So how do you reinstall 98?

One way I tried was by going to add remove programs and selecting windows 98 for removal. However, this seems to be a method of converting to a former Windows installment and, after the process, I still had all my old files on the P.C.
I had wanted to reformat and wipe off everything.
Then I figured maybe I had to switch windows on in DS mode and then type "format" after the prompt. But that didn't work either.
My guess is the correct way is to switch the P,C. on with the 3 and a half disk inside so it should automatically start windows from the copied floppy. But that doesn't happen on my P.C. at all. I'm a bit puzzled.

Carrera said:

One way I tried was by going to add remove programs and selecting windows 98 for removal. However, this seems to be a method of converting to a former Windows installment and, after the process, I still had all my old files on the P.C.
I had wanted to reformat and wipe off everything.
Then I figured maybe I had to switch windows on in DS mode and then type "format" after the prompt. But that didn't work either.
My guess is the correct way is to switch the P,C. on with the 3 and a half disk inside so it should automatically start windows from the copied floppy. But that doesn't happen on my P.C. at all. I'm a bit puzzled.

I haven't done this on a Win98 system in a while, and I don't know what your DOS version or BIOS is like, but try the following:

1) Get out of windows (as opposed to opening an MSDOS window in Windows), either via a boot disk, or using F8 during the boot sequence.

2) Once in DOS, get a clean prompt (cd\).

3) Try FORMAT C: (assuming "C" is the harddrive your OS is housed on)

4) Alternately, try FDISK, which will launch a reformatting program.

Doing so, of course, will absolutely nuke your machine; you'll have to install Win98 immediately thereafter, generally by using the boot disk--so be sure you've made a boot disk that works. Do you think you can take it from there?

lokstah said:

I haven't done this on a Win98 system in a while, and I don't know what your DOS version or BIOS is like, but try the following:

1) Get out of windows (as opposed to opening an MSDOS window in Windows), either via a boot disk, or using F8 during the boot sequence.

2) Once in DOS, get a clean prompt (cd\).

3) Try FORMAT C: (assuming "C" is the harddrive your OS is housed on)

4) Alternately, try FDISK, which will launch a reformatting program.

Doing so, of course, will absolutely nuke your machine; you'll have to install Win98 immediately thereafter, generally by using the boot disk--so be sure you've made a boot disk that works. Do you think you can take it from there?

Agree, format from start up disk. Then reinstall using prompt from start up disk and full version win 98 but back up your documents first and be sure you have a copy of your drivers for your hardware configuration,plus the programs you are presently running.
Check to see if you have individual components such as a video card,modem etc. or an integrated system.
Integrated boards usually come with one disk reinstall system for drivers.
Good luck!

Originally I had a virus on my PC but seem to have gotten rid of it by removing windows on the add/remove programs option. This seemed to remove a later version of windows and somehow got rid of the virus.
But at some point in the future I will need to wipe all my programs off and reinstall windows.
It's the booting up from the floppy that nobody seems to have successfully explained, neither my brother nor my cousin. I certainly have the floppy disk prepared but if I stick it in and restart my machine, all that happens is windows loads up as usual. So, do I have to press F8 soon as I switch on my PC?
Once I get past the disk part I know I'll be O.K. It's just this one point that has me a bit confused. Cheers.

lokstah said:

I haven't done this on a Win98 system in a while, and I don't know what your DOS version or BIOS is like, but try the following:

1) Get out of windows (as opposed to opening an MSDOS window in Windows), either via a boot disk, or using F8 during the boot sequence.

2) Once in DOS, get a clean prompt (cd\).

3) Try FORMAT C: (assuming "C" is the harddrive your OS is housed on)

4) Alternately, try FDISK, which will launch a reformatting program.

Doing so, of course, will absolutely nuke your machine; you'll have to install Win98 immediately thereafter, generally by using the boot disk--so be sure you've made a boot disk that works. Do you think you can take it from there?

Carerra,

i have done this many many times...

Assuming you have a working boot floppy, follow the steps below. If not then make one by going to settings>control panel>add/remove programs> on the top tab choose Start Up Disk then click Create Disk (you'll need you Win98 CD)

Once you have a start up Disk

1. Turn on your computer and press the Delete key to get into Bios (this may be F1 or F2 key with IBM, Compaq, HP and Dell machines)

2. Once you are in Bios look for an option to change the boot priotity or boot sequence. Its usually under the 'advanced' menu or 'boot' menu. Change it to
1st Floppy
2nd IDE0
3rd IDE1

This is the reason your computer will boot normaly even with a disk in the drive.

Save and exit.

3. Put the boot disk in the floppy drive and swtich on.

4. Once booted into dos type "format c:"
WARNING...etc click YES.

This takes a few minutes.

5. Restart you PC with you boot disk in the drive and when the menu comes up choose 'start computer with CD-ROM support'

6. when loaded, change to your cd drive by typing 'd:\' and pressing enter. d is the drive letter of you cdrom, it could be e or f or whatever.

