Clean Install

[Zed]

Pardon me for my ignorance, but how do you do a clean install of windows?

[fraelorn]

Windows what?.. 95, 98, ME?..
95 can be a little bit more difficult than any other, I of course create a flat first before installing Win 95, but, you can boot with a Win 98 startup disk, then run the setup from the cd-rom.

**Flat** Creating a folder on the harddrive named 'Win95flt'. Then copying all files within x:\win95 (x = cd-rom drive letter) to c:\win95flt. Then run the setup from the c:\win95flt prompt.

With Win 98+, you should be able to boot directly to the cd, then select the start windows installation from cd-rom. Now this will only copy over the existing operating system, and can create problems. I would highly recommend backing up your data, formatting the system and then installing windows from the cd-rom. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif

[Paleo Pete]

Doing a "Clean Install" means installing Windows to an empty hard drive, which means formatting it first, so no information is on the drive, as opposed to an upgrade, or overinstall which means installing on top of an existing Windows installation. The clean install is very much preferred.

You basically boot to a start up disk for your Operating System, format the hard drive, then reinstall Windows. As stated above, you can copy the installation files to the hard drive first, and install from there.
FWIW I always name the folder win95 or win98, it's a standard with me, so I know exactly where it is, and don't have a hard to remember filename. That's also the name of the folder on the CD where the installation files are stored, so it's the folder I would look for in either location. The installation will put Windows in the Windows folder, so no confusion there either.

If you need specific and easily understandable instructions, post here and let us know, I can type it all in from start to finish, specific DOS commands included.

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If you had everything...Where would you put it?

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

[Getenby]

Hey Pete ,
Would you mind posting how to copy Win98 CD to the hard drive ? Out of the 20 something systems I've built I've never done it this way . But it does sound like the best way to do it . Thanks for the help and the info .
Pete T.


Originally posted by Paleo Pete:
Doing a "Clean Install" means installing Windows to an empty hard drive, which means formatting it first, so no information is on the drive, as opposed to an upgrade, or overinstall which means installing on top of an existing Windows installation. The clean install is very much preferred.

You basically boot to a start up disk for your Operating System, format the hard drive, then reinstall Windows. As stated above, you can copy the installation files to the hard drive first, and install from there.
FWIW I always name the folder win95 or win98, it's a standard with me, so I know exactly where it is, and don't have a hard to remember filename. That's also the name of the folder on the CD where the installation files are stored, so it's the folder I would look for in either location. The installation will put Windows in the Windows folder, so no confusion there either.

If you need specific and easily understandable instructions, post here and let us know, I can type it all in from start to finish, specific DOS commands included.

[fraelorn]

Exact same as 95, cept it's the 'X:\Win98' folder, then type 'copy *.* c:\win98', after creating the Win98 folder on the c: ...

[Paleo Pete]

Commands to type are in Bold Keys to press in brackets [ ]. Note the spaces in the commands, they have to be there. I'm assuming you're doing this on a freshly formatted hard drive, so the fdisk/format commands will be omitted. Commands must be typed exactly as posted here, and directory names must be spelled correctly, if you want DOS to know what you're telling it to do, or where you want it to copy files. DOS has no spell checker...

From the C:\> prompt: (Type C: [Enter] to get there from A:\>)

md win98 [Enter]

dir [Enter] this displays a directory listing, to be sure the directory you just created is actually there.

Change to CD Drive:

X: [Enter] substitute your CD Drive letter for X.

cd win98 [Enter] your prompt should now be:
X:\win98>_ if so:

copy *.* c:\win98 [Enter]

It is important before issuing the copy command to be sure you are in the correct directory, and that the specified target directory is correct, and spelled right. Double check your commands! DOS is very unforgiving, it does exactly what you tell it to do, assuming you know what you're doing.

Then you'll see a list of files being copied to the c:\win98 directory you just created. When it's finished, change to C:\win98 and type setup and Windows will be installed from that folder instead of from the CD ROM drive. This is said to be quicker, I'm not sure, but later on when you have to install drivers, or other applications from Add/Remove Programs, Windows will look in the installation folder for the cab files instead of asking you for the CD ROM. That's the best thing about it, no searching for the CD...

You can also copy the installation files to a different drive or partition, I use my E: drive, leaving C open for Windows and programs. Simply substitute the drive letter for the drive you wish to use, where I've used C:

Commands used:

md make directory
cd change directory
dir display directory listing of current drive.
copy Copy specified file(s)
*.* Wildcard that tells DOS to look for all files with all extensions. The * can be used for either or both, the filename or the extension. Careful if you use it with the delete command!
Normally the filename would be specified like this:
filename.ext That way you'd be copying individual files for about 4 hours....using the wildcard it takes my P-200 about 3 minutes to copy the entire win98 directory.

------------------
If you had everything...Where would you put it?

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

[This message has been edited by Paleo Pete (edited 10-16-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Paleo Pete (edited 10-16-2000).]

[Getenby]

Pete ,
Thanks alot for the info.
Pete T.