Reinstalling a factory installed Windows 98

stitch--Kind offer of yours, but private emailing suggested fixes defeats the whole purpose of the BBS. If you can tell Elsie something, tell us all here on the BBS. Then it will be archived and available to all in the future.

 

Sorry Welshjim
Don't meen to take anything from the board (except your help). Just thought Elsie would be in the same boat I was when I did my first reformat. Having different people at different times giving different instructions confusing. I would still be sat in front of my husbands computer looking stumped, weak and frail from lack of food and drink if it wasnt for this board. (can't leave things half done ) Where as now its my husband who is sat infront of his computer looking stumped (can manage to switch it on and play his one game but anything else )
Anyway below are the step by step instructions that I got from here but put into one list. Most follow what has already been said in this thread if there is anything missing I will stand corrected and am always willing to learn more.
Stitch


Windows 98 Reformat and Clean Install

WARNING THIS WILL DELETE ANYTHING ON YOUR HARD DRIVE

1. Insert windows boot disk and reboot.

2. When the start up menu is displayed select "Start computer without CD-Rom support.

3. At A:\ type Fdisk (enter).

4. At next prompt "Do you wish to enable large disk support(Y/N)?

Select "Y" for large disk support. Press enter

5. After you hit enter, the Fdisk options menu is displayed.

Press 3 to delete partition. Press enter

Press 1 to delete primary dos partition Press enter

6. Pres esc to return to bios
Select no 1 to create a DOS partition or Logical DOS Drive, then (Enter)

Press 1 to create a Primary DOS partition (Enter)

7. After last command you will recieve this prompt:
"Do you wish to use the maximum available size for primary DOS partition? (Y) (Enter)

8. You then get a message "You must reboot for settings to take effect "
CNTL, ALT, DEL and let reboot. (with the floppy still in) when reboot is done
9. chose "Start up without CD-Rom Support "

Formatting:

10. after system is rebooted at the A:\ prompt type " format C: " (with out the " ")
11. You will then see the message " WARNING, ALL DATA WILL BE LOST" PRESS " y "

After formatting is done you can enter a name for the drive at the lower right hand corner of the screen
or leave blank and name later.
12. Reboot CNTL, ALT, DEL (with the floppy still in) this time when reboot is done choose
"Start up with CD-Rom Support "

13 from the A:\ prompt type C:

14.. Now you are at the C prompt type in Setup then press (Enter)
15. then again press (Enter) to let it do a check on systems
16. Press X to continue with setup.
17. Follow all further instructions from windows

 

You all are so great ! I really mean it.

Here's where I'm at this morning. I replied to Gateway and told them what was happening after they suggested I do a GWScan from the utility on their site. Since it's not detecting a hard drive at ALL (and we all know it's there) they are suggesting I reseat the hard drive, and gave me detailed instructions for doing that.

I'll do that today and in the meantime I'm going to download that utility that Mark suggested. It's the first utility that admits one CANNOT delete a partition unless they kill the NFTS file system.

I just SIGHED validation when I read that statement. Gateway doesn't want to admit that they'd installed a file system that makes it nearly impossible to use the Recovery CD without having a nervous breakdown, going postal in the office, throwing a valium soiree, or getting together for a "let's all pull each others hair out" session. LOL

I imagine that what's holding me up on the delete partition process is that my hard drive is not being detected in DOS. I'll work on resolving that so my system SEES my troubled hard drive and then proceed with the other utilities to see if that causes progress.

I'll update you on how it went, and hopefully this post will end with a success story !

Again, you're all SO GREAT and I'm indebted to you for the attention you're giving this problem.

Elsie

 

So far all the suggestions given have yeilded failed results. Just for grins, I'm posting what my config.sys and autoexec.bat files say because they don't look right to me. Might give a clue for what's going on.

Config.sys file reads :

DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
REM [Header]
REM == PISETUP Begin Delete ==
REM == PISETUP End Delete ==
REM [CD-ROM Drive]
REM [Miscellaneous]
REM [Display]

___________________________________


Autoexec.bat file reads :

More info on the files contained on this troubled computer

My Autoexec.bat file reads :

C:\>rem TShoot: @C:\PROGRA~1\WILDFI~1\GOBACK\GB_PROG.EXE /i C:2000

C:\>SET BLASTER=A220 I7 D1 H5 P330 T6

C:\>Set CTSYN=C:\WINDOWS

C:\>C:\PROGRA~1\CREATIVE\SBLIVE\DOSDRV\SBEINIT.COM
Bad command or file name

C:\>REM [Header]
Out of environment space

________________________________________

This doesn't sound right, does it ? Has anyone come across this ?

Thanks

Elsie

 

I see nothing in those two files which would prevent dos from accessing the drive.
These autoexec.bat lines, these are what appears on the screen during bootup?
I do not see enough variables being entered in Command.Com's environment, nor do I see where the size of the environment is being set with a Shell= command. The Shell= is not there in the Config.sys, and you do not need this with Win98.

