Reformatting a Hard Drive


Tutorial Home >Hardware >Computer Basics >Computer Maintenance >How do I reinstall a Windows 95 upgrade from DOS or Windows 3.1 after reformatting a hard drive?
Tutorial Home >Hardware >Computer Basics >Computer Maintenance >Working Under the Hood >Reformatting a Hard Drive

  Step 1:  Salvage Valuables

Open a Report
Backup data, e-mail, e-mail addresses, Bookmarks (from Netscape), Favorites (from Internet Explorer), noting what folders they were in. Don't forget to backup files you downloaded to update drivers and software.
  Step 2:  Create a Startup Disk

Open a Report
If you haven't done so yet, create a startup disk by choosing Start, Settings, Control Panel, Add-Remove Programs, StartUp Disk.
  Step 3:  Add to Startup Disk - 1

Open Windows Explorer and from the Windows/Command folder copy the Format file to the Startup Disk.
  Step 4:  Add to Startup Disk - 2

Are you using Windows 95? Turn to your CD-ROM player's manual or tech support for instructions on configuring the Startup Disk to activate your player. Note: Windows 98 automatically adds CD-ROM drivers to the disk.
  Step 5:  Do It!

Place your Startup Disk in the A drive. Reboot. When the PC is up, type the following at the A prompt: format/s c: and then press the Enter key.
  Step 6:  Reinstall Programs

Reinstall your programs. Note: If your Windows 95 is an upgrade from DOS or Windows 3.1 you will need an original DOS or Windows 3.1 diskette to prove you have license to install 95.
  Step 7:  Upgrade Programs, Drivers

If you remembered to backup files bearing program and driver upgrades, move the update files back, then update each program.
  Step 8:  Restore Data

Finally, put your data back, remembering to put e-mail addresses, Favorites and Bookmarks back in their proper folders.