How to reformat windows?

[Irresistible]

My computer is Pentium III 933, 128 SDRAM,20 GB. Don't have CD/DVD writer (only have CD Rom)

A few question to ask:
1. How to partition the windows into C: and D: , is it advisable for 20 GB storage to do such partition?
2. How to back up data b4 reformat if don't have 2 windows partition?
3. How to re-format the windows by the easiet way. Anyway, I m using Windows 98 2nd edition.

**Pls give step by step guide. Thanks a lot

[roy]

Partition HDD? Easiest way?

Get a copy of Windows, either XP, 2k. Put in your CD Rom and reboot your computer. Press F8 to select the Boot Menu, then choose CD-Rom. When the Setup is started, follow the instruction. Before it start to install, it will ask you to manage the hard disk, you may delete the current partition, create another new partition(s).

Diskspace size... for me, I normally put 8~10GB for my C drive. The rest... you suka. If you wanted to have 3 partitions, up to you.

Backup data... if you don't have other partitions... hummm... 2 methods.
1. Use thumb drive, if your data is not too huge. Do it 2~3 rounds and save them in your other computers.
2. If your motherboard or computer has UTP port, use a twisted pair cable and connect 2 computers together, configure and enable file sharing. I don't like to explain how to configure here coz I am too lazy... muahaha!!

Anything still don't understand, google it!

By the way, I don't really recommend you to use the Windows installation CD to do all the format and partitioning as you will learning nothing from it. IIF (If and only if) you wished to learn, start to play lower version of Windows.

Roy

[roy]

Oh sorry... you said you have no CD rom, I missed out this...

Take your HDD and place into a computer, which has CD rom and install from that computer OR get a CD rom to fix in your computer.

Pentium III 933MHz is capable to run WinXP, don't worry. But for memory, try to have it at 256MB and above... actually 256MB is just nice.

Oh yeah... one EASIEST way... spend some money and send to the shop for repair. If you are staying in Penang, send to me... muahahah!!

Roy

[sabishii]

2. If your motherboard or computer has UTP port, use a twisted pair cable and connect 2 computers together, configure and enable file sharing. I don't like to explain how to configure here coz I am too lazy... muahaha!!

Anything still don't understand, google it!
Roy

eh.. nowadays where got ppl using that way to back up 1..? you could either A. get a external HDD, you can get a decent 40gb one for around rm100-200. or B. get a DVD-burner

another note, really don't think you should be partitioning the HDD cuz 20gb itself is already pretty small. get a secondary HDD or something.

as for the installation, it's really easy once you see someone do it for you. ; ) good luck!

[youngyew]

Thanks to roy and sabishii who have given fantastic guidance... Just like to make a couple of corrections here:

1. To be accurate, we reinstall windows and reformat harddisk drive. The words are not interchangeable.

2. Roy, I think he meant he doesn't have CD/DVD writer but he should have a CD-ROM.

[Maximus05]

i think its better to leave it as it is... although his computer is apropriate to run windows xp but to me xp is just one o/s that "from out of sudden" broken without anyone tamering it...

to me windows 98 SE is the best windows from the last 10 years... although it has thin dictionary of drivers but it runs well and smooth...

[vseehua]

nah..i think winXP had served me best for the last 3 years..cz of the less frequent crashes...and the much better user-friendliness...

think winxp will serve you much better there :)

[sabishii]

guess it really depends on what you intend to use the computer for. winXP is good for it's cool outlooks and user-friendliness. Win98 is very highly customizable and it's much easier to configure if you know how to.

in essense, if you have met the requirements of WinXP, why not give it a go. you can always revert back to Win98, given of course that you didn't format your harddrive to an NTFS format.

[vseehua]

well, i've found out more ways to customize winxp than i ever can with windows 98..hehe...even the underpinnings of the system...

[digimushu]

My computer is Pentium III 933, 20 GB. Don't have CD/DVD writer.

A few question to ask:
1. How to partition the windows into C: and D: , is it advisable for 20 GB storage to do such partition?
2. How to back up data b4 reformat if don't have 2 windows partition?
3. How to re-format the windows by the easiet way. Anyway, I m using Windows 98 2nd edition.

**Pls give step by step guide. Thanks a lot

Q1:

Load the windows disk and partition it from DOS. why not? I have a 200GB hard disk and i have like 8 partitions on it.

Q2:

take the HDD out and plug the IDE into the secondary channel of another computer. Then just copy the data over.

or

plug the computer to another computer via LAN and transfer the data over.

Q3:
plug the disk inand follow the step by step instructions. Win 98 is so 'yesterday' you should get winXP. or win 2000.

hope tha helps!

