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How to install windows
You may want to format your hard drive and start over from
scratch if your computer is generating a lot of error messages
and you can't seem to fix them. Before formatting, you may want
to try optimizing and fixing your Windows registry. If that
hasn't worked, you can also just try reinstalling windows. Just
run the setup.exe from your Windows CD. If all else has failed,
try to format, which will lose all your information and access
to your CD-ROM drive. Make sure you have your own valid copy of
Windows and that it is a full version rather than an upgrade. If
it's an upgrade, Windows won't let you install it without an
existing Windows installation.
First, you'll want to backup all of your important files. Of
course, this will vary depending on the user, but files you want
to consider are listed below (and some you might not have
realized you needed):
--My Documents folder (or wherever you keep your docs) --Any
programs or downloaded files that you don't have on CDs
--C:windowsfavorites (want to keep your favorite websites?)
--Netscape bookmarks --Any saved computer games you want to
keep! --Any special settings you have for particular programs
(the .ini files for WS-FTP is an example - containing all your
logins and passwords to FTP sites, the buddy lists in AIM or
Yahoo Messngers, etc.) --Your email if it's on your hard drive
--Any files created in programs that may have been saved in that
particular program's directory (i.e. Photoshop defaults to save
in the Photoshop directory) --C:windowsfonts (got any fonts
you need to keep?) --Sometimes backing up your Start Menu can be
helpful in reminding you what you need to install. --You may
also want to go to Device Manager (Right click on My Computer
and go to Properties) and write down the names of all your
components in case you have to decide which drivers to install
later. Then, you can go to the manufacturers' web sites and
download the newest drivers (which may be a good idea anyway)
1. Copy whatever files you may need to Zip Disks, CD-Rs, Floppy
Disks, another partition, etc. You can just drag and
drop the files to those storage devices. You may find it helpful
to use WinZip or WinRar to compress your files, especially if
you have to use floppy disks.
2. You will need a floppy boot disk with CD-ROM support. You
can do this by going to Start-Settings-Control Panel-Add/Remove
Programs-Startup Disk-Create Disk. This will create a boot disk
that will most likely have support for your CD-ROM Drive. If
that doesn't work, you can go to your Windows 98 CD and navigate
to toolsmtsutilfat32ebdfat32ebd.exe which will also create a
boot disk with CD-ROM support. I would STRONGLY suggest doing it
from the CD though. That will make sure you also have fdisk.exe
and format.com. Format.com is required for formatting your hard
drive! You can also get a boot disk at
http://www.bootdisk.com. *If the boot disk doesn't work,
you will need to manually install the CD-ROM drivers. See your
manufacturer's documentation or website for details.
3. Once you have done all this and backed up your files, start
up your computer with the boot disk in. Select startup computer
with CD-ROM support. It should boot to A:. At the A: prompt,
type in format c: (assuming C: is the drive you want to format).
Confirm that you want to format. When it asks for a volume
label, type in whatever short name you wish to use. Insert your
Windows 98 (SE or Original) CD and go to your CD-ROM drive
letter (which should have been specified as your computer was
booting up) by typing cd d: (assuming d: is your CD-ROM drive).
Then type in setup.exe to start setting up Windows. Windows will
begin installing, asking you basic questions that shouldn't be a
problem. That's it! When completed, just copy back the files you
backed up!
This brief tutorial assumes your hard drive has not previously
been formatted, fdisked, or had any operating system on it (but
this procedure can be followed even if that was the case). It's
to help you if you have just built your own computer from
scratch.
For more information on this subject and many more visit www.mypcfixes.com
About the author:
My name is Dustin and I am a website owner. I try hard every day
to get free information about how to fix your own computer into
the hands of as many as possible.