OT: Formatting Help Required :)

[[TSQN] Fu11]

i'm going to attempt to format my computer this evening, i've backed-up any data or files i want to keep (read: my data.all and any applications i can't be assed to re-download, 7 zip disks worth, bleh) and am reading to flatten the lot,

here's the crunch,

i can't actually remember how to format, i DON'T have any DOS disks, and thinking about it, i'm pretty sure that the original CD that came with my comp (only original part left is the CD drive lol), but i'll need the driver for that won't i? is there any way i can store the driver somewhere (a floppy or something) that'll enable me to boot the CD drive via floppy once i've formatted? if so, could you let me know where LOL... if someone could give me, literally, a step by step instructions on how to format everything (but keep DOS obviously, d'uh) then PLEASE DO! i know it can be done this way, i've done it before, but can't remember for the life of me. thought i best get instructions from people who know what they're on about, rather than just attempting it myself and buggering it up :)

thanks in advance!

Fu11

[Luke Warmwater]

Isn't the basic driver for the cd (and the floppy drive etc) in the bios. You can't "keep" DOS if you format, as a format wipes everything. The only way you could do it, would be to partition the drive, with just DOS in the partition you don't want to format. But you don't need to do that, its the bios tha you need (isn't it????).

Once you've pressed the button and wiped the drive (wahey!!), you'll need to make sure your bios is set to boot from the cd drive, stick the windows cd in, and away you go.:)

...well, worked for me, but I daresay the techies will have some more to say.
:)

[Dave B]

Fu11, create one of them rescue disks from the Winders control panel add/remove thingy. When you have done so boot from that floppy and type FORMAT C:

Thats about it really, Im sure it creates a floppy with the FORMAT command on there and all your CD drivers.

Then insert your Winders CD and type D:setup from the prompt.

Youll need your Winders ser no, and all your driver disks for modem, scanner, printer, sound card, joystick, GFX card.

Good luck.

[Luke Warmwater]

Oh yeah, I did use a boot disk to get to the a:\ prompt. TY Dave.
:)

[Luke Warmwater]

...or did I??
I think I booted from the windows cd (just a standard one, not a recovery cd...)

[[TSQN] Fu11]

I remember doing something along the lines of formatting, but it kept DOS installed as i didn't have the disks, i think Roblist ran me through it..? damn this memory of mine!

Aye, i've got all my drivers and whatnot collected and ready i think... sudden panic... GFZ card driver may still be in Manchester, ARGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH...

poo.

:cry:

<prays he brought it with him when he moved>

anywhere on the net i can download drivers? :laugh:

Voodoo 3 3000 PCi
Monster MX300 Sound Card

:emb:

:laugh:

typical Fu11 D'OH!

[Dave B]

Nooooo u cant boot from the CD, u need a floppy boot disk to set up the CD drive and assign a logical drive letter.

Unless someone knows different?

[Samson]

If your running win98 make a start-up disk from control panel>add/remove programs>startup disk. Win98 s/u disk includes cd rom support for startups. Then search for the file 'format.com' on your hardrive (as this is never put on the startup disk for some reason) and put that on yer s/u disk as well.

Then make sure you have all your drivers for all other cards (sound/video etc) although these don't matter that much, as long as you have net access after the reinstall of windows, you can re download any drivers you forgot.

And make sure you have a working copy + license key for Windows 98! you don't need to worry about DOS or anything doing it this way as it's all on the win98 disk.

Restart PC with s/u floppy in drive when it gets to the a: prompt type 'format c:' and wave bye bye to the next couple of hours ;)

I always fdisk the drive first as well, but I don't think its really needed. If I've missed anything, I'm sure someone will take great pleasure in pointing it out :P

[Samson]

Some BIOSs let you boot from the CD, depends how old yer Mobo is, if you bought it more than a year 1/2 ago it's unlikely to support booting from CDs.

[[TSQN] Fu11]

So i won't have to drive home this evening to get my Diamond and voodoo drivers, hallelujah! :laugh:

might as well download them now :)

i've got win98 disc, modem drivers (the one box i DID bring with me! :D ) so cross fingers, i'll be back in time for praccy tonight!

umm, i got my Mobo, umm, not THAT long ago actually.. i think it is over 6 months though... i'm presuming i'll have to use floppy then?


found my old [Elite] data.all's, so might have a fly around as Solus later if all goes well :D

[Samson]

Fu11 m8y, if you mobos not that old it should support boot from CD. Check this in your BIOS under 'BIOS FEATURES SETUP' and see if you can change the boot sequence to check the CD ROM first. If it does, leave the win98 cd in the cd drive and restart, and it should say 'Booting from cd' or summat similar.

