Replacing OS ( win/me --> 98se )

[uncleel]

Replacing OS ( win/me --> 98se ) Your opinions please!
I'm communicating w/ my brother on the best way to replace his OS & still save all his files.
You know me to be an advocate of a Clean Install, however:
Hates ME for whatever reason.
NO Zip drive, CDR, or backup device
Lack or original program discs
Has a 20gig HD, w/ Nothing on D: Has the idea to copy C: -to-> D:, format C:, install win/98 on C:, then copy files from D: -to-> C:

* I suggested DOS commands like XCOPY or DISCCOPY, but his concern is they will not work, because they do not copy the essential hidden & system files.

* Use DRIVECOPY, however it appears it copy & tranfer the entire drive contents, not individual files

* Use NORTON GHOST, but not familiar w/ this program. (will it replace INDIVIDUAL files?)

Your opinions please. I'm leaning toward DOS, but my commands are pretty rusty. Remember the DOS commands?
Thanks!

[aussieolie2]

If he upgraded and stored the old Win98 files he should be able to uninstall WinMe and restore back to Win98 - see add/remove program options. This is sometimes available.
Alternativ... you really need a win 98 setup CDROM or CAB FILES? ,
You could boot off a win98 boot floppy - delete everything in DOS (except his documents - place them in one folder) on D: (in your case), make sure you DONT FORMAT - YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BACKUP and even this could be risky as you could loose your HDD. (DOS: delete command: 'del /?' provides delete options/help or 'erase /?'. Make sure he does NOT use *.* under C\: as that will wipe most of the drive's files.
Use the simple copy command: 'A:\copy /?' - provides copy help/commands
e.g. A:\copy (filename) D:\My Docs
once he has got rid of the windows me, progam files, system files and just has his files on the D:\ (or whatever drive/partition) install a fresh copy of Win98 and this should also override the boot sector so that Windows 98 boots and you dont get ME (going spaz). Working from a floppy makes life easier as you have DOS basically on a temp drive and you can delete system files. Make sure you have a Win98 Boot disk! (CD rom wont provide proper DOS functions).

Hope this helps,

Be Careful,

Olie

[david eaton]

A very useful program for this sort of job is XXCOPY (http://www.xxcopy.com/). This is a DOS program that will clone an entire hard drive in one operation, including hidden and system files. Best of all, it's FREE :D

David

[mjc]

One major problem.....with outh the install disks for the software it is more or less worthless....most often in order to get all the registry entries correct the softwall will need to be installed again, no matter what way he goes about getting rid of ME.

Is the machine in question an off the shelf system, like an HP?

Does he have factory restore disks instead of the full versions?

[uncleel]

Yes, Supreme Exalted Grand Master, that IS the problem. I would assume there is the remote *hack cough* possibility that some of these programs may be iLleGuL (& from my brother yet) but the Win98SE is a full version.

For whatever reason, the DOS command line scares him to the point where he thinks he needs a program. I liked Mr. Eaton's suggestion of using http://www.xxcopy.com/ & just transfer what he can. If anything doesn't reassociate w/ Win98, then I guess he needs to find some original software.

Couldn't he borrow a Zip drive or just learn to live w/ WinME?
p.s. It's a Maxtor 20gig, & formatting appears pretty easy w/ the included software, as he's done this before.