Restoring an old machine

[Fran]

I received an old PC from a friend. It is an AST Advantage! Pentium 60 MHz, 8 MB RAM, 540 MB HD. Nothing much, but I could use it to run small applications and for emergencies.

Trying to delete everything personal on it, my friend also deleted system files, parts of applications, etc... The PC runs on the original Windows 95 (before version B) and only has a handful of primitive software (like the first Microsoft Works).
I also get an auto configuration error message at booting time, and almost two pages of babble before starting Windows.

You guess it! I want to clean this machine. There is nothing on it I want to keep.

I got the Master CD that came with the computer, but not the reboot/restore floppy disk.

Would anyone kindly help me understand what I could do?
I would like to clean the HD and install Windows 95-B.
Could I use the Windows 95 installation that is on the Master CD of my own computer (Packard Bell Pentium 200 MMX)? or would I need to buy a Windows 95 CD? What about the boot floppy?

I think I know how to clean and reformat the HD, partition, etc... (fingers crossed). It's what I can do after that that I am wondering about.
Thanks a lot for any help. It is appreciated.
Fran.

[iisbob]

You can use your standard W98se startup floppy, just be sure to say "NO" if it asks you for large disk support , FAT32 would not be the best file system for such a small drive, FAT would be better-and you'll have to use FAT if you want an older version of Win to run.

You can use the FDISK/FORMAT commands on the W98 floppy-as they are the same ones as originally designed back in the old DOS days.

Then once you have your partition and fAT, just install as normal. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

------------------
iisbob
"640K ought to be enough for anybody. - Bill Gates, 1981"
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." --Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

[Paleo Pete]

I don't think the Packard Bell CD would be a good idea. Usually they are designed for a specific machine, and most of the time when you try to use it you'll get a mewssage that it's not a Packard Bell computer. (Even their kids' game CDs won't work on non-Packard Bell machines, I have 4 or 5 for mine.)

You'll need a standard win95 CD, and a win98 start up disk will work very nicely, with the added CD ROM support it will make life much simpler. Hard Disk Partitioning and Formatting (http://www.pcguide.com/proc/setup/hdd.htm) might be lots of help. The master CD for the machine might work, once you get it booted with CD ROM support, try it and see...it should have everything on it you'll need to get it back to off-the-shelf condition. You can check it on another machine in Windows Explorer and see what's on it. Mine for my Packard Bell is simply zip files of DOS, win3.11 and all the other factory software...

------------------
Support the right to keep and arm bears.
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[Fran]

Thanks. This was helpful. I appreciate it.
I must say, I don't know AST, but although the machine is antique, their website has a lot of information. I think I may increase the RAM from 8 to 16, if it's not too expensive.

You mention the Win98 Startup disk. Does it come with the Windows 98 CD?
Thanks again.
Fran.

[Paleo Pete]

No, it's made during the win98 installation process, or from a working win 98 machine after installation. You can make one on a friend's machine, or try Boot Disk (http://www.bootdisk.com) and download one. Pay attention to their instructions, it's not the actual disk, but an image that has to be transferred to a floppy.

------------------
Support the right to keep and arm bears.
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)