need info on how to format computer

[jellybaby]

hi can can anyone help me,i got a computer second hand, its windows 95, it also has 56k modem but no manuals or disks of any kind, its got loads of crap on it, so i would give it a clean sweep and format the computer, i've got windows 98 with boot floppy disk and would like to put this in, but i dont have the confidence to do it, would there be some where on the net where i can get the basic info to format and restart computer to work perfectly for me <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> thanks

 

[daing]

long time since i did it with Win95 but i think it's same as 98 - when it says 'starting windows' on the DOS screen, press f8 - this will give you a menu with one of the options being 'command prompt'. Choose this then type format c:<br />this wipes HDD<br />next, go into BIOS settings and set CDROM as first boot device, put Win98 cd in and restart compy<br />it will boot from Win98 cd and you will be asked if you want to setup from CD - after that, follow the install prompts when they appear - its easy, honest.<br />just make sure you have all the proper drivers for your bits of hardware as Win98 won't recognise everything by itself

 

[numptyhead]

Making sure u have all drivers might b important if u have onboard sound and video. If u dont know what ur hardware is you will have to find out.

 

[Dutcho]

The above posts have covered all the main things but what p***es me off when I need to do this is I forget to backup e-mails and all my Fav web site address. Do remember this cos you will be miffed when you get your machine all running and you cannot find Digi-World anymore.

<img src="wink.gif" border="0">

 

[Spectre]

Boot the PC with the boot floppy in the A: drive (Assuming the boot sequence in the BIOS has been set to look in A: first !).

You should see Starting Windows...at the bottom of the screen.

Then you will get a menu regarding setup options...select Start computer with CD-ROM support (Option 1, default !).Press Enter.

When all of the tools have been loaded into RAM you will get the DOS prompt A:

Type :

format c:

Then press Enter, you will be asked to confirm y\n press y and then Enter.

When you are asked for the drive volume label just press enter for none.

When the drive is formatted the DOS prompt (A : ) will return and with the Windows CD in the drive you type:

setup

Then press Enter and Windows will begin to install <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Drivers should not be too much of an issue as later versions of Windows include many for older technologies and many can be downloaded from the net <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

 

[speccy]

Well put Spec. I would also like to add- make sure that access is not denied to CDROM before formatting, otherwise installation will not be available and you will end up with a blank HD.

 

[mouse]

I thought that in windows 95 you can restart in dos anyway without a floppy in the drive then just type C: then type Format C:<br />This works for me.

 

[speccy]

Well I would not know this mouse as that particular operating system that you speak of is rather unquestionable and rather outdated I may add.

 

[mouse]

I agree and I was not trying to be clever.It was just something I remembered from my distant past and thought it may have been some help

 

[silvershadow]

try this site doe a step by step of fdisk and formatting incase you are still panicing about trying it dude here is the site:-<br /><a href="http://www.compguystechweb.com/troubleshooting/fdisk/fdisk_run.html" target="_blank">www.compguystechweb.com/troubleshooting/fdisk/fdisk_run.html</a> hope it helps. <img src="graemlins/dizzy.gif" border="0" alt="[dizzy]" />