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How To Format Computer?

How do I perform an fdisk from Windows 98 Boot Disk and format my computer?

  • My school's campus ministry leader gave me a computer that had gone unused since the last ministry leader left. I now am trying to figure out how to format this computer (I've done it on XP) but I don't know how to move past the login where it asks me for the old ministry leader's password to format it once on the OS. The computer doesn't have a working CD drive so I connected my external CD drive to install Windows XP Pro. The computer is currently running Windows 2000 Pro by NT and isn't connected to the internet. The computer has a floppy drive so I've heard I can make a windows 98 boot disk and perform an "fdisk" on drive C: How do I make a Windows 98 boot disk, and what are the steps to perform an "fdisk" on drive C: ? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

  • Answer:

    Before you get started, disconnect everything from the PC tower but the monitor, mouse and keyboard. This will eliminate any driver issues when you are re-installing Windows. 1. Write Zeros to the hard drive. Here is a very helpful website that lets you download a free copy of GWSCAN, and also gives you step by step instructions on writing zeros. http://www.lehigh.edu/security/gwscan/gwscan.htm 2. Use Fdisk to create a partition and format your hard drive. Fdisk is found on any Windows 98 startup, or boot disk (floppy). If you or a friend doesn't have one, you can create one yourself. To create a Windows 98 Startup disk: 1.Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add/Remove Programs. 2.Click the Startup Disk tab, and then click Create Disk. 3.Label a disk "Windows 98 Startup Disk," insert the disk in your disk drive when you are prompted, and then click OK. 4.Click OK to quit Add/Remove Programs. Once you have a Windows 98 startup disk, use the Fdisk program to create a partition and format your hard drive. Instructions are here; http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255867/en-us 3. Last but not least, re-Install Windows 98; Instructions are here; http://support.microsoft.com/kb/221829/EN-US/

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You will need a computer with Win98 on it. Format a bootable floppy. go to Windows, Command and copy fdisk and format files to the floppy. Boot with the new disk and run fdisk first. Remove any partitions that exist. Create a new dos partition. Format the hard drive by running, from drive A, format c: The rub will be if you can "see" your external CD or not. If so, install Windows from there.

McTeacher

you can get a bootdisk from here http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm (it's a utility you download that will create the boot disk for you, they carry a lot of Windows and DOS versions for boot disks, all you do is download the one that you need, insert a blank floppy disk into the floppy drive and run the downloaded file, presto) once you boot your computer from the floppy disk, you should end up at a screen that looks something like "A:\>" type "fdisk" and press enter, that will run fdisk where you can follow the onscreen prompts to delete or add any partitions after you run fdisk, restart the computer and you will again come to the A:\> screen type "format c:" and this will format your computer

terran_ghost

I seem to recall having an issue with this before. fdisk may not be available on a 98 boot but it is on a 95 boot. I may be wrong it may be there. in which case you may try windows help or ... Right click on the floppy drive and choose "format" and then choose "create boot" After creating the boot just start the computer with the disk in and type fdisk at the command prompt. You may try just installing windows without the format, and it may prompt you to format.

Lar Jorgan

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