Hard Drive Reformat

[TheJackal]

I have a computer that is currently running Windows 98. I want to wipe the Hard drive clean and install Windows ME. How do I this?

[GaryRouth]

Is this a home-built or major brand computer? If this is a major brand, be sure not to delete any non-Dos partitions, they can have things the computer needs for startup and setup. Also, before you proceed, check to see if the hard drive is using a drive overlay program (which helps older motherboards work with newer larger hard drives). Reboot, and watch for any lines mentioning EZ-Bios. Or = when in fdisk, use option 4 to view partitions: if there's only one non-Dos partition, you have a drive overlay. [If you find a drive overlay program, be sure not to fdisk/mbr - that will erase the overlay the board needs to cope with the drive.]

You can use fdisk for most of what you want to do. Boot with a Win98 bootdisk, run fdisk (remember to leave any non-Dos partitions alone), delete the Dos partition(s), then create new one(s). You can have WinMe format the disk as part of Setup if you'd like. Just boot to the CD and let Setup do the rest.
. . . Gary

[TheJackal]

Where do I find fdisk? How do I tell the difference between a DOS and a non-DOS partition. How do I make the machine boot from the CD?

[doubledragon5]

In bios set your boot sequence to

!. FLOOPY
2. HD
3. other


If you have a boot disk (floopy) than insert that into the floopy drive and when the A:\ shows thype C: enter. when the C promt appears type FDISK answere yes to the first question choose option 3 then option 1. then enter "Y". Next hit the ESC key then choose option 1. Reboot. Back in bios change boot sequence to

1.CD
2.HD
3.FLOOPY

Leave bios answere to saving changes insert OS disk reboot follow on screen instruction.

For more info go to www.fdisk.radified.com

[GaryRouth]

If you boot the computer with a Win98 bootdisk, fdisk is one of the available commands. Just type it from the A: prompt

If you first look in on option 4 of fdisk, the type of partition(s) is displayed on your screen. Option 4 just shows you what is there, it doesn't make any changes.

To make the computer boot from the CD, enter the Bios Setup for that computer (by pressing the key mentioned in the startup banner "Press F1 (or DEL or F10,etc) to enter Setup". Then look for an item in one of the menus [it's usually in the 2nd menu) called "Boot Order" or "First Boot Device",etc - choose CDROM. When you are all done, you can change it back to the hard drive.

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[TheJackal]

Ok, I have found fdisk in Windows... It says that I have one partition. Can I delete my partition from within Windows, and then just install ME?

[GaryRouth]

Well, actually, when you are using fdisk you are in DOS. Delete the partition from fdisk - then create a new "Primary DOS partition" (you'll need to mark it active when asked - I think this question pops up either right after creating the partition or right after formatting it -- I'm a little rusty). Then go ahead with Setup for WinMe. You can format the drive either way: if you'd like, you can format it while in fdisk. [Just type format c: ] Say "Y" to "Enable Large Disk Support?" to have it format with FAT32. Both Win98 and WinMe can use FAT32 (that is the best file system to use with them).
. . . Gary

[Force Flow]

These may help:
http://pcmech.com/show/harddrive/137/
http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/step/26/

[Cricket]

Hi TheJackal,

This webpage should help: FDISK & FORMAT.

From the Bootdisk.com website: "To make a better Windows 98 bootdisk then the one that came with your Windows CD, put in your CD and seek out \tools\mtsutil\fat32ebd\fat32ebd.exe and double click on the file."

Cricket

[TheJackal]

Thanks for your help... I have a little problem though... I went into fdisk, deleted the old partition just fine and then created the new one. Then I let windows ME format the disk. Windows ME formats fine all the way up to 38%. However at 38% it slows right down. In the last 11 hours, it has only formatted 3% of the drive. I would assume that this is not normal.

Should I stop the format from within the WinME install, and go back and format from within fdisk?

[Force Flow]

Wouldn't hurt.

[TheJackal]

Thanks for all your help. I finally managed to properly install windows.

[Force Flow]

Congrats! Doesn't it feel good to get it up and running?