Re-installing windows 98SE

[malibu4u]

Hi People! Can a layman like myself reinstallwindows 98SE without any major problems? A friend has gotten themselves drummed up tighter than a drum with spywear,adware and probably viruses as well. Won't know till I go over there tonight and see. Hope I can run spy bot etc to cure but I dought it. Am I biteing off more than I can chew by trying it? Comments would be really appreciated. Tks. Ed

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Re-installing windows 98SE

Should be pretty easy Malibu. Between reloading 98, 2000 and XP, I can never remember the specifics but someone will chime in here. I think you have to run FDISK, from the dos prompt, to wipe the HD first and make sure you have the bios set to read the CD first. Then boot to the 98 CD and follow the instructions.<br /><br />I highly recommend that you partition the drive. That way he can write all of his data to the D drive and if he ever has to reload the OS again he doesn't have to back up all his data.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Re-installing windows 98SE

Ed,<br /><br />What make PC? A lot of boxes will come with a restore CD or a restore hidden partition which will re-image the disk to the way it shipped from the factory - including all the necessary drivers and pre-loaded software. There is also usually an option to do a partial restore which will preserve all the data and apps loaded since he purchased it. There is often no need to try to reload the OS from scratch. Check the manufacturers web site for instructions.

 

[malibu4u]

Re: Re-installing windows 98SE

Tks Boom and Ralph for your input. I am chicken to do things like this until I have seen it done or actually do it. Murphy's Law usually works for me....if it can go wrong, it will. I don't know what kind of PC it is Ralph but it will be old and probably will not have the restore capabilities. They work till 7 so I could not even find out if I wanted to. I will tell him John what you mentioned about partition the drive and see what he says. Makes sence to me to do it. Tks again guys for your help....less than 5 hrs to D day! What, me worry.....Yep!!!!!!!

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Re-installing windows 98SE

At the msdos prompt type chkdsk Older pcs had limited drive space and this could be his problem. When the hard drive starts approaching near full capacitiy it starts doing wierd things. If he is over 80 percent full it is time to start dumping junk or looking for a new computer.

 

[rattana]

Re: Re-installing windows 98SE

If you want to reformat and re-install Win98SE, you will need to make a startup disk on a floppy. Once the startup up disk is made there will be a help file on the floppy. If you read the help file it will give you step by step instructions for FDISK and FORMAT procedures. <br />Once you reformat the disk, the floppy will install a temporary CDROM driver to allow you to install the CD. Write down the steps in the help file before you do anything and follow them, you will have no problem.<br /><br />If you just reinstall Win98SE it will load any missing files, but will not necessarily remove any viruses or other spyware etc.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Re-installing windows 98SE

If it does not come with a recovery CD (sorry, I said restore earlier) then print and follow these instructions:<br /><br /> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;250928 <br /><br />You should ask them if it came with a recovery CD. Compaqs and some IBMs have hidden partitions on the HDD where it is kept (yes even for older 98SE machines) You can access it by pressing one of the function keys during startup. You should at least check the Mfgs web site to see if it's a possibility.

 

[malibu4u]

Re: Re-installing windows 98SE

Well Guys, Murhpy's Law Ruled again with me last night. I went to my friend's place loaded up with all the info you all gave me, photo copied the stuff off the net, made a back up disk and then photo copied the read me. I was confident to do this re install and as we pulled up to their yard, I saw the daughter leave in the car with her girlfriend's mother. Couple of minutes later my friends come home and they take me to their daughters computer which I didn't even know they had. Went to turn it on and all of a sudden they now need a password which the daughter put in. They called for her and I said you just missed her as she left. Well, a few choice words were said and they told me she was grounded and could not to go out( just earned a couple more weeks). Anyway, I figured it was a good time to leave as they were not happy. I was loaded for "Bear" with all my stuff but it would have been wrong anyway. This computer is a school one and is XP home version where my stuff was windows 98SE. Murphy's Law Ruled Again!!!!