[vseehua]

Load the windows disk and partition it from DOS. why not? I have a 200GB hard disk and i have like 8 partitions on it.



wa, eight partitions??...hehe..at last c ppl have more patitions tan my own system..i hav e 7 for my 40 gigabyte hard drive, 3 of them are specifically for testing of linux distributions :twisted:

[sabishii]

well, i've found out more ways to customize winxp than i ever can with windows 98..hehe...even the underpinnings of the system...

that's weird, i always find winXP annoying cuz it hides most of the function tweaks. or maybe it's cuz i'm using the home edition. that's probably why.. : (

[vseehua]

hehe..try download tweakui from the download section of the microsoft website, then you can customize more things.its safer than most tweaking softwares out there, since they are written by microsoft's employees themselves...the software's NOT officially supported by microsoft though....

most of windows xp's tweaking options are hidden away in the group policy editor (sorry to say, but it's not available for windxp home)...to access it, type in gpedit.msc to the run menu at the start button..there you'll see a lot of options to tweak the system..but beware, making the wrong move will make your system going wrong ranging from unable to start to softwares behaving erratically...hehe..happy tweaking..post any doubts here, i'll be glad to help clear out any trouble :)

[roy]

2. If your motherboard or computer has UTP port, use a twisted pair cable and connect 2 computers together, configure and enable file sharing. I don't like to explain how to configure here coz I am too lazy... muahaha!!

Anything still don't understand, google it!
Roy

eh.. nowadays where got ppl using that way to back up 1..? you could either A. get a external HDD, you can get a decent 40gb one for around rm100-200. or B. get a DVD-burner

another note, really don't think you should be partitioning the HDD cuz 20gb itself is already pretty small. get a secondary HDD or something.

as for the installation, it's really easy once you see someone do it for you. ; ) good luck!

Why not? To get something done with limited resources, sometimes you have to choose the method that you think it is "kolot"... :) To me, I still fee that using a cheap UTP cable is better then getting an external HDD. But on the other hand, if you do not have a 2nd computer, then you have to choose sabishii's method, spend some money to get a CD writer. During the PC Fair in PISA Penang, the price can be dropped down to RM75 only... muahaha... but I have had a DVD writer, so I didn't buy.

Partitioning is good, but not compulsory for all users. 20GB is small but WinXP itself needs less than 5GB, plus some applications, 10GB will be good enough for C drive (Assumed that you are booting from C drive). Another 10GB for your data, move your "My Documents" into the data partition will help a lot. Unless your HDD is facing some mechanical error and totally cannot be recognized by the computer, else, you still can save up your data.

I agree with youngyew and digimushu, we can't reformat Windows and reinstalling HDD carries another meaning. Youngyew, I guess I have misunderstood him... yeah, maybe he intended to backup his data with CD/DVD writer but I have seen a lot of my customers don't even have a CD ROM... :)

Thanks,
Roy

[sakurakinomoto]

i have 10 partition onmy 3.5TB HDD....how's that

[youngyew]

i have 10 partition onmy 3.5TB HDD....how's thatTB?

[Schye]

i have 10 partition onmy 3.5TB HDD....how's thatTB?

Tetrabyte

[youngyew]

i have 10 partition onmy 3.5TB HDD....how's thatTB?

Tetrabyte
Yeah, I knew TB stands for terabyte; I was just surprised with the fact that a 3.5 TB harddisk is commercially available. I thought the highest capacity today is only 0.5TB (500 gig)?

[Schye]

ops, another mistake of mine. Yupe, it should be Tera. I thought there was 1 TB in Malaysia when I was back and 2TB here in Japan so I was not surprised when he stated that. I am not sure about 3.5 TB HDD but he may have more than one HDD.

[Irresistible]

Partition HDD? Easiest way?

Get a copy of Windows, either XP, 2k. Put in your CD Rom and reboot your computer. Press F8 to select the Boot Menu, then choose CD-Rom. When the Setup is started, follow the instruction. Before it start to install, it will ask you to manage the hard disk, you may delete the current partition, create another new partition(s).

Roy

So, I can have windows 98 & windows XP in the same computer, isn't it??

I have only one computer, so can't use the cable thing to back up. Actually, what info is neccessary to back up b4 deleting the existing Windows ??

[youngyew]

Partition HDD? Easiest way?

Get a copy of Windows, either XP, 2k. Put in your CD Rom and reboot your computer. Press F8 to select the Boot Menu, then choose CD-Rom. When the Setup is started, follow the instruction. Before it start to install, it will ask you to manage the hard disk, you may delete the current partition, create another new partition(s).

Roy

So, I can have windows 98 & windows XP in the same computer, isn't it??

I have only one computer, so can't use the cable thing to back up. Actually, what info is neccessary to back up b4 deleting the existing Windows ??
I assume you mean reformat harddisk and reinstall window. If we simply reinstall window over the old one, you won't need to back up anything because nothing will be deleted.

It depends on your personal requirement. Basically, the most important things that need to be backed up are your creative work, i.e. your documents, pictures, spreadsheets, etc (that is, everything found in the "my documents" folder), and also downloaded stuff including mp3, movies, flash, setup files, browser extensions etc.

In terms of Internet stuff, it's important to back up e-mails and internet browser settings too. If you use firefox, make sure you back up your personal profile so that you don't have to set up everything again when you reinstall your window.

[vseehua]

i don't recommend upgrading your windows by installing another over it (ie, windows xp over windows 98)..too much potential problems with software configurations...

yea, back up all your important documents and install a fresh copy of windows, reformating the hard drive in the process..this will produce a much cleaner windows..software can then be insltalled seperately... :)