Wiping a Laptop

[jon1968]

Hi, I've an old lappy which had a virus and then refused to work, tried overlaying the OS disc but didn't really know what I was doing so I just mothballed it and got a new one. How do I go about wiping everything from it and starting again? It's only an old clunker running Win98 but it'll run a couple of apps I use for work. Any help will be much appreciated.

[vehelpfulguy]

If you have a Windows 98 CD (or any version of Windows on CD) you can format the hard drive during the install of Windows.

This will wipe everything off the hard drive.

Insert the Windows CD, shut down the laptop, then start the laptop and "boot" from the Windows CD.

(You may need to go into the BIOS of the laptop to change the boot order so it boots from the CD before booting from the hard drive. If you dont know how to do this let us know).

If you boot from the Windows CD just say you want to install a new version of Windows. During this process it should ask you if you want to format the hard drive.

Just say "yes" and the hard drive will be formatted and everything on it will be gone.

Once the format has finished it will then go on to install Windows.

[jon1968]

Many thanks VHG but I seem to be going round in circles, I put the Win98 disc in and select �Boot from CDRom� Then I get 3 options and select � Start windows setup from CD rom� then a diagnostic screen recommending I �Exit Setup� which I disregard and select �Continue setup and replace your existing operating system�
Next is a �routine check on your system� followed by a Scandisk disgnostic with a % bar at the bottom which leads to a pop up saying �The C:\DIR00001 directory is damaged�..�� Choose Fix it to have Scandisk correct the invalid settings�

I then have the option to �fix it� or �don�t fix it�, I fixed it and eventually got it to start but it appeared to be in �Safe Mode� when the graphics driver isn�t working and the wallpaper is very �blocky�?

Anyhoo, tried to restart and I�m back to where I was before! When I fire it up it asks me if I want to start in �normal�/�logged�/�safe�/�step by step confirmation�/�command prompt only�/�safe mode command prompt only�
It then goes into a diagnostic screen �Registry checker� with the % bar at the bottom which when completed prompts me to restart and so the cycle continues��..

Sorry this is long winded but your help is much appreciated, is there not something I can do to totally start again? How come I had my old wallpaper on there and some of my old files were showing? It seems odd I can�t just hoof everything off and start from new! Or am I being too simplistic?

[ACtheTROLL]

you can do this from the install CD ....
the option is there .... but you seem to have missed it
(and honestly I can't remember)

The easiest way is to download a windows boot floppy
http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

http://files.frashii.com/~bootdisk/newjersey/b oot98se.exe

boot from the floppy .....
run the file ... it will ask for a floppy ....
wizz bang for a minute or two - then hay presto .... a boot disc

insert the floppy into the old lappy - switch on
take either cd or no cd options (doesn't matter at this point)
eventually you'll see a:\>
type
format c:
confirm
after a while the process will complete ...
remove the floppy - insert the CD ... reboot
follow the options.

you could well need drivers for the devices ... come back if probs

[jon1968]

Many thanks AC, unfortunately I haven�t got a floppy drive on either my PC or the new lappy (was advised they were pretty much obsolete now so didn�t spec it!) I�ll pop to the office next week and download what you�ve suggested .

How do I �Boot from the floppy�? I�m amazed that I can�t just type something from the �command prompt� option and just start again!?

From memory the only driver I needed before was the graphics one and I�ve still got the floppy with that on but will probably require further help to get that installed!

Thanks for the help thus far, much appreciated.