reformat harddrive windows 2000

Could you please tell me the steps to reformat my AThlon running windows 2000. I have my backups ready. Also, we would like to partition the c drive and need an explanation if we would be better protected to use NTFS instead of fat 32. Thank you. :

 

If you can set CMOS on the PC to boot from CD as the first choice, put in your 2K CD and early in the process you will have the option to delete existing partitions and to format a new partition for C: and the OS.

NTFS has the following advantages (this is a quickie and there are more in-depth comparisons if you need them)
- more secure
- more security options
- more efficient use of hard drive spaces in almost all cases
- more robust file system and will run with more fragmentation and errors than FAT32

FAT32
- can be read from a boot floppy

Unless you are dual-booting the PC with an older OS like 9X or ME, that's about it. If you are dual-booting then with FAT32, the other operating systems can 'see' the 2K files. Otherwise 2K can work with the 9x/ME FAT files but they cannot work with NTFS files.

 

I don't have the option to boot from the cd. How do I get around this. thank you.

 

Ok, I found how to change the bios to boot from the cd, but that is all I accomplished. It's not actually booting. Is the bios the same as cmos? Iknow this question is a step ahead of where I am but with the athlon at 18.6 gb capacity, if I want to partition it, what do you suggest the percentages should be. The pc is used for school work and Battlefield, teamspeak, etc. Thank you.

 

For this discussion, consider BIOS and CMOS to be the same thing. They pretty much are.

If the BIOS/CMOS setting is for the CD as the primary boot device and it won't then you will need to get a set of 2K install floppys and start with them. Since it sounds like you can boot the PC to a functional 2K load you can make a set from the 2K CD fairly easily. Otherwise there are places to download the needed content to place on floppy disk.

Instructions Here for creating a set of boot floppys for the OS install.

As to the partitioning question - 2K can run on a 3Gb partition. Smaller, actually, but then you have to constantly fiddle with things to make sure you don't fill the system partition too full. So 3Gb for C:\ and the OS then the remaining can be set up from the drive management section once you have 2K running.

 

Our Athlon does not have a writable CD drive. I don't have the install win2k disks. This pc was built for us and we were given a cd with the following: direct X9.0b, w2000 sp4, (blaster worm patch to be installed after sp4). Sorry to sound so elementary, but this is what is on the label. My son wants to wipe the harddrive and start over because he was neglectful in keeping the proper security features running and sloppy about running the various health maintenance programs, iespyad, spybot, etc. all those life-savings tools you directed me to when we got hijacked a few months ago. I'm about to pull the cable on him! Thank you.

 

You do not need a CD-writable drive. Just a normal read-only CD drive is fine.

The instructions allow you to create a floppy disk set that will start an installation of 2K. 4 disk set I think.

You do need a Win2K install CD though. If the instructions for creating the floppy set work for you, that's what you do have. Hopefully it will be Win2K with SP4 already combined so when you install you are getting the OS and the service pack loaded at the same time.