Mutiple reformats and operating systems

[Vyunda]

My brother in law likes to reformat his system and install different windows each time he has a problem.His HP came with windows 98 and so far he has went from 98 to ME to XP to ME to 98se.All he does is reformat drive and install,now i know there is more to it than that.He does not search for a fix to an error or troubleshoot his system instead just installs over and over,right now his system is freezing up and multible other problems and my sister is suffering from a computer chocking itself to death.How can they fix there system to run on 98se only,how would they get rid of all the junk and start new?We will need details so please help any way possible.This is where i come when i have a problem and i hope this is the place that will fix this for my sister,thanks to anyone that helps.

[GaryRouth]

Hi Vyunda

. . . and welcome to PC Mechanic.

Your brother-in-law is indeed starting over from scratch each time if he is completely reformatting the entire hard drive and then reinstalling. That would erase all previous data each time.

If the computer is continuing to experience lockups and system freezes while trying different versions of Windows, then it might well have a hardware problem.

Does the system have only original parts, or have some things been replaced/upgraded? (hardware parts, not programs). If the system has only original equipment, unplug any printers, modems, and network cables and run the HP recovery disk. It will offer to completely reformat and reinstall it's original operating system, drivers, and bundled software. Your sister will lose all data currently on the drive & the system will be like it was when first purchased.

There is very little difference from Win98 and Win98se, if you install all the patches available from Microsofts Windows Update and Download sites. [Win98se does have Internet Connection Sharing, but it doesn't sound like she's using it, so that shouldn't matter].

If many things have been added & replaced, post the make/model of the hp - or visit the hp support website - you'll need the right drivers for each device to match the version of Windows they want to run. If they have the correct drivers handy, it makes reinstalling Windows go much more smoothly.

If they run a Recovery Disk set, and the same set of problems keep occuring after that, they need to check their configuration (especially Bios Setup), and hardware.

In Bios Setup, if they have no manual, they can try "Save Default Settings and Exit"

To check the system operating temperatures: they can enter Bios Setup, and look for a menu entitled "Hardware Monitor " or "PC Health" (or something similiar) - it will list the temp of the cpu and motherboard [they might also want to check to make sure all fans are spinning]

To test their system memory, they can try DocMemory:
http://www.simmtester.com

To test their hard drive(s), they should download the diagnostic program from the hard drive manufacturer's website (DataLifeGuard for Western Digital, SeaTools for Seagates, PowerMax for Maxtors, etc)

If you know of specific error messages, or specific troubles, that they are having: let us know & we'll see if we can tell what's up.

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[edge345]

How can they fix there system to run on 98se only,how would they get rid of all the junk and start new?

Boot from a win-98 startup disk, at the a:/
prompt type format c: after the format reboot the startup disk and choose to boot with cd-roms, then after you get to a:/ prompt place the win-98se cd in the cd-rom drive and type cd d: and then type setup....

d: is the letter for your cd-rom if you only have 1 hard drive with no partitions. if you have more than onr harddrive then try the letter e: or f: one at a time in that order....