Reformating Win98 over WinME

[Wag]

Hey new here and not the best with PC's

Well i have a pretty old computer and have WinME installed on it and ive had enough of it so i wanted to install Win98 instead. But when i reformat do i use the WinMe Restore pack disk i got with the computer or do i have to make a win98 boot up disk?

Wag

[John Prophet]

Welcome to the forum!

To format it you just need a boot disk. I think youd be fine making a WinME boot disk from "add/remove programs" /startup disk.

I dont think the WinME Restore disk you got with the comp will do much good for just formatting etc.

And when you format you can just do "format c: /q" for a quick format...saves maybe 10 or 15 minutes or whatever.

or you could download a W98 floppy from www.bootdisk.com but I think youd be ok with just the WinME floppy.

JP

[Wag]

OK cheers. Can you help with any program that will reforamt you hard drive and completly wipe it so if anyone was gonna try and see what stuff you did have on there they could'nt. Program that encrypts on Format? (if there is any such thing)

[John Prophet]

I think you need something to "write zero's" to the drive but I dont know of any of the top of my head, I have never done that before.

Maybe someone else will post one up. Or else just do a google search for "hard drive wipe" or "zero write program".

Or just browse some freeware sites and look under "utlities".


Cheers mate, JP

[Bill in SD, CA]

Welcome to TechIMO!!

Active KillDisk

Bill

[Wag]

Thx for your help, but i have another problem now.

I just reformated my PC and i was trying to install Win98 SE and i got to the win98 install screen then i get this msg.

Upgrade Compliance pack

Setup has searched your hard drive and cannot find any of the qualifying products. insert your original windows setup disk.

after i got that i had no fecking clue what to do so i installed WinME again, Any useful help someone could give me plz?

Wag

[Bill in SD, CA]

It would seem that you have an upgrade 98SE disk.

Do you have a 98FE or 95 disk?

If so when you are asked to insert the disk put in one those disks and you should be good to go.

Since ME is after 98 I would think that MS never anticipated someone would want to downgrade.

Bill

[Wag]

Ive only got 98 SE but i will ask a few friends to see if they have 98 FE or 95 CD somewhere. thx for helping

[John Prophet]

wag...I sent you a pm (private message)...click on "login" to check for the message.

JP