Help Me Get Back To Win 98se

i have a compaq 5100r computer,i bought used.
win me
64mb ram (i can upgrade to 192mb)
30 gb.hdd
i have run a me boot disk to try to get into os ,and i keep getting error
os not found.
i would like to fdisk and format,then install win 98se or winxp pro on.
but alas i'm afraid of fdisk commands.it has one active partiton (compaq stuff i think) of 4835 bytes

please point me in the right direction on fdisk and formatting the drive.
do i need to save the small partition?
help please.
thanks to all

 

FDISK is a all or nothing tool. Meaning that if you use the format command, you will lose everything on that partition. If there is any personal data you want to save from that active partition, do it now before you format the drive.

Just boot up with the Win ME diskette and when you get to the A:\ prompt, type "format c:\" without the quotes.

If you plan to install XP, rather than W98, there is no need to "preformat" the drive. XP will format the drive during the installation process. Furthermore, 64 MB RAM is barely sufficient to run XP. You should upgrade as much as you can afford.

 

Don't everyone just love old Compaq computers ? If you can see a small partition, it has all the MB drivers ... worth saving before distroy ... or maybe Compaq (HP) still has the drivers online. Don't suppose you have the origional CD restore set ?
Can you see the small partition ? If those files are small enuff to copy to floppy .. real DOS :
COPY /?

Others : FDISK : just key it in, it is a graphical gui ... very easy to distroy stuff.
FORMAT /?

Best

 

First of all, Compaq is no longer. They have been bought out by HP. Furthermore, one should not assume there is a hidden partition with the system information, they didn't start doing that recently.

I really wish people would actually READ the original question insteading of posting jibberish.

Jubalsams, the poster is trying to get rid of ME and install 98 instead. How do you figure the restore CD will help him format the drive and install W98??

LOL - graphical GUI. WTH? LOL. what do you think the 'G' in the acronym stands for in the first place?

Actually, FDISK is not a GUI - it's a DOS utility with which you can execute commands from a DOS prompt. C'mon man, post some accurate answers instead of posting 1/2 baked answers and hoping it will stick to the wall.

 

Right, so you suggest to go to WinXP Pro on an old computer that barely has the clock/ram to run ME ? Quit tearing me apart and post to the thread.

Then again, almost any driver may be found at driverguide.

So lets get back to FDISK and FORMAT instructions ...

 

Yep. Read the thread and my comments above. I told the original poster to upgrade his RAM if he wants XP loaded. XP is much more of stable OS than W98 anyway.

I did post to the thread. Apparently you dont' take constructive criticism very well.

Have a nice day!

 

I will completely 100% disagree with that statment.

I have both and 98SE is FAR MORE ( or at least just as ) Stable as XP Pro. And I am refering to the same being used on the same machine. With the same hardware.

98SE is no different that XP Pro. " Set it up PROPERLY and use the CORRECT Software, hardware and drivers and it is just fine. "

I still have one machine with SE that has been on it since it came out. The ONLY problems I have had are ones that I AS THE USER created. MOSTLY due to being in a HURRY.

BillyBob

 

OOPS !! I forgot.

Make my previous reply apply to 98FE also.

BB

 

Crown711, you should save that small partition. It contains some hardware drivers for you computer. While they could be found on the internet, you have them now.
I think you would be better off using 98 SE on that machine for the reason that you state you can upgrade the RAM to 192 mb. XP Pro may be slow with that amount of RAM. While the minimum requirements of XP is 128 mb, it runs slow with this amount of RAM, 256 mb is really the minimum you need for any good performance.
98SE will run great on 192, but the 64 you have will be enough to install windows.
Your boot up floppy may not be any good, If you go to the following link, you can download a file, that when executed with a floppy in the drive, it will create one for you. Since you're planning for 98SE, get the download for 98 SE OEM.
http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
To format the drive, use this command at the A:\> prompt.
format c:
This will only format what is on the C: drive, the smaller partition or D: drive will not be touched by this.

 

I completely disagree with that comment. But rather than drag this thread down to a debate which OS is better, I'll agree with MarkP and choose to focus on getting the posters boot/installation problem fixed.

 

My Thanks

i love to see you guys fixing these problems so quickly,
heep up the good work.i did fromat and installed win98 se.

 

crown711

Glad to read that you are back up and running again.

Good Morning Maverick.

I have no problem with you not agreeing with me.

But. If you are going to quote anything from me please use the FULL quote not just part.

But now I have to add. My lines ( in quote above ) can be applied to ANY OS from Good Old Fashioned DOS on up to and including XP.

And for me Personal Preference is put WAY AHEAD of what Microsoft or any one else claims. You like this. I like that. And that is the way is. And if not then it should.

Have a nice day.
BillyBob

 

I am gun shy about fdisking Compaq hard drives, especially home model units. Compaqs were designed for the convenience of Compaq to build the computers; not for the owners of those computers to use third party anything. Office grade Compaqs were different from the home units.

Their hard drives are famous from containing the BIOS to being necessary to run the Restore Setup. Sometimes the Restore is not run directly from the disks. The disks will write to a partition. The restore is then run from that partition.

But a quick search shows that the drivers for a Compaq 5100r are available from the internet. But there is a caveat. It appears everything was called a Compaq 5100r. The drivers for Windows 98 may or may not exist for that particular motherboard.

The problem with backdating an OS from a manufactured computer is that drivers may or may not exist. Manufacturers only supply the the drivers for the computer as it was built! Anything else is your problem.

Compaqs were also known to have shutdown problems when an OS other than from the restore disks is loaded.