Erase all data on a PC and make it new again...how?

[Xenogear900]

I found a PC on the curb, so I brought it in my room. It has Windows 98SE. I don't have ANYTHING that it came with from the store. It seems kinda old, around 1998 if I had to guess. Its got A LOT of junkie software on it, as well as drivers missing etc. How can totally wipe everything clean and possibly reinstall the OS. What discs do I need? What do I need to do? Please answer in laymen's terms please.

Thanks
Xenogear900@yahoo.com

[Dv8ted2]

Look for a program called g-disk. It will do a department of defense wipe on the hard drive.

When the wipe is done, the data will be gone and you can reinstall the operating system.

[redwudz]

My method when I used W98 was a W98 startup disk floppy. You can find them on the net, or if that machine runs, it should be able to make you one. Boot to the floppy disk and when the DOS prompt comes up, type 'fdisk'. That will let you repartition and reformat the drive.

No need to erase it, unless you really want to or there is something illegal there and you really want to make sure it is gone. Any info in there will not be normally accessible or take up space and the HD should be clean enough.

If you want to put in XP and the NTFS drive format instead of FAT32, if it will handle it, just stop after the repartition and you will have a clean drive, ready for a format and OS install. XP will repartition it again and reformat it. If you want to put in W98, you would need format it and have the OS disk and you would have to find the motherboard drivers on the net.

You would still need to do that with XP also. Find the name of the motherboard and the model and do a Google search for it. Then you may be able to locate the drivers. For video and other cards, they usually have a name and model or a FCC ID number you can trace back to the manufacturer for drivers.

[FulciLives]

Nuke that HDD with this ---> CLICK HERE

Buy a brand new OEM copy of Win98SE here ---> CLICK HERE

I would like to point out that IF the computer has 256MB RAM then chances are it will run WinXP but you may want to stick to Win98SE due to the "age" of the computer.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[AlanHK]

It's easy to wipe the disk clean.
Question is what to replace it with.

Do you have a Win98 or (preferably) Win2k installer disk? If so, use that.

Otherwise, the original install files are often kept on the hard disk to allow convenient reinstall.
Search the hard disk for a bunch of CAB files.
About 100 of them, each about 1 MB.
Ideally, copy all these files and anything else in that folder to a CDR as backup ASAP.

There should be a file called "setup.exe" there.
Click on that and see what options it offers.

Cleanest install is to make a boot floppy, reboot from that and then run the setup from a CD (even better, make a bootable CD, but that's a little harder to explain).

Morally, I'd assume the PC had an OEM licence, and that goes with the hardware.

As for missing drivers, try to ID the hardware (manufacturer, serial numbers. etc), and Google for the combinations of that and "driver".
Worth investigating http://www.driverguide.com/, almost everything there, but also a lot of crap as anyone can upload files, so some may be mislabelled, or even virus laden, though I've never had that problem myself.

Alternatively, you can install Linux. If you already have a Windows PC why not experiment. Lots of free versions online, download and burn an ISO installer. Boot from CD and install.
Ubuntu is very popular and easy.

[Xenogear900]

Ok, which would be best. Because I don't have any of the software or even the Windows 98 disc. What should I do?

Xenogear900@yahoo.com

[AlanHK]

Ok, which would be best. Because I don't have any of the software or even the Windows 98 disc. What should I do?

As I said, look for the CAB files. If they're on the hard disk you can do a clean reinstall of Win98. Tell it to use a new Windows folder, not install on top of the old version.

[Xenogear900]

OK, I got it reformatted and Windows 98 Reinstalled. I couldn't save the CAB files, cuz 100mb is a lot to save especially with no CD burner or internet. Now, that Windows is Reinstalled, one problem that I have is that its not letting me set the resolution above 640x480. I think its that the correct Display Adapter driver is not installed. How can I figure out which display adapter I need?

Xenogear900@yahoo.com

[greengate69]

OK, I got it reformatted and Windows 98 Reinstalled. I couldn't save the CAB files, cuz 100mb is a lot to save especially with no CD burner or internet. Now, that Windows is Reinstalled, one problem that I have is that its not letting me set the resolution above 640x480. I think its that the correct Display Adapter driver is not installed. How can I figure out which display adapter I need?

Xenogear900@yahoo.com

Have a look here: http://kb.iu.edu/data/ahwa.html

Scroll down to "Use Debug". this has got me out of jail a few times. Youo may need to hit "d" a few times, but it should identify the chipset of your card and allow you to identify the driver needed.

Absolute worst case, open up the case and identify the chip on the graphics card, or if its integrated graphics identify the motherboard and look it up online to find the necessary driver.

[Xenogear900]

OK, I got the driver and installed it. In the Display Properties window (Settings) it shows all the different resolutions that I know the computer and the monitor can display, BUT whenever I try to select one, it makes me restart and it just goes back to 640x480.

Like, when I try to change it up to 800x600 it tells me I need to restart for the changes to take effect. When I do, it just goes back to 640x480 after it boots up.

How do I fix this?

Xenogear900@yahoo.com

[edong]

Start>Run>type msconfig>click Advanced>uncheck "VGA 640 x480x16"

[Xenogear900]

I went to where you said that, but the check box is GREYED OUT and I can't uncheck it. How do I uncheck it?

[edong]

http://www.sharkyforums.com/showthread.php?t=203281