Boot Disk
If this is a Windows 2000, or XP, the boot disk is built into the CD.
Some factory machines have Windows 98 on a "Restore Disk".
Some Compact and Gateway machines can be like this.
You still might want to run some disk utilities first.
| The way I do it is: insert the boot disk. (better make one) | |
| Get a good floppy, go to control panel, add/remove programs, then Startup Disk. click the little picture |  |
| You can make a boot disk from any Windows 98/ME machine. | |
| turn on or boot the machine, with the boot floppy in the drive | |
| Get GW-SCAN first, before you jack with your machine. Go to Zeros Page and read the directions. | FTP LINK |
If it's a new drive, you need to run FDISK
also see my DISK page
the computer starts on the floppy, instead of the hard-drive
it will ask something like:
1. do you want to start with CDROM support?
2. do you want to start without CDROM ?
3. start with network support?
4. view the help file.
Choose #1 or #2, at this point it does not matter.
this creates a RAMDRIVE. It's ok this time.
it's like a little baby hard-drive, but it exists, only in memory.
this will MESS with your drive letters.
to check this just change drive letters.
A:\>C:
C:\>
Then type "dir /p" and see if it looks like the stuff on your hard-drive.
C:\>dir /p
DOS will answer:
Volume in drive C has no label
Volume Serial Number is 1D71-18EA
Directory of C:\
WINDOWS <DIR> 04-29-01 5:28p WINDOWS
MYDOCU~1 <DIR> 04-29-01 5:47p My Documents
PROGRA~1 <DIR> 04-29-01 5:29p Program Files
DELL <DIR> 04-29-01 5:51p Dell
TRA <DIR> 04-29-01 7:22p TRA
TRAPRIV <DIR> 04-29-01 7:22p TRAPRIV
TRADATA <DIR> 04-29-01 7:22p TRADATA
~MSSETUP T <DIR> 04-29-01 9:53p ~MSSETUP.T
NCDTREE <DIR> 05-02-01 8:40a NCDTREE
PHOTOS <DIR> 04-29-01 10:51p photos
DRIVERS <DIR> 04-29-01 7:53p drivers
BACKUP~1 <DIR> 04-29-01 9:00p backup-ini
ATI <DIR> 04-30-01 5:04p ATI
DELLUTIL <DIR> 05-09-01 11:41a DellUtil
BACKUP <DIR> 05-09-01 2:31p backup
WIN98S~1 <DIR> 05-17-01 8:52a Win98 SE
TEMP <DIR> 05-23-01 2:28p TEMP
MYMUSI~1 <DIR> 06-10-01 3:34p My Music
~OFFFILT <DIR> 06-20-01 5:53p ~offfilt
Press any key to continue . . .
Keep pressing space-bar until it's finished.
You can always tell which drive has your Windows CD-ROM and it will have "autorun" as a file.
Now you can just format the drive. It is always "format", then space, then the drive letter, then colon.
C:\>format C:
DOS will answer:
"this will remove all data from fixed disk".
are you sure? (y) (n)
hit the "Y" key.
Freak out and panic NOW
DOS will answer:
Do you wish to enable 32bit FAT for hard-drives over 512k ?
Answer yes
Then it just goes, very slowly, with something like
verifying integrity %2
If it refuses to format, then run GWSCAN. (this requires the boot disk to be running)
I always run GWSCAN anyway, Thanks Burt
When you are all done formatting, it may ask you to boot.
Boot, and when you come back, you start with the CD_ROM support.
then type "setup" at any prompt or drive letter.
tap the Enter key and off you go.
After Widows installs and is running, install your video card drivers.
You should have these, from the stack of CD's that came with your PC.
You might bet better results installing drivers, by booting into "SAFE MODE"
Just hit F8 during boot.
This is very important as most install programs require 256 colors or more.
After you get the Video card installed, then set to hi-color or better.
Now you should check and see what hardware still needs installed.
Right mouse button on "My Computer" to get System Properties
Install modems, network cards, with the original install disks.
Some hardware requires that you install the drivers FIRST, then the card.
So you gotta take it out, do the drivers, then put the card back in the machine.
For more detailed instructions go to http://www.bootdisk.com/txtfiles/hdd.txt
That's all for now.
Mike Miller
mike@millerappraisal.kscoxmail.com
(work)
billgates@msn.com (home)
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