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Reformatting
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Based
this page on the FAQ I'm regularly asked by Bar punters...It's for
Windoze users only, those who run Linux [real geeks] and DOS will
know the answers anyway....There are different [and no doubt easier/quicker]
ways to do the jobs listed here but this is my way and it works!
Oh..and
the disclaimer, if any of you cock up your machine, lose files,
love letters, hair, get the sack or divorced over what's on this
page, then tough...if you're still not sure after reading this...then
don't do it...call me...
Cable
modem sites
As
more of you are getting on the Broadband wagon here some links to
sites you might like to visit.
This
first link will run a speed check on your modem...
For
Surfboard owners this will give you loads of info on your modem
For
those running with or without a router or firewall this site will
test your system security [also ok for dialup users]
If
after running above you decide you need a firewall, try here for
a free one...
...and
if you need free antivirus software, try here.
This
is link to Robin walker's page, he's recognised as some kind of
broadband guru..excellent especially for nthell users..
For
more speed checks try these links:
and
for miscellaneous info and tests try these
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Reformatting
an re-installing OS on a Windows 9x unit.
You
may want to do this for various reasons...a fault you can't clear,
a virused machine, new HDD or, if you're Schmeichel, just for the
hell of it...
Things
to make sure you have BEFORE starting are all the drivers for your
system hardware, sound, graphics, motherboard, printer, scanners
etc...Some of these may be on the Windows installation disc others
may not...although not critical to getting the unit back up and
running it will make life easier. You also need to save any files
you wish to keep, these might include, your favourites list,, your
address book and any emails as well as document files - remember
you can't get them back!
You
will also need a Windows start up floppy...if you didn't get one
when you got your machine you can make one by going to Control Panel
and clicking on Add/Remove programmes select theStartup Disk tag
and click on 'Create Disc'...you will need a floppy disc...
Boot
up with floppy and select start up with CD support...it will do
its thing..and tell you which drive letter your CD-rom is on.when
complete put a disc in the Cd rom [window disc would be good] and
make sure it will read...to do this at the A:> prompt type the
drive letter of the Cdrom followed by colon...then type dir
and you will get directory read out from disc... if CDrom not working
then go no further...you will not be able to install from it!!!
If
you are fitting a new HDD it will be necessary to run FDISK first
set up a primary DOS and any other partitions you may require, if
you're changing any of the HDD properties then you will only need
to run FORMAT ans can skip next section.
FDISK
This
is not the place to give a full working manual for FDISK and I'll
deal with the bits that are relevant to getting the HDD partitioned
and ready for formatting.
Whenever
you make ANY changes with FDISK you MUST reformat the drive[s] affected...
When
you start FDISK you're greeted with the screen below, just say Y..
then
you will get screen giving you a choice of options...
If
it is a new HDD you will want create a DOS partition and make it
active...so it choice 1...and you should get a screen simliar to
this...
again
we require choice 1...if there is already a primary DOS parttiion
on the drive FDISK will report this, you can go back to prevoius
display and delete DOS parttiions and start again, but as said this
is not for this tutorial.
If
there isn't a partition, i.e. on a new HDD, FDISK will ask you what
size you wish it to be, for now we are going to make it the maximum
or 100% of the drive..so tell it that...when its been created it
will assign a drive letter [c] to the volume. and go back to the
initial choice screen...choosing 4 here will allow you to view the
partition information on the drive...when happy ESC your way out
of FDISK until back at A:> prompt. REBOOT again from windows
boot disc. [There is no need for CD support this time]
FORMAT
We
now need to format the HDD [or partitions we have created]. At the
A:> prompt type format c: /u
and it will give you a 'WARNING,
ALL DATA ON NON-REMOVABLE DISK DRIVE C: WILL BE LOST! Proceed with
format [Y/N]'
Say
Y and it will ask you again whether you really want to do this...tell
it Y and it will format the drive...this takes quite a few minutes
on some of the new big drives, think my 20gig took about 10 minutes...
When
its complete it will ask you volume for a volume name, just hit
Enter if you can't think of a humorous or deeply meaningful
name for your new drive...we are now ready to install windows OS
on the drive.
Installing
Windows
Reboot
the machine from windows boot disc and this time select CD-Rom support.
When its complete put the windows Cd in the drive and at the A:>
prompt type Setup and follow its lead..it will do some inital checks,
run scandisc and go into its setup routine. follow the prompts and
if not sure about any of the questions asked, select the default...you
can always change it later.
You
will need your hardware driver discs now as windows will interrogate
your system for hardware, how to do this is once again not for this
time, if in doubt RTFM, and/or follow the prompts. Most the the
best known equipment drivers will be on your Windows disc...hopefully
Well
that's it for the first tutorial...there will be more to follow,
any of you geeks out there see anything wrong with the tips here
please let me know by email,
see link at top of page...
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