Format/Install

Hi,

I am about to undertake the installation of XP on my daughter's PC today or tomorrow. Need some how-to tips. This may all seem too easy for you but please help me anyway?

She has a custom box, 98SE, & 2 separate and individual physical hard drives. Maxtor 13.6s, 7200 RPMs.

My plan is to get the machine and, rather than back anything up to disc, simply move anything relevant to the non-OS D drive. Then, when I'm done that, just to make sure, I can pull the cable right off the D drive and the PC will only recognize the C (OS) drive. Next, let XP do it's thing (format and install). When all is set up and well on the C drive, hook up the D drive again. I would then end up transfering things like photos, MP3s, etc. onto the C drive.

Presto! Perfect install of XP.

QUESTIONS:
- given that I have no shortage of know-how as to what can be saved or not, this should be a slick way of backing up, right?

- BIG QUESTION: How, after all this, do I go about wiping out (formatting) only the D drive afterward? You know. Isn't it better to have a nice, clean, formatted drive rather than a "delete everything" drive??? Have NO idea how I would format this second drive later. Not enough XP experience. Plenty of 98 though.

Oh, and if none of this will work, please scream at me, forthwith.

Can all you brainiacs here please help out this silly old fool?

As usual, thanx in advance!

 

You've obviously given this some thought, and I only have a couple of ideas.
Are you interested in a dual boot at all?
If not, what you have already thought about will work, and once, XP is up and running, plug in the D drive, open explorer, right click on it, and select format.
It's that simple.
No need to remove the D drive while installing XP, nothing will be touched. I understand your precautions though

 

chameleon The plan you have outlined will work just fine albeit a measure of overkill to actually unplug the D: drive. Your choice there, I wouldn't bother.

As for reformatting the D: drive, that's slightly overkill too but I'll not fault you for that since many people choose to do it that way. You must only right click the D: drive icon in "My Computer" and select Format from the menu. (Do be certain you have the correct drive selected. ) It's that easy.

Good luck.

 

Yippee !!!

Thank you so VERY much, reboot!

Just what the old fool ordered!

I didn't think unhooking the drive was needed but just thought "better safe than sorry ".

I'm on my way to pick up the PC right now. She is SO excited. (Her 98 is somewhat crippled and in need of a format now anyway) She's probably wondering when the old man was ever going to get around to it.

Talk (type) to you all later!

This forum is simply the best!

I don't actually know this for fact. I just assume as much, given that I couldn't be bothered to even so much as drop in on another one. Why? Everything I ever needed was always here.

Keep it up, everyone!

DOH!!!!!

Could a moderator please place this where it belongs, as a reply in "Format/Install ". What a Homer!

 

Thanks, you two!

Unfortunately my reply after reboot's post was started as a new thread called "Yippee! "

See why my daughters call me Homer? They actually do!

Don't panic. Really, I can format and install operating systems.

I obviously need some help with paying attention!

Oh, PLEASE let a moderator have mercy on me and do something with my "stray post "

(edit note: it was gone before I got a chance to gone it for you so no more stray. Newt)

Homer