Formating & Re-installing
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- WARNING - if you can't figure out an unfamiliar VCR in 10 seconds, don't try this
- Benefits - computer shops charge $100 to do this for you
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1. Before you begin make backups of all your software & personal files. This includes desktop wallpapers, digitized images of pretty girls, internet bookmarks, etc., are among the files people often forget to backup, and are subsequently lost forever. Make note of windows settings: screen resolution, number of colors, folder view settings (classic or web), file extension view settings, you name it. Also write down all the settings for your internet connection, especially if it is a dial-up connection, including username, password, PPP/IP numbers, which items are selected and which ones aren't, etc. Write it all down so you can quickly restore them afterwards.

2. Find you systemboard CD. This should have all the drivers on it for your monitor, sound card, speakers, etc. You will need your Windows 98 CD. Also locate disks that came with other devices like the printer/scanner, wireless devices, etc. Make sure you have the CD keys, Serial Numbers, and Authorization Codes for whatever software you use. It sounds complicated, but if you get organized it makes it so much easier if you plan on making a habit of reformatting your hard drive.

3. Find your windows system disk. If you don't have one create one using windows. It will be a single floppy disk that you can insert in the drive & restart your computer. Make sure you choose to restart your computer *without* CD ROM support. Your sytem disk will prevent windows from booting up and will instead boot into a DOS command line - input commands by typing them in. You have to type "help" and get a good explanation, but basically it all comes down to a single command that you have to type in. To format your hard drive type the following:

format c: /s

This is the moment of truth. Have ye the stones? One encounters significant trepidation as to how this is all going to turn out....

4. In a surprisingly short time your computer annihilates everything on your hard drive. Actually it is still there, but the information needed to locate data is gone, e.g. table of contents. With the system disk still in the floppy drive, type "restart", and this time choose to restart *with* CD ROM support.

5. Insert your windows 98 CD into the CD ROM, type "E://" to view your CD directory, and then type "Setup" to install windows. Follow the instructions. It'll take some time but eventually you will be back to a windows desktop. It will probably look a lot different than before, but that is why you wrote down all that stuff and made backups, so that you could get back to business quickly. Don't try changing windows settings yet. Save your system disk for later use.

6. Now you have to install all the drivers. Insert your systemboard CD, or whatever disk your drivers are on, and one-at-a-time double-click the "setup" files for your video, sound card, speakers, modem, etc. Some drivers will have to be installed using the Control Panel--->Add New Hardware--->Update Driver route. It depends on the brand. Install device software, eg. printer, scanner, wireless stuff.

7. Now start restoring windows settings, monitor resolution, colors, folder view settings, internet dial-up settings, etc.

8. Install anti-virus software. Make sure you can connect to the internet, and download all the virus definition updates. Install WinZip now if you use it, it will recognize any zip files that you may copy later.

8. Install software, word processors, spreadsheets, e-mail, games, shareware.

9. Copy your internet bookmarks from your backups into the windows "favorites" folder. If you use Netscape this will be a different folder.

10. Once software is installed it will likely require registration before use. If you have already registered then just run the program, and go with the "mail in registration" option. It will print out a registration form and assume you will mail it in. Since you already have the authorization code just enter it in, and it won't ask you again.

11. Now you can get down to the nitty gritty of your personal preferences, creating shortcuts on the desktop and in the start menu, restoring your favorite wallpaper, copying personal files, music, documents, etc.

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You will likely have to restart your computer many times during this process, e.g. after each driver and software installation.
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