Reformatting Question...

[LT4CAMSS]

How you guys doin. I'm sure this question has been asked before, but I was hoping someone can help me out wit this. How can I reformat a Laptop PC that does not have a floppy drive? Keep in mind I'm using the Win98 Boot Disk method. Would I have to copy all the boot disk files to CD and do it that way? I would appreciate any feedback. Thank you very much.

 

[jelloinhawaii]

Sounds like the laptop is capable of booting from CD if it didn't come with a floppy drive. Get into BIOS, and make sure CD is listed higher than HDD in boot priority. Now reboot with the CD in the drive. Most OS CDs will have some form of partition management so you can delete or rearrange partitions and format one for installation.

 

[jelloinhawaii]

Sounds like the laptop is capable of booting from CD if it didn't come with a floppy drive. Get into BIOS, and make sure CD is listed higher than HDD in boot priority. Now reboot with the CD in the drive. Most OS CDs will have some form of partition management so you can delete or rearrange partitions and format one for installation.

 

[johnjkr1]

Your windows 98 cd is likely not a bootable cd, but that isn't really a problem. There are plenty of sites out there that tell you how to make a bootable cdrom (as long as you have a burner).

This seems like a decent article on the process:

http://www.nu2.nu/bootcd/

So, once thats all done, just pretend the cd is a floopy boot disk and proceed as normal

 

[LT4CAMSS]

By the way...the OS I'm tryin to install is XP Pro. I only use the 98 Boot Disk in cases of reformattin simply cuz it's better than than other. Thanks for the feedback.

jelloinhawaii-The way you're describin it makes it seem like I don't have to even make a boot disk (in this case a boot CD). Is that true? Or will I simply use the boot CD as if it were a floppy boot disk and run through the whole procedure until I get to the point where I have to put in the XP CD? Sorry, I know that might sound confusing. Thanks for ur feedback however.



johnjkr1-I'm actually installing XP Pro and not 98 on this. Please see my question to jelloinhawaii. Thank you.

 

[johnjkr1]

If you have a real actual XP disc, its bootable...just set it as the first boot option in the bios...no need for a floppy....also, you can partition and format from the xp install