Solve : Reformatting hard drive?

1.	Solve : Reformatting hard drive?
Answer» I've finally gotten pretty much everything I WANTED off of the old computer I was talking about in my other topic (using a Slax Linux CD and a pendrive), and now I'd like to reformat the hard drive (and possibly partition it so I can run Windows and some version of Linux), install Windows 98 SE on the computer (I already have the install CD for it), and install an extra hard drive that I've had for a while. I know that's probably pretty complicated, and I couldn't find a whole lot about how to do it on the Microsoft support website (not surprisingly). 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 you know of websites that explain these things, that would work too.1. -insert windows cd into cd drive. -enter bios by hitting button as seen on monitor during power up (should say "hit __ to enter setup") - select "boot priority" or "boot sequence" -make the cd drive that u have ur windows cd in boot first -reboot -ur comp will now boot off the windows cd from there u can setup a partition, reformat, and reinstall windows) 2. sorry i have no idea... 3. depends whether its a USB or PS2 keyboard/mouse. if they are PS2, u dont need to worry about anything. if thier USB, no they will not work. ur keyboard and mouse, if USB, should have come with USB to PS2 adapters. u need to use the adapters first, install the drivers for them, and then u can use them in the USB slots.The computer currently has Windows 98 on it, but I don't have the CD for that. I do have a Windows 98SE CD. And it's not just the mouse I'm worried about, it's pretty much everything (mouse, keyboard, modem, graphics card, sound card, and other things that PLUG into the computer or are inside of it). I also need to know about partitioning the hard drive before I do anything so I can figure out whether I want to or not. Slightly clearer instructions on how to reformat the hard drive would be nice too, because I'm pretty new at this.yes u will need to reinstall all the drivers for all ur cards for MAXIMUM performance. u can either download them and put them on a disk before reformatting (and install them off the disk after the format), or download and install them after formatting. or if u still have the original disks that came with the cards, u can install the drivers for them off of the disks after the format. does ur keyboard/mouse use a USB (square) or PS2 (round) connector? THIS PARTS IMPORTANT!!! when u boot off the windows cd, it will ask u if u would like to partition the hd. however i do not see the piont of this because the maximum sized hd that win98 can handle is 32gb. the partitions are not giong to be very big. Ill re-explain how to format the hd as clear as i can... 1. turn ur comp on. 2. the first thing u see is the BIOS starting screen 3. u will see something along the lines of "press __ to enter setup" or "hit __ to enter BIOS" push that key. 3a. i cant say what the key is going to be exactly because there is a variety, for some its F1, for others its DEL or F8 4. if u already started to load windows, u went too far. the BIOS starting screen stays up for only about 10 seconds. 5. u should be in the BIOS setup if u u hit the correct key within that 10 seconds or so. (ithe BIOS setup screen normally has a blue background and is really ugly looking) 6. u have to use ur keyboard to navigate within the BIOS setup. 7. navigate to something along the lines of "boot priority" or "boot sequence" 8. u should see a list something like this...ill use mine as an example. 1. MAXTOR 6V300FO (my hardrive) 2. BENQ DVD DD DW1650 (my DVD drive) 3. HL-DT-SL-CD RW GCE-8527B (my cd drive) 4. SONY 3.5" FLOPPY (my floppy drive) the numbers to the left indicate the boot sequence. 1 being the first to boot, and 4 being the last to boot. u may have more than 4 or u may have less, that doesnt matter. u want ur cd drive to boot first. select the "1." slot and select ur cd drive. 9. save changes and exit. ur comp will now boot ur cd drive first. 10. insert windows cd into the cd drive 11. ur comp will now boot off the cd. 12. the cd will ask u if u would like to partition the hd. 13. the cd will also ask if u would like to format the hd. if this is confusing, please TELL me where i lost u in these steps and i will be more specific. im very tired right now and i might have made a few grammatical errors. The WIndows 98 CD may or may not be bootable. If not, you can get a free bootdisk at www.bootdisk.com All drives have partitions. WHether you want one for just Windows, or leaving some free space at the end to load Linux later should be decided before you start. Once WIndows is installed you can install and run Everest Home to identify the components that need drivers and go locate and install them. That's not too tough. If the machine is still running, you could check in Device MANAGER and see exactly what components are there. http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html If you plan carefully BEFORE you start you will be a lot happier with the results. How about posting the specifics on the computer as best you can - make/model, CPU, RAM, hard drive size(s), etc.