7. Once in your cdrom root directory, type 'setup' and press enter.

away you go.

Cheers. I'll have to make a print of your notes for future reference. obviously it was the booting up problem that had me stumped. I've gotten a bit behind with computing as well and, so far, I only did some basic HTML and javascript. I never installed windows from the very beginning so I'll have to give it a go.

MountainPro said:

Carerra,

i have done this many many times...

Assuming you have a working boot floppy, follow the steps below. If not then make one by going to settings>control panel>add/remove programs> on the top tab choose Start Up Disk then click Create Disk (you'll need you Win98 CD)

Once you have a start up Disk

1. Turn on your computer and press the Delete key to get into Bios (this may be F1 or F2 key with IBM, Compaq, HP and Dell machines)

2. Once you are in Bios look for an option to change the boot priotity or boot sequence. Its usually under the 'advanced' menu or 'boot' menu. Change it to
1st Floppy
2nd IDE0
3rd IDE1

This is the reason your computer will boot normaly even with a disk in the drive.

Save and exit.

3. Put the boot disk in the floppy drive and swtich on.

4. Once booted into dos type "format c:"
WARNING...etc click YES.

This takes a few minutes.

5. Restart you PC with you boot disk in the drive and when the menu comes up choose 'start computer with CD-ROM support'

6. when loaded, change to your cd drive by typing 'd:\' and pressing enter. d is the drive letter of you cdrom, it could be e or f or whatever.

7. Once in your cdrom root directory, type 'setup' and press enter.

away you go.

Ah yes, didn't gather that part of your problem--that your boot sequence might be bypassing your floppy. Good tip from MountainPro.

Here are the steps. Perform them in exact order.

1. Go get a sledgehammer. A 5 pounder will work but a 10 pounder will work better.

2. Don safety glasses, this will get messy.

3. With sledgehammer in full cocked position behind your head, face your computer.

4. Beat that ancient piece of [censored] to oblivion.

5. Call Dell and buy a new computer with XP. 😄

Seriously, information given so far in this thread is good so if that doesn't work, this will.

Happy Bashing!

Actually, don't format directly from the cmd promp, go through FDisk and do it there.

Alrite guys, here's a riddler. I know a lot about pcs, youll find. anyway, so one day my computer outright stops working. it boots up, i feel the hard drive start, the fan on my video card works just fine, and removing the RAM causes my motherboard to signal (a sign of a working component) and the video card works in another computer, all connections are good. if no one can explain this in two days ill give you the solution.

Darjevon said:

Alrite guys, here's a riddler. I know a lot about pcs, youll find. anyway, so one day my computer outright stops working. it boots up, i feel the hard drive start, the fan on my video card works just fine, and removing the RAM causes my motherboard to signal (a sign of a working component) and the video card works in another computer, all connections are good. if no one can explain this in two days ill give you the solution.

Need more info. You boot up--get a POST? How far does it get before dying? And what does the dying look/smell like? Does it just go black? Power down? Does it moan, why? and tip over?

nothing appears on the screen at all. it signals no ram by beeping.

just a clue. my video cards fans are powered by a seperate molex input from the power supply, unlike the GPU which gathers power from the agp

Ive had a similar problem of a non booting system and was fixed by switching the psu.

prize goes to... uh... tatti! it is indeed a dead 1.5volt lead on the cheap psu my case came with!!!

Darjevon said:

Alrite guys, here's a riddler. I know a lot about pcs, youll find.

Man what a plonker, what are you trying to prove? Maybe you should try a computing forum.

jitteringjr said:

Actually, don't format directly from the cmd promp, go through FDisk and do it there.

it makes not the slightest bit of difference, you cannot format in win98 fdisk anyway. All you can do is remove a partition, then you have to add a new partition and you'll have to end up formatting that from the cmd prompt anyway since fdisk doesnt have the format command built in.

a:\format c: is easiest, most thorough and fastest option.

i dont know if you are referring to fdisk in XP boot disk but i am referring to win98 as Carrera has a win 98 machine.

you are right though, if he were using XP you probably wouldnt have to reformat because it would have fixed the problem for you....upgrade is the best solution.

Darjevon said:

Alrite guys, here's a riddler. I know a lot about pcs, youll find. anyway, so one day my computer outright stops working. it boots up, i feel the hard drive start, the fan on my video card works just fine, and removing the RAM causes my motherboard to signal (a sign of a working component) and the video card works in another computer, all connections are good. if no one can explain this in two days ill give you the solution.

explain 'stops working'.

do you mean it freezes up?

is this a laptop?

MountainPro said:

it makes not the slightest bit of difference, you cannot format in win98 fdisk anyway. All you can do is remove a partition, then you have to add a new partition and you'll have to end up formatting that from the cmd prompt anyway since fdisk doesnt have the format command built in.

a:\format c: is easiest, most thorough and fastest option.

That's right now that I think of it. Its really been a long time since I messed with 98.