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JCT080399

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Starting with a clean install??

My daughter's computer is having too many error messages and I want to do a clean install, so here are my questions:

1. How do I clean off the hard drive and prepare it for the new install, I don't think I need to reformat the drive do I?  If so, how do I reformat, if not how do I delete all the stuff on the drive?

2. The system came with Win 95 "B" and since then I have upgraded to Win 98 and also to Win 98 SE.  Can I just install Win 98 SE without having to reinstall the two previous versions first? I read somewhere that you could do this if you have the numbers for the previous versions and just put them in.

Thank you

Jeff
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TedSenn

Make a boot disk programs --> settings --> ctrl panel --> add/remove software --> make boot disk.

2) check to see if disk will access the CD before you commit any no reversible actions.
3) Boot floppy and format c:
4) Install from CD OS of your choice. If you only have upgrades (not full installs) you will need to install WIN95B then upgrade to WIN98.
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I did say that if all you had were UPGRADES then install WIN95B and upgrade. The first part said to install the OS of your choice which  I assumed would be WIN98SE.
Ted, a Windows 98 or Windows 98SE "upgrade" CD can be used for a full install. An "Update" disk cannot!
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ASKER

Thanks for the info, but here's my OS.  When I bought the computer from Quantex it came with Win 95 OS2, I upgraded it with the upgraded version of Win 98.  Since then I have used the Win 98 SE updated cd from MicroSoft ($19.95) version.  So again do I install Win 95 first or Win 98 or Win 98 SE?

Thanks again

Jeff
One more thing, there is nothing on this system as far as address book or E-Mail to save, this is one backup step I can skip.

Jeff
Jeff, start the install with the Win98 CD (you can make a Win98 setup boot disk if you like before starting over). When the verification comes up, insert the 95 CD, then finish the load in. When you're all set, then apply the SE update.
One more thing, there is nothing on this system as far as address book or E-Mail to save, this is one backup step I can skip.

Jeff
Yes Jeff, skip that part. I always include it as people ask me for it.
I am reading over the information you've given and do appreciate the help.  I may have a few more questions before I start this, may I ask more?

Thanks Jeff
Of course!
Dennis

I did as you instructed I created a new Win 98 start disk.  I was asked to put the 98 SE disk in to create the startup disk.

Next I created the two disks A & B.

I located the files you instructed, and yes there was a config.sys file and a autoexec.bat file.  The following is now the contents of those files on each disk, tell me if this is what you want.

Disk A)  config.sys file

DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE
DEVICE=\winbak\command\TOSHIBA.SYS /D:MSCD000 /N:1 /P:220
DEVICE=A:\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=A\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
DEVICE=A:\OAKCDROM.SYS /D:MSCD001

The last three lines are those I added per instructions.

Disk A)  autoexec.bat file

@ECHO OFF
SET BLASTER=A220 I7 D1 T2
SET SNDSCAPE=C:\WINDOWS
PROMPT $p$g
PATH C:\WINDOWS;C\WINDOWS\COMMAND;C:winbak\comman;c\
SET MSINPUT=C:\MSINPUT
rem - By Windows Setup - LH C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX.EXE /D:MSCD000 if exist c:\winbak\rescue call c:\winbak\resetup
A:MSCDEX.EXE /D:MSCD001

The last line is added per instructions.

Disk B)  config.sys file

DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE
DEVICE=winbak\command\TOSHIBA.SYS /D:MSCD000 /N:1 P:220
DEVICE=C:HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:EMM386.EXE NOEMS
DEVICE=C:OAKCDROM.SYS /D:MSCD001

The last three lines added per instructions.

Disk B) autoexec.bat file

@ECHO OFF
SET BLASTER=A220 I7 D1 T2
SET SNDSCAPE=C:\WINDOWS
PROMPT $p$g
PATH C:\WINDOWS;C\WINDOWS\COMMAND;C\winbak\command;c\
SET MSINPUT=C:\MSINPUT
rem - By Windows Setup - LH C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX.EXE /D:MSCD000 if exist c:\winbak\rescue call c:\winbak\resetup
C:MSCDEX.EXE /D:MSCD001

The last line added per instructions.

Dennis does look the way it should before I proceed.

Thanks Jeff
A great start Jeff, but we need to make some changes though.

Change the files as follows:

Disk A)  config.sys file

DEVICE=A:\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=A\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
DEVICE=A:\OAKCDROM.SYS /D:MSCD001

The last three lines are those I added per instructions.

Disk A)  autoexec.bat file

A:\MSCDEX.EXE /D:MSCD001


Disk B)  config.sys file

DEVICE=C:\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
DEVICE=C:\OAKCDROM.SYS /D:MSCD001

Disk B) autoexec.bat file

C:\MSCDEX.EXE /D:MSCD001

What these are for Jeff is that in the event you have a problem, all of the files you need to restore your system and load 98 are available.

As for the Win98 SE boot disk, once you have partitioned the drive the way you want it, and then formatted it (by the way, make sure that format.com is on the Win98 boot disk), then you can reboot to the Win98 setup disk, choose "With CD Rom support" and load windows 98. The disks, "A" and "B" are purely for the purpose of providing you with a way back if you get into any trouble.

What I would like you to do is test disk "A" and the Win98 boot disk to make sure they both work and that you have access to your cd rom drive after booting to each one.



Dennis

Format.com is not on the windows 98 SE boot disk, should I add this and where do I get it, from the CD or from the current OS?

The following is a list of files on the boot disk:

Aspi2dos.sys
Aspi4dos.sys
Aspi8dos.sys
Aspi8u2.sys
Aspicd.sys
Autoexec
Btcdrom.sys
Btdosm.sys
Command
Config.sys
Drvspace
Ebd   (this is a zip file)
Ebd.sys
Extract
Fdisk
Findramd
Flashpt.sys
Himem.sys
Io.sys
Msdos.sys
Oakcdrom.sys
Ramdrive.sys
Readme
Setramd

Should I insert format.com??

Thanks Jeff
Dennis

Format.com is not on the windows 98 SE boot disk, should I add this and where do I get it, from the CD or from the current OS?

The following is a list of files on the boot disk:

Aspi2dos.sys
Aspi4dos.sys
Aspi8dos.sys
Aspi8u2.sys
Aspicd.sys
Autoexec
Btcdrom.sys
Btdosm.sys
Command
Config.sys
Drvspace
Ebd   (this is a zip file)
Ebd.sys
Extract
Fdisk
Findramd
Flashpt.sys
Himem.sys
Io.sys
Msdos.sys
Oakcdrom.sys
Ramdrive.sys
Readme
Setramd

Should I insert format.com??

Thanks Jeff
Dennis

Never mind I read the readme file and see that the zip file Ebd.cab has format.com in it.

Here goes I let you know what happens.

Jeff
Jeff, just use Find, Files and Folders and search for format.com and copy it to the floppy. If you boot to the floppy you can also copy from the ram disk that is created when you boot to the floppy.
Dennis

Thanks for all the information and help, the install was successful.  The system is up and running great, no errors no problems.  Again thanks.

Jeff
Great Jeff, well done!