Hi David.

This feeling that by starting up from scratch will solve the problem is
shared by lots of computer users. And it works. At least for me, a
disciplined installation and use of the computer can make things work
smoothly and more reliable.

The process to do this is very simple. First I'll answer some of your
questions. Partitioning comes before formatting, by definition. That's why
you can have partitions with different types of formats.

Now, the Step-by-Step steps.

First of all. You need to BackUp. BackUp everything you don't want to
loose. After you have everything BackUpped, it's time to worry for
drivers. Be sure you have the drivers for your CD-ROM, Modem, Soundcard,
Printer and other special hardware you may have. In most cases (I don't
want to say ALL cases), you don't need a driver for the Mother Board,
BIOS, Hard Disk and Floppy. Be sure, too, to have at hand the Operating
System’s disks.

Now you have two ways: 1) You can make a boot disk that ensures you the
system will boot recognizing the CD-ROM; 2) You can let the BIOS boot from
the Win95 CD-ROM.  The last time I've started my system from scratch, I
used number '2)', but you'll need to have a BIOS that support CD-ROM
booting. To
know if your BIOS support it, reboot your system, enter system-setup
(pressing DEL, F2, or something like this at startup) then inside Advanced
Settings
try to change the IDE boot to CD-ROM boot. Most BIOSes support it, though.

Even if you choose to go on way number '2)', you'll need a boot disk.
Copy to a new floppy the following files: command.com, format.com,
fdisk.exe, more.com,
xcopy.exe (and xcopy32.exe), autoexec.bat and config.sys. Maybe you'll
want to edit this last two files, but that's up to how do you want your
computer to boot.

You're on the way to delete the partitions.

But then, maybe you don't want to delete partitions. Think: "Am I happy with
the way my drives are set?”. You only need to repartition if you want more
drives, or you want less drives... maybe you want to add a new Operating
System...

Let's say you decided to leave the partitions as they are (This will make my
post shorter :). Reboot the system using the boot disk. Run format, writing
format C: (where C is the drive you want to delete all information inside).
The first time you format a Hard Drive, you'll feel some fear of not having
backupped everything, but then you get accustomed to don't backup everything
<g>. When Format finishes, your system is empty.

From now, I’ll quote a past post regarding Win installation from CD:

“….

Maybe you'll want to know a little bit more about the CD-ROM boot.

In the systems I've watched it working, A BOOT from CD-ROM will hang the
system if no CD is inserted. Well, it'll not really hang the system, but
will search and wait for a CD forever. That's why it's better not to put
the CD-ROM boot before de IDE boot.  .  . It's not like the FLOPPY boot,
which will check if there's a floppy disk and then go on for next option if
none encountered.

Because this reason, the CD_ROM option is not even 'setted' in de BIOS,
commonly. The way to setting it is like this: You turn on the
computer, press de DEL key (or any other one your system tell you to
press), then chose the second option in the BIOS menu. ((If you have
graphical BIOS, you'll need to find this by yourself, I don't remember
where the things are)).

Go to where your IDE is set as boot (usually after the FLOPPY) and change
it to CD-ROM. Put theWIN98 CD in the tray (and close it :)  ). Save and
Exit.

The CD will boot, then prompt you for booting from the CD or from de HD.
Chose the CD Option, and follow the Setup Steps.

Now. When the Win98 install restarts the computer again, enter Setup and
change the boot option back to IDE. Save and Exit. Follow the next
instructions step by step.

That's all. If you want instructions on the step-by-step installation of
Win98, just mail me.

…”

Hope it's understandable... any question please write me
([log in to unmask])...

Luck;
    Sami Garzon :)

                  Visit our website regularly for FAQs,
               articles, how-to's, tech tips and much more
                  http://nospin.com - http://nospin.org