How to do a clean install of new OS

[austin316]

Ok, I have some old PC's running windows '95 and I want to switch the OS to '98. My question is how do I erase everything off the hard drive, so all I have with the new install is '98. Also, is it possible to keep the drivers for my cd-rom, or will those be deleted?

 

[Vadatajs]

Windows 98 should be able to boot from the cd if your hardware supports it. Otherwise, you would have to use a windows 98 boot disk, which contains generic cd rom drivers that will get you through the install. Same story with the windows 95 boot disk (if you don't have windows 98). All you really need is dos with cd rom support. The setup routine will probably give you the option of reformatting the hard drive, because you are most likely running fat16, and windows 98 supports fat32. Windows 98 should include the proper cd rom drivers.

 

[btvillarin]

Precautionary note: Make sure you download the drivers for your hardware components. If you have a CD-writer, burn them to a CD, or store them in a separate partition (if you have one HD), or on a separate hard drive.

If you just format your whole hard drive, everything will be deleted. If you want to split up your HD into sections (to keep data separate from OS, in case you have to reinstall or format later), you'll need a boot disk with FDISK and CD-Rom drivers:
http://content.techweb.com/winmag/columns/explorer/1999/1025.htm

Here's the article to partition your HD: http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;q255867

Here's some drivers you can be sure you'll need:
Video Card drivers
Sound Card drivers
Modem (if any)
RAID (if any)
NIC (unless it's popular)

To get started for the driver hunt, start at http://www.drivershq.com.

Good luck!

 

[FOBSIDE]

the win98 boot disk should have drivers for your cd-rom so you can install. you can get a win98 boot disk from http://www.bootdisk.com.

 

[rip22]

I use fdisk and then i boot from the cd

 

[austin316]

Ok then. how do I format my hd? or is this given as an option during installation?

 

[ricerx]

<< Ok then. how do I format my hd? or is this given as an option during installation? >>


If you have a 98 boot disk or can boot into your win 98 CD, they both have the format command in there. In the boot disk, all you do is while you're in the dos prompt just type: format c:

If you use the win 98 CD, make sure your bios is set to boot from CD ROM first. Load the disk in, restart and when it asks you if you want to boot from hard disk or CD, choose CD. The next menu should be something like:

Start Windows 98 Setup
Command Prompt with CD Support
Command Prompt without CD Support.

Choose Command Prompt with CD Support. I forget if it places you in the CD ROM Drive when you;re in the dos prompt. anyway, if you're not in the CD Drive, change directories to it. now go into the win98 directory. if your CD ROM has drive letter D then it would look like this: D:/ cd win98

Inside this directory, you'll find the Format.com program. now just type: format c:

Also like Vadatajs said, if you're current setup is fat16, i think the if you just start the 98 setup program, it might ask if you want to format as fat32. I don't remember. Anyway if it doesn't, follow the above methods.