TBH if you've got the floppy s/u disk now, it's just as easy to do it that way. The only difference is booting from FD takes a bit longer thats all :)

Handy to know if it does support cd boot though, for future use if yer FDD goes tits up.

[[TSQN] Fu11]

will check it all later when i get home, have just downloaded my Voodoo and Diamond drivers, so i should be sorted once it's done :D

bye bye evil trojans and virii! :E

[[TSQN]RedKite]

Full, are you gonna be ready in time for "the" match (check yer email) :)

[ReKKa]

I can't remmember how I did it.
I just back everything up on me m8ts drive (after having emptied it of porn :P - thats my m8ts drive by the way, not my H/D) and stumble into it, using guess work.
I manage 2 do it OK evertime.
Just make sure U got all your driver disks.

[[TSQN] Fu11]

i could've sworn my sound card was an MX300, can only find drivers for MX400... hmmm... ?


Kitey, checking mail now :)

[Hellraisermk2]

When I formatted my C drive it kept DOS installed... all I did then was boot up from the Windows CD (I don't have a floppy drive cos I buggered it up a while ago) and then run Win98 setup... nice and simple.

Was I lucky or sommet?

[[TSQN] Fu11]

mail received and understood m8y.

Pete already confirmed the change with me the other night :)

and as for what Faith gave me for my birthday, i got a little silver plane, with a clock face (now sat atop my monitor at work) and she took me to the local theate to see a comedy production called "On a night like this" which was excellent :)

enough details for you, old man? :wink:

:P

[animani]

Originally posted by [TSQN] Fu11


found my old [Elite] data.all's, so might have a fly around as Solus later if all goes well :D [/B]


lol wonder if ive got an old data all with pixel/pegasus on,we could have a 1v1.
DD would go ape LOL

[[TSQN] Fu11]

i won't tell him if you don't :E



found the Mx300 drivers now :)

[Hellraisermk2]

Originally posted by animani
Originally posted by [TSQN] Fu11

found my old [Elite] data.all's, so might have a fly around as Solus later if all goes well :D
[/B]

GAH.. I never knew you were Solus (or if I did I've forgotten)... used to have some excellent DF's and always wondered where he'd disapeared to...

[[TSQN] Fu11]

teehee, KTF game versus Elite, has IJ shouting "I NEVER KNEW YOU WERE SOLUS! BAST! Figures..." :laugh:

[Samson]

Originally posted by Hellraisermk2
When I formatted my C drive it kept DOS installed... all I did then was boot up from the Windows CD (I don't have a floppy drive cos I buggered it up a while ago) and then run Win98 setup... nice and simple.

Was I lucky or sommet?

Unlikely DOS was still installed after you formatted C:
Did you try to start up with no CD in the drive? You probably would have got an 'Invalid system disk or system not installed' error :)
More likely that when you re booted the win 98 CD took over and installed the necassary files to enable it to reinstall windows.

[[TSQN] Fu11]

so when i get home...
check to see if my BIOS allows boot from CD..

create s/u disk, putting format.com on it too..

restart 'chine with floppy in..

format C.. wait...

then... ummm...

:emb:

[[TSQN] Fu11]

Originally posted by [TSQN] Fu11
then... ummm...

:emb:






HEEEEEEEEEELP MEEEEEEHHHHH :P

[Unkempt]

1) Make sure PC is turned on at the mains.
2) Throw bucket of water over PC.

Sorted.

[[TSQN] Fu11]

can't find my bloody windows 98 CD now :cry:

[Blade]

Think we lost Full in one of those mystery worlds? like a working comp but no O/S...been very quiet don't ya think.

I simply d/l the cd rom drivers for old speck machines and stick them on a floppy for when formatted,then run setup for windows 95/98.

[animani]

yehaaaa party time ,fulls gone.







sorry m8 i aint been any help have i.hope it all went well.

[[TSQN] Fu11]

TSQN praccy actually :P

[Rogue Trooper]

I darn't format....me original win 98 disk was damaged when i moved and now i have a m8s scanky copy, which barely works...(and make my cd rom go funny!!?) So i'll stay with all my crap growing into my 22GB HD!!!


:( :(

:trooper:

RT

[Doc Bob]

Rogue, I would advise you to make a partition and put the Windows setup files in there from a borrowed good copy.

Fu11 m8y, Win98 startup disk has CD access as an option, w95 doesnt. It is possible to format a disk and place the SYSTEM files automatically there, but not the DOS files.

command is:
format <drive>: /s

if you aint sure of what you can get out of the format command type: format /? in the DOS window beforehand.

Hope you are successful
:E