Do you plan on installing it back in, or installing a new OS. If you plan on installing a new OS then I would format and delete the partion. To do this you are going to need to make a boot disk. Do you have the Windows ME CD, if so then:
Start -> Settings -> Contorl Panel -> Add/Remove Programs -> Click the tab "Boot Disk" -> (Going to need a floppy disk for this next step, by doing this it will delete everything off the floppy disk) Insert the floppy disk -> Click "Create Boot Disk" -> (It will ask for the CD) Insert the CD -> Click "Ok"
If you dont have the Windows ME CD then download from
Bootdisk.com the Windows 98SE boot disk (the Windows ME Boot disk doesnt work all the times, using the 98SE will be fine). After it is done downloading then have a floppy ready and double-click the file that you just downloaded.
After you have a boot disk, using either method, then restart the computer. Select the option for no CD-ROM support. When you get to a black screen with
A:\ type
format C: and press enter
This is how the screen should look:
A:\format C:It is going to ask you if you are sure press
Y and enter if needed. Based on the size of your hard drive this can take a while. After it is done formating it will ask you to lable the drive just press enter. Press
Ctrl+Alt+Del this will restart the computer. Select the option for no CD-ROM support and when you get back to that black screen with
A:\ type
fdiskThis is how the screen should look:
A:\fdiskYou will come to a screen with alot of text press
Enter. You should came to a screen that has five options. Press 4 and then press Enter. Press 1 and then Enter. You should now be at a screen with a spreadsheet table like on the upper-half of the screen. There should be a mumber to the far left (1) press 1 and then enter for the lable name (or what ever the lable is under the coul.
Lable, it should be blanck unless you enter one when the hard drive was done formating). It is going to ask you if you are sure, press
Y and then Enter. Keep pressing ESC intill you get to the screen with:
A:\Now if you are going to be installing Windows XP then place the Windows XP CD in the CD-ROM Drive, removed the floppy, and press
Ctrl+Alt+Del. Now Windows XP will run it setup when it asks you for what type of file system pick
NTFS and make sure that is doesnt say quick for the formating.
If you are going to install another OS then Windows XP or have any questions about this then reply before doing.
By formating the hard drive all data(files) will be erased. So I would back them up to a thumbdrive or on to a CD-R/RW. And when you start to do this I would
Print this out so that you have it step by step. Hope that this helps, and reply or PM me with any question.
Edited by DHooper, 30 December 2004 - 05:18 AM.