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Hi gang - buddy doesn't like xp on his machine, so he wants to rid of it and reinstall 98se. I suggested he reformat the disk first to freshen the field for a clean install.
He says he doesn't know how to get to a dos prompt from boot up though - told him the ways with w9x, but not sure about xp - little help!
TIA...
Just have him boot up with a 98 startup disk and delete the "non dos partition". That will be his XP partition if it is in NTFS.
If his XP partition is in FAT32 then the way to do it would be the normal way it's always been done, and your instructions will work.
also try doing a search on google for delpart.exe It will delete all partitions whether they be fat, fat32 or ntfs. Try delpart if you can't delete the non-dos partitions from within fdisk.
no go, guys - just trying to boot xp clear back to Seattle so clean install of 98se. someone wanna walk us through?
chorro, looks like DelPart.exe is not listed as an XP utility - figure it'll work?
TIA...
Lots of possibilities - whose drive is it? The mfg's erase (zero fill) utility is always an option. (It'll have to go on a 98'ish boot disk usu.)
hey there, IMM.
He dunno, but it's a Dell pc, so he reckons prolly IBM. It's 40 gig
>>The mfg's erase (zero fill) utility is always an option. (It'll have to go on a 98'ish boot disk usu.)
howdya do that?
Download to a floppy.
Boot with a normal bootdisk, no cdrom support needed.
When it is at the A:\
Remove the bootdisk and insert the Delpart floppy
After the floppy light goes out
type in; delpart and hit enter
The gui will open and you will see a partition highlighted.
Hit the delete key and then hit enter.
Repeat for each partition
when all are remove
Hit Alt-F arrow down to exit and hit enter.
reboot
http://www.russelltexas.com/delpart.htm
Yes it will wipe out XP, nt and Linux partitions. What I use it for.
Here that fdisk in DOS 6.22 will do it also. Have yet to try that though.
Hey hey, Train
Well, sounds sound to me!
Buddy is lurking the thread from P-River - hope he chooses to say hi once he's got'r handled, but I know he's off to the Island for a couple days - one or both of us will update once he gets to it.
Also, what's a good way for him to partition this hd - w/o knowing the brand name, any advice re how he can make 3 partitions?
Thanks again, guys.
Fdisk
It is on the bootdisk.
How to FDISK a Hard Drive
Then Format
These bootdisk assign the cdrom to letter R:
So, you will fdisk,
reboot
format C:
Format D:
Format E:
Reboot
Accept cdrom support
At the A: [type] R:
at the R:
type in
setup and hit enter
and install will begin.
"Now that is just for those bootdisk there" Normal ones do not assign a drive letter to the cdrom.
Now if that hdd is over 64GB, use the fdisk in the WinMe bootdisk, It will work with the larger hdds. Fact is I have replaced the fdisk found on a normal bootdisk with the one from the winme bootdisk.
Do not forget to make C: active [bootable] if you forget, boot to the bootdisk
and at the A: [type in]sys C: and hit enter.
A:\sys C: <hit enter>
I jsut used the DOS 6.22 bootdisk here and using the #4 remove non-dos to remove linux partitions from a hdd.
At the A: typed in Fdisk and hit enter
selected 3 remove
selected 4 non-dos
Had to do the 3 times, but it did it.
So another option is open.
buddy got all that and will be posting when he can get a chance.
thanks buds
:D
Just to put it out there for all the info supplied to me.
It's great getting a straight answer on what would be a tough info to find for you semi non comp illiterates!
98 is up and running and I love it.
I'm temporarily on dial-up and 98 takes the bog out of the processor and more.
I needed to get up and running ASAP as I will be away for 6 weeks or so.
Will be back with yas then
Cheers
Thanks for posting back. :D
Up and running then posting ;)
Philsky
Stick around, lots to learn here, LOTS!
Where I learned what little I know.
Tipo the Iceburg I bet.
Thanks & Cheers for now.
Philsky
:p
:D
I just wanna say thanks for the delpart.exe utility note. I had a partition I could not get rid of with FDISK.