how to format C?

Mickey Lawson · From: Cleveland, Tennessee, USA

Need some help. I have a virus on the C: drive, of a second computer. What is the simple procedure to format C: and remove all the data written on C? (would I boot with a '98 startup disk and enter format C: at the A

rompt?) After formatting, I understand that the windows98 cd is then inserted, and "setup" typed, and windows98 is installed automatically. (also, I have a '98 startup disk.) Thanks.

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

Mickey, formatting C may not do all that needs done. If you wanna do a complete clean up of the HDD find the program FDISK on the start-up floppy and use it to remove the partition on the HDD. Removing the partition "wipes" the disk. You can then reestablish a new partition on the HDD (with FDISK) and the boot sector should be reset too. This removes the possibility of a boot sector virus. Once you've started a new partition you can then format it.

If you know anyone having the Norton GHOST program, Norton's utility GDISK is excellent at resetting/re-initializing the boot sector.

I don't remember what utilities are on the Win98 startup floppy but the way to find out is to F3 at the appropriate point then enter DIR to see what the OS has put in memory (or on the virtual disk the start up disk creates).

Just some recommendations.

Jim Smith · From: Midlothian, TX, USA

You have the option of partitioning and formatting the disk when you start the Windows installation. That way you can do it all in one step, without messing with individual utilities.

John Kaigley · From: Decatur, Illinois, USA

Depending on the WIN 98 CD ( OEM or upgrade ) the CD may not be bootable. The WIN 98 startup disk that is created during an install of 98, or from Add/Remove programs does not have "Format.COM" on it.

After creating the disk, just go to C:\Windows\Command folder on any WIN98 PC and copy Format.COM to the disk.

If your drive has only one partition ( C ) then fdisk is the best way to clean it. Fdisk will allow you to delete, then re-create the "primary DOS partition" If you have "Extended DOS partition" ( other drive letters on the same hard disk ) you must also delete these logical drives and extended partitions before Fdisk will remove "C". Be carefull if you have data on other drive letters.

If you do have extra drive letters on the same physical hard drive, boot to the floppy and at A prompt type Format C: and hit enter. This will delete all data on "C" drive. Booting to the floppy from a power off state should bypass any memory reident virus. Make sure PC has been off and power cable unplugged for at least 30 seconds and floppy is locked.

If you have any qestions let me know, John

John Kaigley · From: Decatur, Illinois, USA

oops, Didn't answer the original question.

At "A" prompt type Format C: hit enter answer yes to warning.

reboot then type CD (cd Drive letter) hit enter. ( watch boot up for cd drive letter, will probably be "E" )

At "E" prompt type setup with Win98 CD in the drive and away you go.

Doug Ferguson · From: Burnet, Texas, USA

A windows 98 startup disk contains both the fdisk and format commands. You can not (to my knowledge) format a hard drive using the win 98 cd setup program. A win 2k or XP cd does give you that option but not 98.
Assuming you have backed up all your data that you want to keep before hand, insert the floppy and boot the computer with the floppy. Once you have the A Oh Well

prompt, type fdisk, enter, and remove the partition (s) and then add a single partition. It will tell you that you need to restart before you can format the drive. Restart and again when you are at the A Oh Well

prompt, type
format c:
and let it format the drive.

Once it is done formatting your c drive, I have a trick that will help you in the long run if you were to lose your win 98 cd or misplace it temporarily:
Assuming you have let the boot floppy load with CD ROM drivers, stick in your win 98 cd. At the A Oh Well

prompt, type cd d or e. (it will most likely be e as d will probably be the ram drive).
Type dir and hit the enter key.
You should see a win98 directory along with a few other directories. If this was on e drive, then make a note of it. Now type c: and hit enter.
This will take you to the c drive. Type mkdir win98
and hit enter key. This makes a folder on the c drive called win98. Type
cd win98
and hit enter key. That will place you inside the folder you just created. Now type this next line exactly as I have it written here (assuming e is the cd drive--or replace e with the drive letter where you found the cd with the win98 directory)
copy e:\win98 .
(enclude the period as the period is telling it to copy to here) This should start copying all the setup files from the cd to your folder you created called win98. Once it is done copying, you can pull out the cd, and since you are already in the win98 directory on the c drive, just type
setup
and the win98 setup program will run from your hard drive.
The reason I do this is that later on, when you add a piece of hardware, and it usually asks you for the win98 cd, it will just pull what it needs from the win98 directory in your c drive instead, saving you from having to go to the trouble of finding yours. Good luck!
Doug

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Fergy, MSA Classic D12

Mickey Lawson · From: Cleveland, Tennessee, USA

Thanks everyone. Ray found fdisk on a: John found format.com on c: and copied it to a:. (also found a zip file on a: 98 startupdisk and it contains format.com -- it must unzip automatically). Doug thanks everythink seems clear. Saturday I'll put 98startup disk in a: - turn on the computer - type fdisk (remove partitions) - restart the computer - type format c: - insert 98cd - reboot - type d: setup; and install windows98. Thanks again.

Mickey Lawson · From: Cleveland, Tennessee, USA

Oops, may have to reboot from a:, insert 98cd - type d: setup; and install windows98. Thanks.

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