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Reformatting hard drive
Now that I have all the files I need off the old computer that I've mentioned
before, I'd like to reformat the hard drive and install Windows 98SE (I already have the install CD). I might also want to partition it and install 98SE and something else. The only thing I'm worried about is whether or not things like my mouse, keyboard, and modem will still work whenever I reformat the hard drive and install 98SE, because I don't know if they'll have the drivers they need or not. So, what I'd like to know is: --How do I reformat a hard drive? --How much harder would it be to partition the hard drive and install two systems on it, as opposed to not partitioning it and installing one? And if I did partition the hard drive, how would I install the different systems, and how would I choose which one to boot with at startup? --Will my mouse, keyboard, motem, etc. still work after the hard drive is reformatted and a new system is installed? If could link to websites that answer these questions, that would work too. Thanks. |
#2
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Reformatting hard drive
You have to partition the hard drive whether you install one operating
system or several. If you install one operating system then you can create one partition. If you install more than one operating system you should create a separate partition for each one. There's some information about partitioning he http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/partitions.html Windows 98 does not include any functionality for booting to different operating systems. Other operating systems do, and you can take advantage of that. For instance, if you create two partitions, install W98 in one, then install XP in the second, you will get an option to use the XP boot manager to select between W98 and XP. The mouse and keyboard will work without any special drivers. Other devices may or may not need their special drivers, depending on what devices are supported by the operating system. Generally, if a device didn't exist when W98 was released, then you should assume that the drivers will not be available by default and will have to be installed separately. Here is a site that describes the process for installing W98. For other operating systems you will need to ask somewhere more appropriate. http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/w98_restore.html -- Jeff Richards MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User) "bookworm656" wrote in message ... Now that I have all the files I need off the old computer that I've mentioned before, I'd like to reformat the hard drive and install Windows 98SE (I already have the install CD). I might also want to partition it and install 98SE and something else. The only thing I'm worried about is whether or not things like my mouse, keyboard, and modem will still work whenever I reformat the hard drive and install 98SE, because I don't know if they'll have the drivers they need or not. So, what I'd like to know is: --How do I reformat a hard drive? --How much harder would it be to partition the hard drive and install two systems on it, as opposed to not partitioning it and installing one? And if I did partition the hard drive, how would I install the different systems, and how would I choose which one to boot with at startup? --Will my mouse, keyboard, motem, etc. still work after the hard drive is reformatted and a new system is installed? If could link to websites that answer these questions, that would work too. Thanks. |
#3
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Reformatting hard drive
Adding to Jeff's comments and assuming the PC will start in safe mode,
before you do anything, go to Control Panel, Device Manager and write down the descriptions of all your hardware. Look through any disks that came with the PC and see if there are driver disks. If you are looking at a dual boot for other than XP, you will need a boot manager and partitioning program. W9X dual boots are best done with two primary partitions (one for each system) and fdisk cannot do that. BootIt Next Generation is available from: http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/ and it does partitioning, makes a compressed image, does many other partitioning chores and is a boot manager. It is not quite as easy to use as Partition Magic but it is half the cost and has more features. Unlike the crippled PMagic demo, BING is a *full function* demo you can try for FREE for 30 days. The web site has a lot of support articles. -- Regards Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98 Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour Knowledge Base Info: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo "bookworm656" wrote in message ... Now that I have all the files I need off the old computer that I've mentioned before, I'd like to reformat the hard drive and install Windows 98SE (I already have the install CD). I might also want to partition it and install 98SE and something else. The only thing I'm worried about is whether or not things like my mouse, keyboard, and modem will still work whenever I reformat the hard drive and install 98SE, because I don't know if they'll have the drivers they need or not. So, what I'd like to know is: --How do I reformat a hard drive? --How much harder would it be to partition the hard drive and install two systems on it, as opposed to not partitioning it and installing one? And if I did partition the hard drive, how would I install the different systems, and how would I choose which one to boot with at startup? --Will my mouse, keyboard, motem, etc. still work after the hard drive is reformatted and a new system is installed? If could link to websites that answer these questions, that would work too. Thanks. |
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