need to format c: and reinstall windows...but I have a question

[gorath]

Do I need to make boot disk before I do this? How do I make a boot disk?

And how do I format my HD? Is it still like the old days, where you just type "format c:" in dos?

Thanks.

[Buzioid]

You can do that if you have a boot disk, what version of windows are you using?

[John Prophet]

If you are using w95 or win98 or ME, you go to control panel, add-remove programs, "startup disk" and click on "create disk".

After you boot off of that disk and it comes up to an A: prompt its just the same old DOS stuff.

A:\format c: /q


The /q just tells it to do a quick format...which means you will take like 15 seconds or less as opposed to several minutes.

JP

[squeech]

Whatever version of Windows you have, just boot from the CD-ROM that you have...

If Win98/ME, boot from CD and at the prompt just type "format c:". You can run fdisk too. Formatting is also an option in setup.

If Win2K/XP, boot from CD and enter setup. From setup you can delete partition and reformat before the install.

[highrock]

i've noticed that you can use a windows 98 bootdisk to prepare for any intall of win98, winnt, win2k, winxp.

I would recommend a full format without the /q because many professors and techs recommend it. ....../q is for like floppy disks. this is for an OS so you want a full format.

[DoctorReno]

If I'm not mistaken a full format does a verify of the entire disk looking for and recording any bad sectors. It is this operation that takes the time.

I would recommend that you use the /s switch when formating to install the system files to the C: drive. Then create a directory on C: and copy the Win9x folder files from the CD to that directory. Remove the floppy and CD and restart the machine. When it boots to the C: change directories to the directory you copied the Win9x folder files, type in setup, hit enter and "Away you go."

There are several advantages to installing your OS using this method which I will describe should you be interested.

*Note this is just for 95, 98 and ME... not the NT based OS's.

[gorath]

I have XP professional. Does that follow the same rules as windows '98?

[TheChronoRogue]

If you are using XP Pro, the install CD is bootable. You can just boot off your CD without a boot disk. You might have to change your boot sequence in your BIOS to A: D: C: or something of that sort to put the CD drive before the hard drive.

[DoctorReno]

TheChronoRogue is absolutely correct. XP is NT based so go into your BIOS setup and under boot sequence put the CD first preferably.

Then restart the machine with the CD in and it should take you thru the entire process.

Should you encounter the problem that your BIOS setup or CD drive are not CD bootable compatable you will need to go to some place like http://bootdisk.com and get the 6 floppy disk set for the version of XP that you have, in your case either XP Pro or XP Pro with SP1. To install XP this way you need to set your BIOS to boot first from floppy, put in the #1 XP floppy disk and at the prompts insert disks 2 - 6 and finally the CD. It will take you completely thru partitioning, formatting and installing the OS.

[gorath]

XP installation isn't working for some reason. It says "can't install 'system.chm'

I think I might have some kind of virus Norton can't detect.

I made a DOS boot disk following the instructions above, but for some reason, when I use it, DOS won't let me do any commands. It gives me a prompt, and I say "format c:" and it gives me Bad Command. I try "cd e:" (my cd drive) and it gives me Bad Command again. Are those the right DOS commands.

I'm typing this on my Mac. As of now, my PC is KIA. (but my documents are safe, thankfully).