I have an old PC that my daughter wants in her bedroom but it doesnt seem to want to go past the start up page when you switch it on. What would I have to do to format it, and would I need a windows 98 disk ?
Thank You
Clair
2007-07-13 03:52:54 · 14 answers · asked by snowwhite27 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
Ok, thanks everyone, but which F button do I press and when?
As everyone is saying different ones !!
After I format do I just put the disk in that I have burned Linux or Ubuntu on and it will work from there ?
Thanks, I hadnt even heard of those !!!
2007-07-13 04:33:40 · update #1
Sorry azred-tx, I do not have the disk. :O(
2007-07-13 04:42:32 · update #2
Formatting does sound like the simplest solution.
You would need an OS disc to boot from. Windows 98 is a possibility, but it isn't supported any more (no more security updates) so you might want to look at an alternative.
Ubuntu is free and might be suitable, you might want to take a look at Edubuntu (which is focused on educational stuff) or Xubuntu (which is lighter weight and possible more suitable for an older computer). http://www.ubuntu.com/
2007-07-13 03:57:28 · answer #1 · answered by David D 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your going to re-install Windows 98 your going to need a Windows 98 disk(full version). You'll need to partition then format the drive before reinstalling. A handy guide from Microsoft can be found here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/221829
If you need a start up(boot) disk one can be found here:
http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
If you want to upgrade a bit Windows 2000 and Windows XP Home run about the same price on Ebay or other sources($75 -$100). Windows 2000 is a nice OS and quite reliable and doesn't require as much system resources as XP. Though Microsoft stopped official support(for Win 98) you can still download the updates(up to the time they stopped). Good luck.
P.S. Sorry I missed that you didn't have disk. A windows 98(second edition recommended) disk can be found fairly inexpensive on Ebay. Make sure it's the full disk instead of the upgrade version. If it's unclear ask before bidding.
2007-07-13 06:10:15 · answer #2 · answered by plumerjr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
#1 You would need a Windows 98 Startup disk. Which can be created from inside of windows 98, or downloaded on the web.
#2 You would format with the disk (erase everything).
#3 You would need a re-install windows 98 operating system CD.
#4 If you dont have one, I recommend instead looking for possibly a used Windows 2000 cd on ebay or amazon. I dont think theyd be to expensive, and windows 2000 is a bit better of an OS than 98.
2007-07-13 03:57:06 · answer #3 · answered by Danlow 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes. You will need a startup disk and a Windows 98 CD with serial to reformat your computer properly.
Also make sure all the drivers of your hardwares are intact. It's the CDs and diskettes for each hardware that came with the PC when you first bought it. You will need those as well.
If you haven't done it before, I suggest you hire a computer technician to do it for you. There's a lot of things to do to get the Windows program to work that a newbie just simply cannot handle on his own.
2007-07-13 04:02:16 · answer #4 · answered by Alex T 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While the computer is booting, hit the F8 key several times; this should give you the option to boot into safe mode. If that works, you probably won't need to reformat anything...but you would still need to figure out what is causing the problem.
You would need your Windows 98 CD if you reformat or replace the hard drive, presuming you wish to keep that OS.
If you don't want to keep that OS but you *do* have the Win98 CD, I would be very interested in buying it from you. Yes, I'm serious.
2007-07-13 04:13:54 · answer #5 · answered by Mathsorcerer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Performing a Clean Install of Windows 98
http://home.ptd.net/~don5408/win98/install/clean.html
How-to install Windows 98, Fresh/Clean Install
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/How-to-install-Windows-98-t9803.html
Clean Install of Windows 98/Me
without Formatting
http://www.webtree.ca/newlife/no_format_clean_install_of_windows_98.htm
2007-07-13 03:57:46 · answer #6 · answered by techchick 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you need windows 98 disk to install windows after you format. format means you loose every thing on the computer.
2007-07-13 03:58:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
To format it, hit F6 when the computer boots up and pick command prompt only. Type fdisk. Delete all your partitions, then format all of them, with your C: being the last to format (if you have more than one partition).
As for booting up Win98...it's been awhile but I'm pretty sure you only need the Win98 CD.
2007-07-13 03:58:53 · answer #8 · answered by Aliron 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For your daughter I would start her fresh, just put the windows disk in the cd-rom restart the computer, when it starts back up (before windows loads) keep hitting F12 it's so you can boot from the cd and you can format the HD from there.
2007-07-13 03:58:37 · answer #9 · answered by megasparks0101 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Many old pc's can run Windows XP just fine. I would suggest using that instead.
98 is so old and is 'different' in many ways, it has many issues with current setups & apps your daughter would probably like to run.
I think you'll find both hardware and software setups much easier with XP.
2007-07-13 04:01:48 · answer #10 · answered by Jim 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