Proper way to format C drive

[fisher]

What is the proper way to format C drive? i have some serious probles at the moment, and need to start over. I have backed up all my files.

First off, i was having video driver issues, and believe i still am. The computer won't boot into windows all the way, and when i do a ctrl alt delete to reboot, it shows that exploer is not responding? I have installed Win 98 SE right over top of the old, but it is good for only two days?Any help would be great.

[Force Flow]

All you have to do is make a win98 floppy, boot from it, and type "format c:"

[bailey]

simple, take a w98 boot disk, and do a format of c drivethen boot with the w98 cd and reinstall.

[fisher]

Sorry guy's i am a bit dim on this subject? i have a boot floppy, and i was able to get my system back up and running with it. i am not sure what will happen when i shut it down> So when i get to the A: in dos mode, is that where i type in "format c"

[Cricket]

Make sure the boot floppy has format on it. Put the floppy in the floppy drive and turn on the computer. If the floppy drive is the first boot device, the system will boot to the floppy and you'll end up at the a: prompt. From there, type "format c:" (without the quotes) and hit Enter. It'll give you a warning about losing all your data...type "y" and hit Enter. The formatting process will start. Depending on the size of the hard drive, go and do something else and check back to see if it's done.

Doing a install over itself will help clear up some issues, but it there is a program or driver that's causing your stability problems, it'll still be there. Doing a format and clean install is usually the best thing to do if you're looking to get the system running like it did when it was new.

Cricket

[fisher]

Should i go into the Bios and select A has the startup drive? Right now it is D for cd support.

[Cricket]

Originally posted by fisher Should i go into the Bios and select A has the startup drive?

Yes.

Cricket

[RJ]

There is a much simpler way. When you're in Windows 98, go to start > shut down, restart in MS DOS mode, hit OK. In DOS, type in format C:. That's it

RJ

[fisher]

We have success. But i messed up, i didn't pay attention to which OS i had, and i installed Win 98 and not Win 98Se so i will just install it over top? I don't think that should be a problem.

[RJ]

I'd just clean the hard drive again since you install Windows again.
Go to start > shut down, restart in DOS mode.
Then, type in:

format C: /q

That will quick format the hard drive, which means it just erases the file allocation table.
The drive will appear empty, as the data on it can't be used anymore, they'll just be overwritten as you install the new Win98. QuickFormat takes a few seconds, I'd just do that to be absolutely sure nothing gets messed up.

RJ