A bit embarrassing

[frostbite]

I have been asked to reformat a hard drive and reinstall 98SE on a friends computer.

Trouble is, it's ages since I did this, and my memory is shaky.

I know I need to format a /s floppy and install io.sys, command.com, and CD driver on the floppy, but have I left something off the list?

I'd hate to fdisk and discover I can't get back in!

[None of the above]

This site will probably be a good first port of call...

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/

N o t a

[rotorcraig]

Useful link, thanks I'll bookmark that.

Here's another that I have put aside for such moments - http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

RC

[Saab Dastard]

Frostbite,

Win 98 SE was definitely distributed on bootable CDs - easiest thing is to put your CD in the drive, power off then boot up, check the BIOS is set to boot off CD, and see what happens.

You can then simply exit the setup without changing anything.

Of course, if the PC is SO old that it can't boot from the CD, then you have no choice to do as you say with a boot floppy.

You will definitely need Config.sys and Autoexec.bat to load the CD drivers, and it's well worth installing the correct keyboard driver and setting appropriate environment variables.

io.sys, msdos.sys and command.com are automatically installed when you make a bootable floppy.

SD

[frostbite]

Many thanks for the prop for my ailing memory, SD, of course (when someone reminds you!).

Thanks for those links too.

[Memetic]

Hi Frostbite,

CD drivers for the installed drive and a file editor (Edlin? Editor?) to tweek Autoexec.bat might be a good addition for that boot disk.

Memetic

[Saab Dastard]

Edlin? Edlin? Edlin?

Good grief, it's been a decade since I last heard of that! :8

edit.com would be my preference - since Dos 5 IIRC.

(not to be confused with Edit.Com - which allegedly is the leading website maintenance service for businesses). :p

SD