formatting my hard drive

I'm having serious problems with my computer and I want to
reformat it. I have two cd rom on my system. I see them
whenever the system starts up; but whenever the desk top
get up their not there. Can not use either one. I've
tried formatting every way know. I've try for windows c
drive and clicked on setup and I get error messages saying
something is missing, I've tried safe mode, and shutting
down and starting in ms dos nothings allowing me to format
this machine.

To reformat the computer, you need a bootable floppy disk that
contains the appropriate version of the Format program. One way to get
this is to use a Windows Startup Disk. You can make such a disk with
Windows itself. Go to Control Panel's Add/remove Programs module. You
can obtainalso a Windows Startup Disk at:

http://www.bootdisk.com/

However, before reinstalling Windows 98, you should first try running
the System File Checker. Go to Start/Run and enter "sfc"

Furthermore, I do not think that reformatting is the smart way to go
because there is always a risk that the reformatting might wipe out
something you really need. Instead of reformatting, you should
reinstall Windows into a new, empty folder. The following articles
explain how to install Windows into a new folder:

How to Reinstall Windows 95 to a New Folder [142096]
http://support.microsoft.com/support...s/142/0/96.asp

How to Install Windows 98 to a New Folder [193902]
http://support.microsoft.com/support...s/193/9/02.asp

Information about reinstalling is also on www.windowsreinstall.com.




Bill Starbuck (MVP)

"Bill Starbuck" wrote in message:
snip
Furthermore, I do not think that reformatting is the smart way to go
because there is always a risk that the reformatting might wipe out
something you really need.

"Reformatting might wipe out".? Reformatting WILL wipe out, although =
possibly retrievable.


--=20
Brian A.

Jack of all trades, Master of none.
One can never truly be a master as there is always more to learn.

"Reformatting might wipe out".? Reformatting WILL wipe out, although possibly retrievable.

I said "reformating might wipe out something that your really need."
Reformating will certainly wipe out anything on the harddisk, but
there might be nothing on the harddisk that the user really needs.

Bill Starbuck (MVP)

"Might be nothing on the harddisk that the user really needs"!? There
certainly WILL be something on there he wants!

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"Bill Starbuck" wrote in message
...
| "Reformatting might wipe out".? Reformatting WILL wipe out,
although possibly retrievable.
|
| I said "reformating might wipe out something that your really need."
| Reformating will certainly wipe out anything on the harddisk, but
| there might be nothing on the harddisk that the user really needs.
|
| Bill Starbuck (MVP)

There
certainly WILL be something on there he wants!

No, if he has made backup cop[ies of everything, then he can reformat
the harddisk and not lose anything.

Indeed, since I have been using WinXP I have discovered that I have to
reformat at least once a year, so I have learned to keep very current
backups of EVERYTHING!

Bill Starbuck (MVP)

Bill-
Is there any particular reason you find it necessary to reformat in XP
so often? Or is it just installation fouling such as often happens in 98?
I'm putting together a machine for XP and this may be germane, you see.
Thanks,
Joe
"Bill Starbuck" wrote in message
...
There
certainly WILL be something on there he wants!

No, if he has made backup cop[ies of everything, then he can reformat
the harddisk and not lose anything.

Indeed, since I have been using WinXP I have discovered that I have to
reformat at least once a year, so I have learned to keep very current
backups of EVERYTHING!

Bill Starbuck (MVP)

I was just trying be funny, duplicating Brian A.'s complaint format.
Well, well, I was right about XP-poisoning, I see! Keeping a safe
distance from the radiation, I will watch your response to jt3 with
interest, as all good Win98 people should. OK, then. OK, thanks.

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"Bill Starbuck" wrote in message
...
| There
| certainly WILL be something on there he wants!
|
| No, if he has made backup cop[ies of everything, then he can reformat
| the harddisk and not lose anything.
|
| Indeed, since I have been using WinXP I have discovered that I have to
| reformat at least once a year, so I have learned to keep very current
| backups of EVERYTHING!
|
| Bill Starbuck (MVP)

Wouldn't say that it's XP RP. My family has been after me for some time
to get a newer, faster computer, and I finally relented, at least to the
extent of assembling one myself (since all my homebrew efforts have been
plagued with problems for years, and they aren't appreciated) and since most
advice seems to run towards '98 doesn't have the drivers, etc.' I'm
installing XP on that one. By no means does that mean I'm getting rid of
the other two with 98SE on them.
Besides, cranky computers, operating systems, and such are much like
that kid you had who was so much trouble from the word 'go'--you get a
special attachment to them! I've heard it described as masochism (not as
applied to kids) but I think it's just that one can't quite accept defeat!
And, I saw some subtle suggestions that even you, PCR, might be
susceptible to XP rationalization! :-)

Joe
"PCR" wrote in message
...
I was just trying be funny, duplicating Brian A.'s complaint format.
Well, well, I was right about XP-poisoning, I see! Keeping a safe
distance from the radiation, I will watch your response to jt3 with
interest, as all good Win98 people should. OK, then. OK, thanks.

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"Bill Starbuck" wrote in message
...
| There
| certainly WILL be something on there he wants!
|
| No, if he has made backup cop[ies of everything, then he can reformat
| the harddisk and not lose anything.
|
| Indeed, since I have been using WinXP I have discovered that I have to
| reformat at least once a year, so I have learned to keep very current
| backups of EVERYTHING!
|
| Bill Starbuck (MVP)

What is XP rationalization? Are you sure I have it?

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"jt3" wrote in message
...
| Wouldn't say that it's XP RP. My family has been after me for
some time
| to get a newer, faster computer, and I finally relented, at least to
the
| extent of assembling one myself (since all my homebrew efforts have
been
| plagued with problems for years, and they aren't appreciated) and
since most
| advice seems to run towards '98 doesn't have the drivers, etc.' I'm
| installing XP on that one. By no means does that mean I'm getting rid
of
| the other two with 98SE on them.
| Besides, cranky computers, operating systems, and such are much
like
| that kid you had who was so much trouble from the word 'go'--you get a
| special attachment to them! I've heard it described as masochism (not
as
| applied to kids) but I think it's just that one can't quite accept
defeat!
| And, I saw some subtle suggestions that even you, PCR, might be
| susceptible to XP rationalization! :-)
|
| Joe
| "PCR" wrote in message
| ...
| I was just trying be funny, duplicating Brian A.'s complaint format.
| Well, well, I was right about XP-poisoning, I see! Keeping a safe
| distance from the radiation, I will watch your response to jt3 with
| interest, as all good Win98 people should. OK, then. OK, thanks.
|
| --
| Thanks or Good Luck,
| There may be humor in this post, and,
| Naturally, you will not sue,
| should things get worse after this,
| PCR
|
| "Bill Starbuck" wrote in message
| ...
| | There
| | certainly WILL be something on there he wants!
| |
| | No, if he has made backup cop[ies of everything, then he can
reformat
| | the harddisk and not lose anything.
| |
| | Indeed, since I have been using WinXP I have discovered that I
have to
| | reformat at least once a year, so I have learned to keep very
current
| | backups of EVERYTHING!
| |
| | Bill Starbuck (MVP)
|
|
|
|