Question About Formatting a Drive
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Normal Egg
Member Lvl: 9
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| Posted: Apr 13, 2008 1:45 p.m. - Subject: Question About Formatting a Drive |
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I have a Windows 98SE edition available to me (My Mom’s computer) and I wish to format the drive and start over from scratch. If I wanted to keep 98 on it, would I need the installation disk or anything? Or, would it just format all the User created information and keep the Windows files?
The reason I want to keep Windows 98 is because my mother is dead set that she will not upgrade the damn thing, so don’t bother saying "Get 2000 its almost the same, but more up to date" or "Linux FTW!!"
I finally convinced her to at least try using FireFox instead of using Netscape 8, my Dad convinced her 3 years ago that it was the best thing out there... (So I ask the question, why does it crash all the time and lock up 60% of the time.)
I supposed I will be the same way with my XP. I do not want to upgrade to Vista. Its nothing majorly wrong, I just can’t stand all the little things that are annoying.
I plan to back up just the information she wants to keep, (Pictures, Music, Documents) and then format the drive to start over from scratch cause the thing is filled with 10 years of garbage.
Once again, The Question
If I was to format the hard drive on a computer running Windows 98 SE, would I need to have the Windows CD at hand to continue using Windows 98 SE? Would the formatting erase all of the Window’s files, or just the user created information?
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Normal Egg
Member Lvl: 8
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AIM YIM
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| Posted: Apr 13, 2008 1:49 p.m. - Subject: |
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Formatting would erase the entire contents of the HDD. You will need an install disk.
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Power Egg
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AIM
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| Posted: Apr 13, 2008 1:50 p.m. - Subject: |
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Formatting would erase every single thing. User information and Windows itself.
So yes, you need the Windows CD if you plain on formatting.
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Power Egg
Member Lvl: 11
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| Posted: Apr 13, 2008 1:51 p.m. - Subject: |
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Id like to help you, but im not 100% sure, Im pretty sure it would delete everything, but maybe you could transfer all the system files over to a external drive, or maybe even the other drive, format it, and put it back on?
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Normal Egg
Member Lvl: 8
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| Posted: Apr 13, 2008 1:56 p.m. - Subject: |
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Those system files would still be filled with garbage, and it would take more effort to find out which ones to back up than to download and burn an install disc, especially if you’re using torrents.
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Normal Egg
Member Lvl: 9
Egg Points: 25646
Posts: 1113
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| Posted: Apr 13, 2008 1:57 p.m. - Subject: |
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Ok thanks guys.
5 stars to all who helped.
Here’s what I am thinking about just doing. Just finding the CD and once I have formatted the drive, "losing" the 98 disk. I already have disks for both XP and 2000, so I will just tell her that I had to because the 98 disk couldn’t be found.
I hate being the only computer literate person in the house. Haha
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Normal Egg
Member Lvl: 9
Egg Points: 25646
Posts: 1113
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| Posted: Apr 13, 2008 2:00 p.m. - Subject: |
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Quote: Those system files would still be filled with garbage, and it would take more effort to find out which ones to back up than to download and burn an install disc, especially if you’re using torrents.
I am not using a torrent for anything. When I said I am backing up files, I meant things such as Word documents and Pictures that aren’t on anyone else’s computer.
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Normal Egg
Member Lvl: 8
Egg Points: 12778
Posts: 2372
AIM YIM
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| Posted: Apr 13, 2008 2:05 p.m. - Subject: |
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Oh, I thought you had lost the install disc, I misread.
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Normal Egg
Member Lvl: 9
Egg Points: 25646
Posts: 1113
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| Posted: Apr 13, 2008 3:43 p.m. - Subject: |
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Its ok. It probably wasn’t the best written passage.
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