I think it is time to clear the CMOS, this is part of the BIOS.
Open the computer, and look at the motherboard carefully. You are looking for a plastic thing connecting two of three pins, labeled JP1. Do not confuse this with J1. There will be three pins there, the jumper connecting two of them. With the computer off, move the jumper so it is connecting the other two, turn the computer on. Turn it off, move the jumper back and turn the computer on.
This will clear out everything in the BIOS, and the BIOS should redetect the hard drive. You may need to choose Setup Defaults after doing this.
To get into the BIOS, when you see the message 'press DEL to enter setup', it may be F2, F8 or F10 instead, this gets you there.

 

I have done as you advised and here's all I found.

A plastic thing connecting two of three wires, labled J17, plugged into the mobo. This appears to power the fan.

Another plastic thing connecting three wires labled J20 plugged into the mobo. I'm not sure what this connection does.

I see no other "J" labels anywhere on the mobo.

Here's what Gateway advised I do to get the hard drive detected :

______________________


To reseat the hard disk's data cable:

1. Turn off the computer. On your screen, locate and click the Start
button. From the Start menu, click Shut Down. In the Shut Down
Windows
dialog box, click Shut Down the Computer, then click Yes.

2. Remove the screws that hold the case cover to the back of the
computer chassis.

Note: Some cases have a side or top panel that needs to be removed. If
you have a case like this, you need to remove the two or three thumb
screws that hold the panel to the back of the case and pull the panel
towards the rear of the computer.

Note: At this point, if practical, there is no need to disconnect any
cables from the back of the computer.

3. Lift the case cover upwards and towards the rear of the computer.

Note: If you are not familiar with Electro-Static Discharge (ESD)
precautions, please see the Addendum ESD Precautions below prior to
touching any internal components:

4. To ground yourself with the computer, touch the metal frame inside
the computer.

5. Locate the wide gray ribbon cable that runs from the back of the
hard drive to the motherboard.

6. Unplug the cables and plug them back in on both the end that plugs
into the hard disk and the end that plugs into the computer.

Note: Make sure that you reseat the cable exactly the way it was
originally inserted. There is a colored stripe on the edges of the
cables to help you monitor the cable's orientation.

7. Locate the red, black and yellow wires with the white ends that
plug
into the back of the disk. These are the power leads.

8. Reseat the power leads on the back of the hard disk.

Once the cables have been reseated, you can turn on the computer with
the case still off to make sure the computer starts correctly. If the
computer starts correctly, replace the case.

Addendum ESD Precautions.

By accidentally giving the system circuits a static shock, there is a
risk to the internal components. Before removing any components or
touching anything inside the computer, please follow the steps below to
prevent Electro-Static Discharge.

1. Leave the computer power cord plugged into wall outlet.

2. Turn off the computer.

3. Ground yourself with the computer by touching the metal of the
chassis before touching any components.

4. Avoid working on carpeted surfaces. If this is unavoidable, a
slightly moistened carpet will protect against static build up.

5. Set parts down on anti-static surfaces like wood or rubber.
Ordinary plastic bags can be damaging and the only part of anti-static
bags that prevent static build up is the inside of the bag. The
outside
of the bag provides no protection.

6. Hold all peripheral devices by their edges or brackets and avoid
touching the circuitry.

Also after reseating the cables restart the system and enter the BIOS
setup by pressing the delete key. Once you enter the setup follow the
steps listed below.

1. Click on main. Under main click on the option of IDE Options.

2. Set Primary IDE Master AUTO
Primary IDE Slave AUTO
Secondary IDE Master AUTO
Secondary IDE Slave AUTO
3. Save the changes and then exit the setup.

Then boot the system from the bootable disk and when the system boots
run the GWSCAN utility. For running this utility you need to type the
name of exe file at the command prompt for eg 7514539.exe is the exe
for
GWSCAN hence you need to type omly 7514539 at the command prompt and
the
setup would run the GWSCAN utility.

I believe that this resolution resolves the issue. Please feel free to
contact us for any further issues. We are here to resolve your issues
and get your work done.

I have documented this correspondence in Service Request Number
2-1554655107 in our contact tracking database. Please use this number
in the future if you need to contact us again regarding this issue.

Please reply to this message if you require further assistance with
this
issue.

_____________

Is this the same thing as what you are trying to accomplish ? I did the above and that was to no avail. Forgive me if the above had NOTHING to do with what you're trying to accomplish and know that I'm trying VERY hard to follow your guidance.

Any info on the J17 and J20 labels that are on the mobo and whether they are the ones you're asking me to locate ?


Elsie

 

Those are not it. The J means it is a connection. JP is a jumper. JP1 is the one. There is another way to do this. Look for a large watch type battery, the flat round type and remove it. Leave it out for about an hour. This battery supplies power to keep the settings in the CMOS chip, and it can take a while for it to drain out.

 

Oooooo thank you Mark ! I'll pull it out tonight and put it back in tomorrow morning. I have to work two doubles (yes Easter too) and then post back by Tuesday when I have more time to finish the job.

You're the BEST !

Elsie