Answer»

I've finally gotten pretty much everything I WANTED off of the old computer I was talking about in my other topic (using a Slax Linux CD and a pendrive), and now I'd like to reformat the hard drive (and possibly partition it so I can run Windows and some version of Linux), install Windows 98 SE on the computer (I already have the install CD for it), and install an extra hard drive that I've had for a while. I know that's probably pretty complicated, and I couldn't find a whole lot about how to do it on the Microsoft support website (not surprisingly). 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 you know of websites that explain these things, that would work too.1. -insert windows cd into cd drive.
   -enter bios by hitting button as seen on monitor during power up (should say "hit __ to enter setup")
   - select "boot priority" or "boot sequence"
   -make the cd drive that u have ur windows cd in boot first
   -reboot
   -ur comp will now boot off the windows cd from there u can setup a partition, reformat, and reinstall windows)

2. sorry i have no idea...

3. depends whether its a USB or PS2 keyboard/mouse. if they are PS2, u dont need to worry about anything. if thier USB, no they will not work. ur keyboard and mouse, if USB, should have come with USB to PS2 adapters. u need to use the adapters first, install the drivers for them, and then u can use them in the USB slots.The computer currently has Windows 98 on it, but I don't have the CD for that. I do have a Windows 98SE CD. And it's not just the mouse I'm worried about, it's pretty much everything (mouse, keyboard, modem, graphics card, sound card, and other things that PLUG into the computer or are inside of it). I also need to know about partitioning the hard drive before I do anything so I can figure out whether I want to or not. Slightly clearer instructions on how to reformat the hard drive would be nice too, because I'm pretty new at this.yes u will need to reinstall all the drivers for all ur cards for MAXIMUM performance. u can either download them and put them on a disk before reformatting (and install them off the disk after the format), or download and install them after formatting. or if u still have the original disks that came with the cards, u can install the drivers for them off of the disks after the format.

does ur keyboard/mouse use a USB (square) or PS2 (round) connector? THIS PARTS IMPORTANT!!!

when u boot off the windows cd, it will ask u if u would like to partition the hd. however i do not see the piont of this because the maximum sized hd that win98 can handle is 32gb. the partitions are not giong to be very big.

Ill re-explain how to format the hd as clear as i can...

1. turn ur comp on.
2. the first thing u see is the BIOS starting screen
3. u will see something along the lines of "press __ to enter setup" or "hit __ to enter BIOS" push that key.
  3a. i cant say what the key is going to be exactly because there is a variety, for some its F1, for others its DEL or F8
4. if u already started to load windows, u went too far. the BIOS starting screen stays up for only about 10 seconds.
5. u should be in the BIOS setup if u u hit the correct key within that 10 seconds or so. (ithe BIOS setup screen normally has a blue background and is really ugly looking)
6. u have to use ur keyboard to navigate within the BIOS setup.
7. navigate to something along the lines of "boot priority" or "boot sequence"
8. u should see a list something like this...ill use mine as an example.
   1. MAXTOR 6V300FO (my hardrive)
   2. BENQ DVD DD DW1650 (my DVD drive)
   3. HL-DT-SL-CD RW GCE-8527B (my cd drive)
   4. SONY 3.5" FLOPPY (my floppy drive)

   the numbers to the left indicate the boot sequence. 1 being the first to boot, and 4 being the last to boot. u may have more than 4 or u may have less, that doesnt matter. u want ur cd drive to boot first. select the "1." slot and select ur cd drive.
9. save changes and exit. ur comp will now boot ur cd drive first.
10. insert windows cd into the cd drive
11. ur comp will now boot off the cd.
12. the cd will ask u if u would like to partition the hd.
13. the cd will also ask if u would like to format the hd.

if this is confusing, please TELL me where i lost u in these steps and i will be more specific. im very tired right now and i might have made a few grammatical errors.
The WIndows 98 CD may or may not be bootable. If not, you can get a free bootdisk at www.bootdisk.com

All drives have partitions. WHether you want one for just Windows, or leaving some free space at the end to load Linux later should be decided before you start.

Once WIndows is installed you can install and run Everest Home to identify the components that need drivers and go locate and install them. That's not too tough. If the machine is still running, you could check in Device MANAGER and see exactly what components are there.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

If you plan carefully BEFORE you start you will be a lot happier with the results. How about posting the specifics on the computer as best you can - make/model, CPU, RAM, hard drive size(s), etc.

Solve : Reformatting hard drive?

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