Fdisk +format still leaves remains of old win98

[widgewedge]

hi,
I tried using fdisk then rebooting and using the format command. This successfully formatted the hard drive and yet when I went to install a new copy of win98 it stated that it recognised a previous copy. I could either exit setup or continue to overwrite the oldone .The problem is that when I go to overwrite it comes up with various errors and refuses to complete installation.Is it possible to clean the drive totally before installing a new copy of win 98?
Thanks for any help.

[mjc]

Find the manufacturer of your drive, they will have a "zero-fill" utility, with this you can totally wipe the drive clean.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[bassman]

Hey Widge,
Tell us about your Fdisk technique. Also exactly what you do when you format.
These two things alone should clear your drive good enough to do a fresh install if done properly.
MJC's suggestion is right on and you should look into it. It is an excellent tool to permenantly remove any traces of previous data http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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A real Christian is one who can give his pet parrot to the town gossip.
Frank's Place (http://dreamwater.net/tech/frankscomp/)

[Fruss Tray Ted]

MJC,
Could you elaborate or steer me in the right direction please? The recent tinkerings I've been doing to my and my son's pc's are in preparation to sell/give them as we have new ones on the way. I would like to clean slate them prior to selling/** them. Thanks.

One is an A/Open, the other is an IBM. Do I go to their website?

__________________________

This space for George Carlin quotes:

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[andyswork@beci.net]

Yes go to their websites and download their hard drive tools.

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One day I will be a pro, Thanks Andy

[Dazman]

make sure that when you FDISK, you are deleting the partition, then reboot, then create new partition and then use maxiumum space available, I think this is LBA or something.Then reboot again.

Once you have deleted and re-created new partition. Format the drive. If this is the only partition created it should become active by default. Then do a DIR command just to make sure the drive is empty before installing the operating system.
Make sure you are using "FORMAT X" (X BEING YOUR MAIN DRIVE)IT WILL MOST PROBABLY BE C:

Hope this helps

[ErnieK]

Widgewedge \ Fruss Tray Ted
If you want to make sure that no none can recover old files from your hard drive the most secure way is to use an encription program similar to PGP (Do google search and you will find it as free download) Once you have installed the bare bones system run PGP and use the disk wipe facillity Set it it for 3 or 4 runs and nobody will be able to recover anything, Gaurenteed http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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Ernie