Need Help - Win98

[KurtD]

I want to re-install Win98 from scratch without re-formatting my hard drive. I tried erasing my Windows directory, but I think there are files outside of Windows that need to be deleted as well....or maybe some commands that need to be entered to clean-up the disk?

I have programs and data all over the drive and don't want to lose the data files and this way I won't lose all my settings when I re-install my programs. (My critical data is backed-up on my second, smaller hard drive.) I'm basically being lazy.

I'm also considering buying a second hard drive, doing a fresh install of windows and programs, then copying the data over from the other drive. If I do this, what are the dos commands to take the system files off this drive so I can work with it?

My final question.... Would is the best way to back-up my OS and program files so I can restore them? I don't mind using a hard drive for this purpose.....

 

[tigerwannabe]

i've never tried to reinstall windows without reformatting a drive. what you might try is using some sort of drive cloning software, like norton ghost, to clone your source drive to another. anytime i've switched hard drives, i've always reinstalled everything from scratch. it just makes for
a more stable system. my .02 worth

 

[KurtD]

Last time I did that, I lost a bunch of stuff unintentionally. That is why I'm considering doing this without re-formatting. I figure it's worth a shot (since I'm lazy). After I install Windows I will re-install critical software, delete all the remaining un-registered programs (games & junk), then run Norton Utilities to make sure everything is clean. I'm thinking I will delete all the files from C:\ (root only, leaving system files) and use DelTree to get rid of all the windows files. I should hopefully then be able to re-install Windows and clean up the remains.... (Hopefully when I re-install programs they will inherit settings from the un-registered programs on the original drive. I know this worked with Quicken....)

My alternative, as I see it, is to start from scratch with a second hard drive. Once I have installed and copied all my data and settings, I can then re-format the original drive and use it to ghost the original. Ironically, I just installed Norton Systemworks Pro, but have not yet taken the time to learn how to use the Ghost software. If I choose this option, what is the dos command to remove the system files from the "old" drive?

Any Windows experts out there have an opinion?

 

[DeeK]

You'll need to nuke the files in the root C:\ folder as well. That way Win98 setup won't find an existing operating system. I usually wipe C:\Program Files as well, but that isn't required. Just the files in C:\ and C:\Windows should do.

 

[KurtD]

Update: I tried wiping the Windows directory and most of root C. Win98 loaded ok but I got an error message about some VXD's and something about not being able to combine monolithic files or something. I had already copied my data out of the program direcories so I gave in and re-formatted the hard drive. Now I'm off to buy a new hard drive for imaging/back-up as well as a CDRW for off-line back-ups of my data. Of course, I have the pleasure of re-installing all my apps and driver updates (and dirty looks from my wife for ignoring her)......

Lesson learned: find a way to back-up my OS and programs so I don't waste 3 days jerking around with this stuff! Considering I work for a company that manufactures back-up equipment and software, I should do better (damn this Accounting degree)!

 

[tigerwannabe]

uh oh, it ain't good to ignore the wife but like you said, nothing beats a good, reliable backup when it comes time to do serious stuff to your pc. accounting scares me, so you're a braver man than i to have a degree in it