Wipe out hard drive

What is the best way to wipe a hard drive clean on a computer to start fresh. I have an IBM desktop with an Genuine Intel Celeron Processor with Windows 98 and 312 MB RAM. I need to start fresh with only the OS and basic system programs and then install only necessary programs for my purposes.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Patrick

 

Boot from the Windows 98 Startup boot disk, at the command prompt type fdisk delete all partitions, then create a new FAT32 partition, format the drive using the command format c:, install your OS.

 

To boot from the disk do I restart in DOS? Do I need any of the actual CDs that came with the computer?

 

You need the Windows 98 CD that came with your computer.

 

Thanks.

 

the drive won't format with format c:

I deleted and remade the partition and still can't get it to format

 

Have you tried using the Drive Manufacturers tools to partition and format the drive?

 

No. How would I do that?

 

Do you know who made the hard drive in your computer?

 

It's an Intel.

I actually get the the point where the hardware is intialized (the least step in 98 setup) and then it says a whole bunch of files are missing. I can't find them in the C drive or on the CD. The formatting goes fine, Windows gets 90% setup, and then I can't finish it.

 

The drive is formated, you're having problems with Windows not installing completely.

Have you cleaned the CD?

 

Okay I got Windows installed but I can't get the Ethernet dirvers to work properly. They get copied, installed, and then the Ethernet controller won't work. I have tried via network card and direct hardline and it won't work.

Any thoughts?

 

Have you looked in device manager for any problems? A yellow exclamation mark would be the indicator of a problem.

 

In Device Manager the ethernet controller is in the section labeled Other Devices and has a yellow question mark beside it. When I did the installation of the ethernet drivers it went fine and built the database but when I check it in device manager it say the drivers aren't available.

 

Is this an on-board ethernet controller?

 

Yes.

 

It might be that the database is installing the wrong drivers to the controller. Check the brand and model number of your motherboard and try going to the manufacturer website and get the latest motherboad drivers. If its onboard then those drivers should be built into the pack your given. Before resinstalling the new drivers I would suggest removing the existing bad drivers from device manager by right clicking the question mark and telling it delete. This will force it to start fresh on a new set and not just replace or overwrite. May help.

 

The problem I have is that it won't recognize the good drivers. The drivers come right from the recovery CD. They just won't load properly.

 

What model is this IBM desktop?

Also, you may be able to download and install Everest.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181

Why do I ask this? Cause, I've used this program a lot of figure out what chipsets are on the motherboard, and then hunt down the drivers from there. Everest is a powerful tool.

 

Joke post. We dont allow it. Answer the question.... or dont.

 

Such language is not appropriate in these forums. Just Kidding!

 

At first i was like, omg is that bad in the UK? Then i saw the JK andi was like oh... hahahahaha rofl!

 

Okay first I have to apologize. I have been having problems with two IBM computers. This thread was started regarding the IBM Netvista Desktop. Somewhere along the way my mind shifted tracks to the IBM ThinkPad I have been having trouble with.

To clarify...the Netvista is working fine and I haven't actually tried to reinstall 98. I want to but can't find the disk that came with it. So my need on that one is to create a system disk with which I can reinstall Windows without losing any of the drivers or function. Data is not an issue as it is backed up.

On the ThinkPad I did reinstall 98. I have both the original 98 disk and the recovery CD from IBM specifically for that model. I was able to successfully reinstall 98 but can't get the Ethernet drivers to work properly.

So the reinstall question was regarding the Netvista and the Ethernet driver issue was the Thinkpad.

Sorry for the confusion. If it would help I can start two seperate threads for each question.