Often it may be necessary to remove Windows 95/98 and install a fresh copy, either becasue of virus damage, operating system corruption, or just becasue you want that fresh Windows feeling.
This method can be used to remove windows ready for a fresh install, while leaving all your other data on the hard drive. As you will be removing the Windows folder don't forget that you will need to re-install all your programs and also you will lose anything else that is contained in the Windows folder i.e. anything on your desktop, your Favorites, E-mails and address book etc. If your not sure then make sure anything important is backed up else where. The method is to remove the entire windows folder and its contents plus the files listed below which are in the root directory of your C Drive (assuming thats where you installed Windows).
1. To do this you will need a Windows start up or boot disk.
2. First, using Windows Explorer, copy 'Deltree.exe' and 'Attrib.exe' onto the boot disk. These files are located in your C:Windows\Command folder.
3. When finished copying, insert the boot disk and restart the computer. You're going to delete some file from the C directory, but first change their attributes so that DOS can see them.
At the 'A:\' prompt type:
attrib -h -r -s c:\*.*
(This command will clear the attributes of all the files in the root of 'C' i.e the -h -r -s will clear Hidden, Read Only and System attributes.)
4. Next, if your sure you have no files that need saving directly in the root of the C drive then its quickest and easiest to delete them all in one command:
del c:\*.*
Else, if you need to save files in your C:\ root directory, you can start deleting the system files below one at a time like this:
del autoexec.bat ( delete autoexec.bat ). Delete the following files: del Autoexec.bat (and any other autoexec files with other extensions)
del Bootlog.txt (and any other bootlog files with other extensions)
del Command.com
del Config.sys (and any other config files with other extensions)
del Detlog.txt (and any other detlog files with other extensions)
del Frunlog.txt
del Io.sys
del Msdos.sys (and any other msdos files with other extensions)
del Netlog.txt
del Scandisk.log
del Setup.log (and any setup files with other extensions)
del Suhdlog.dat (and any other suhdlog files with other extensions)
del System.1st
The del command will only delete files and not folders or anything contained in folders
5. Now to delete the entire Windows folder and its contents.
deltree c:\windows
The Deltree command will delete all files in the directory regardless of attributes. Don't think somethings not right if this function appears to take a very long time, 5 to 15 minutes is not unusual.
6. You're ready to reinstall Windows. Restart your computer, again using the bootdisk. Place the Windows Setup CD in the CD-ROM drive. At the command prompt type the letter of your CD drive (i.e. E:), next type setup. Follow the Windows setup prompts.
Note: When supplied with your computer, some versions of Windows require that you type oemsetup.
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