with Win2K setup. It's the same with WinXP, just to let you know.

One thing might be helpful to know: Can't say for sure if it's only with NTFS (as I never installed Win2K/XP with FAT32), but no matter how you partition your drive, 8 MB will always remain unpartitioned. Those 8 MB are needed by Windows for a reason I don't know.

RJ

[Kubie]

Hal and RJ,
I'll do the hdd swap, change the boot to cd and give it a go. I'll partition the 30gig into 3 10gig partitions and let er' fly.
Thanks fellas,
Love this site.
Carl

[Kubie]

First problem.
KB doesn't work. When asked to enter size of partition, nothing enters. Must have to do with num-lock. I have num-lock activated in BIOS but the light didn't come on on the KB. Evem with num-lock on KB activatd, the light is on but it won't enter numerals. Enter, escape and other commands work.
Carl

[RJ]

Is it a PS/2 or USB keyboard ? For USB keyboard you need to enable USB keyboard support in BIOS.
For PS/2 you might plugged it into the wrong PS/2. Keyboards use the left one.
Anyway it sounds strange why some keys work and some don't. Maybe a defective keyboard ? Does the keyboard work on another PC ?
Also have you tried to enter the numbers with the number keys on the main keyfield ?

RJ

[Kubie]

RJ,
The KB is PS/2 and was working as of this morning. All I did was change HDDs.
I tried entering numerals from the 10-key and the numerals on the top.
I decided to let it format the whole 29815mb and its at 60% now. Guess I'll see what happens.
This is my test pc, if it doesn't work, I'll start over.
Carl

Just thought of something. I wonder if I'll beable to enter the Key #?

[Tuf]

Do the numbers on the main part of the keyboard work? I have had it not take them from the number pad but the regular ones still work.

[Kubie]

Tuf,
They didn't work earlier, with or without the KB num-lock on.

Carl

[Tuf]

The ones above the main part of the keyboard shouldn't nned num lock to be on. If a number is offered or suggested maybe you can use the arrow keys to go up or down. If all else fails try a different keyboard. I keep an old basic board around for doing installs and the like sometimes the new and improved fancy ones don't work in set up programs.

[pillainp]

Hi all,
Regular Win2K Pro user here (home (this PC) and office machines).
Had the same problem Kubie describes, not being able to entrer the partition sizes. Was burning my head of worrying when a pal comes along and hits the backspace key (for kicks). D'oh.
Left me feeling really stupid.

[Kubie]

Tuf,
When the pc rebooted, the num-lock light went out.
Right now, W2K is detecting and installing hardware, including mouse and KB.
We shall see.
BTW, the KB is a relativily new IBM 101 KB.

Carl

[Tuf]

pill may have the answer!

[Kubie]

Pill,
Don't know what happened, but when it came time for the Key #, it all worked OK.
Sure will remember the back-space key when I do a reinstall to get the Partitions I want.
There is no rush. Just playing and learning.
Carl

[RJ]

Ah, you mean you didn't erase the size of the partition that windows displayed before entering a new one ?

Some things are really simple, aren't they ? ;)

RJ

[Kubie]

RJ,
Didn't read about the back space until after format.
Thats ok though. I did find out that W2K is a whole lot faster then Win9x to load.:cool:
Well, back to work.
Carl

[pillainp]

Well, Kubie, hope you have the greatest time using Win2K. I know I am.

NPP

[ZANEY123]

hey kubie that is the same promblem i was having while installing 2k it would not let me partion anything i had to format the whole drive.i could not enter any #'s for partion size. i was just playing with 2k at the time so i did not worry about it but i will try the back space thing and see what happens

Zaney123

[pam123]

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=50881

I'm collecting enough info to flash the bios now.
It sounds awfully like my trouble. I'm betting it's the same problem and I wish I'd had the luck to hit Backspace!