"Beginner Guide: Re-Partition, Re-Format and Re-Install" Dan Edgar - 6/22/00
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There is something we all do but nobody likes to talk about. No doubt this is related to two factors. The first is its repetitive nature. The second is, we have to do it far more often than we like to admit. Forced repetition and frequency of repetition can take the fun out just about anything.
I call it the three "R's":
Re-Partition, Re-Format, Re-Install
There are several ways to "set up" a hard drive; I'll only concern myself here with the easiest and simplest.
I've always found the following to be quite adequate for installing a single operating system. If you're a beginner, you don't want to try for more than one OS...not yet.
A word before you begin: The following will, without any reservation, COMPLETELY WIPE YOUR HARD DRIVE OF EVERY SINGLE THING ON IT!!!!
So BACK UP all your personal files. This includes Saved Games, Your Address Book, Favorites in Explorer - anything you want to re-install in your next incarnation of Windows. You will not be able to recover these files in any way unless you back them up NOW, BEFORE we begin.
First, make VERY SURE you have a working "Windows Start-up Disk" on hand. If you don't you can make one as follows: (This guide assumes you're using Win 98.)
Go to "Control Panel", then to "Add and Remove Programs".
Select "Start-up Disk", click on "Create Disk". You'll need a newly formatted disk in your "A:" drive.
Next, test your "Windows 98 Start-up Disk":
Leaving the floppy in "A:" drive put your Win 98 CD in and reboot;
A DOS program will start by asking if you want to start you computer with or without CD-ROM support;
Choose "With support";
Windows will now load a series of utilities, including a RAM drive for your CD-ROM that allows you to access your Win 98 CD;
(Note: We are about begin the re-partition process which will require a re-boot and a re-loading of your DOS utilities. In the future, now that your sure of your Win 98 Start up disk, you can choose "without CD support" at this stage. It saves time to not load CD support until you're ready to format).
But now that we're here and already have the RAM Drive loaded in order to test our "Start-up Disk", there's no reason not to proceed.
At the DOS prompt, type FDISK, which will bring up a screen that basically asks if you wish to use large disk support:
Choose "yes" by pressing the enter key.
Now you will be presented with the FDISK Options Menu.
This is the last chance you will have to get cold feet! If you want to back out and wait until a later date to try this for the first time, DO IT NOW!!!
Mind you, you really can't hurt your equipment by going forward. BUT as I said before, anything not backed up WILL BE FOREVER GONE!
Right. Let's get to it:
Choose #3 "delete partition";
This will give you a warning and a confirmation;
Choose "yes";
You may have to type in the "label" of the disk volume. It's printed at the top, so just type it below and say "yes" again;
WHOOOPS! there goes Windows!
Now hit the ESC key and go back to main menu;
Choose #1 to create a DOS partition;
Now leave the floppy in and reboot, Load Windows Start-up Disk WITH CD-ROM SUPPORT;
At the A: prompt type FORMAT C: /s You'll get a warning message about losing everything on C: - Not to worry it's long gone anyway.
Windows will now format your hard drive. When it's done formatting you'll get a chance to:
Choose a new Volume label. This is one of my favorite things. I have two machines so I type: DA-VOID and BIG EMPTY. (The eleven letter limit includes spacing, it's sort of the Haiku of the hard drive). Hit Enter.
Now, back at the A: prompt again, just type setup.
Windows will check your hard drive for errors. When it's finished:
Click on "exit"
Anwser "yes" to everything Windows wants.
I always choose "Custom" install and think you should too! You can always add or remove features later if you change your mind. But why put things on a fresh HD you know you'll never use?
From here Windows will drop you off on your newly installed desktop, ready to rumble.
GOOD LUCK!!
Update: 7/6/00
There are two things I was remiss in not mentioning.
The first is quite simple but can have a big effect when re-installing Windows. One should always remove, that is disconnect Zip drives, Sound cards, network cards, in short any thing not completely essential to installing Windows.
This makes a Windows install much easier as Windows is less likely to have trouble configuring your system. It also makes it easier to determine just what's bugging Windows when things take a wrong turn.
The second was something I deliberately left out not to complicate matters, but many readers felt I should include it. That is installing Windows from the hard disk.
Basically, you set up a directory on C: drive after you have formatted your hard drive. You copy all the Windows installation files from your CD-ROM into this directory and then install Windows from your hard drive.
I haven't done this before, so thanks, Jen, for sending me these instructions:
After an fdisk and format, get to a DOS prompt and do the following:
Type c: after the A:/ prompt, then press [Enter].
You now get a C:> prompt. type (don't type any quotes in these instructions): "md W98" and press [Enter]. This will create a folder called W98.
Type "d:" (or whichever letter is your CD-ROM, then press [Enter].
Type "CD win98" and press [Enter].
Type copy *.* c:\w98 and press [Enter]. This will copy the entire Win98 directory from the CD-ROM to the W98 directory that you created.
After everything is copied and the computer gives you a d:\win98 prompt; type "c:" and press [Enter]
Make sure you're at the c:\w98 directory, if not, just type "CD w98" and press [Enter]
Type "setup.exe", press [Enter] and the installation will start.
