(click and then "save as" or "print")
© 2000 Tinkerbe11jb
All Rights Reserved
Artist: Yanni
Before you do anything, take a DEEP BREATH.
PRINT up this notepad!!........and read it through completely before doing anything!! You'll find it handy for quick reference - especially when you get nervous.
Not gonna ask you to do anything that I haven't done alone -- and did WAY before I was considered half of the tech that I am now.
What you’ll need:
1. Windows cd (or restore cd for “brands”)
2. A Windows “boot disk” (to make one click on “My computer”……. Control panel…….. Add/remove programs….…start up disk tab…… and CREATE DISK…..)
3. Phillips head screwdriver.
First things first. Unplug all lines from computer. If you are uncomfortable with were things should go when you put them back, take a pen and paper, and make a "chart" or drawing of what is actually in which holes and what connects to what on the back and WHERE it connects. Once you have your chart and unplug everything from the tower (even the phone line), unscrew the cover and take it OFF. Remove the single screw holding in the modem and gently pull it straight out avoiding touching contact points or relays. Do the same for the sound card. Set these aside on a clean surface out of the way of everything.
Now, leaving cover off for now, plug monitor, keyboard, mouse, and power back in. Insert the floppy disk called "win98 boot disk". Let it do what it wants to do - it is programed to do certain things automatically. When it gets to A> type in fdisk and ENTER. It will ask if you want to set active partition -- there is a Y in brackets [ Y ]....... click on ENTER. Then TURN computer off with power switch.......
Turn it back ON and let it run thru everything again till you get to the A:> This time, type in format c: and ENTER It will warn you again that you are about to lose all stored information, and ask if you are sure.......[Y].......Enter again....... This process will take about 5 minutes or so. When it is finished, and back to A:> Turn computer OFF with switch again. Turn computer back ON again, and let disk run thru it's routine again, and this time when you get to A:> Type in fdisk and ENTER Set the "active partition again (Enter when there is a [ Y ]...... then turn puter back off AGAIN.
Leave the floppy in place, and turn it on again. Insert the cd for windows98se. When you get to the A:> this time type in "setup" (without the quotes) and ENTER. This will begin the installation process from the windows cd. The Key is the group of 5 letters and numbers on the outside of the envelope or listed on your certificate of license. They must be entered 100% correctly in order for cd to work.
Once windows is installed, turn your puter back off, using the windows start.... shutdown...... Look on your modem & sound card for the BRAND name, model number and FCC code, and write them down on a piece of paper. Unplug everything, put your sounds card and modem back in, being sure that you put the cards straight in and seat them all the way down in the slot. Do not press too hard, but hard enough that you can screw them back into the back of the case the way they were before.
Plug everything back into the proper slots. Leave the case off for now. Turn the computer back on and it will "detect" new hardware. Let it detect them and install them, from either disks or cd's that came with the cards themselves, or from the Windows cd. If you don't hear sounds, check to make sure speakers are turned on, and speaker wire is plugged into the proper slot. IF you still don't hear sounds, reseat the sound card by turning off the computer again, unpluging everything, removing the card and reinserting it into the slot.
If you have any questions, email me PRIOR to the reformat and
I'll be happy to answer them!
~Tink~
Best of luck!
BEFORE you do this, be sure to check your phone number and current information in your modem settings from your server so that you can make your connnection quickly after you have finished with reformatting.
To make sure you are installing the correct modem & sound card drivers, it is a good idea to see exactly what you have installed PRIOR to reformatting. To do this, click on START....... SETTINGS........CONTROL PANEL..... SYSTEM......... DEVICE MANAGER........ Click on the + sign in front of modem and write down the modem that is listed as being installed. Do the same thing for the sound card..... click on the + in front of sound, video & game controllers and write down the things listed in that category as well.
IF you do NOT have disks or cd's to go with modem and sound card, these may be obtained ONLINE, usually from the manufacturer of the specific cards. Typically the are available to be downloaded to floppy disks so that they may used as part of installation process.
© 2000 Tinkerbe11jb
All Rights Reserved
Artist: Yanni