Windows Forum

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Format C Drive

0 helpful
5 replies

by pmfturner

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

I have (what used to be !) a Tiny computer. Amongst other things, its motherboard has been replaced with an Intel board, and it?s running on Windows 98SE.

The PC has been slowly grinding to halt, speedwise, so I took it in to a local repair shop. After a few days, they said it was ready ( after removal of some spyware), but when I went to pick it up told me the C drive needed to be formatted, although were unable to give a reason why this was needed. I brought the PC home as I didn?t have the system discs with me. However, I later realised that the original Tiny discs will not now run (is this correct ?) given that there is a new motherboard in the PC.

How do I format the drive and is it necessary to format ?

Other points :
1. I have a copy of Windows 98 SE.
2. On booting up, there is a missing Norton file ? SAVRT.VXD.
3. Once Windows installs, there is a message that a further 3 Norton files are missing or damaged :
NAVAPW32.dll
DEFALERT.dll
CCIMSCAN.dll
4. My Norton license has now expired ? can I re-install ?
5. All my data files are backed up, and I have all software discs to re-install.
6. I have a boot disk prepared.
7. I have recently run ?Ad-aware? and ?Spybot?.

5 replies

by nevernessit

It is probably a good idea to format your computer and start a fresh. Over time your computer gets clogged with various files, shortcuts and other junk from surfing the net, downloading programs, installing and uninstalling software etc. So to format your computer you should:
1.Backup all the documents and files that you want to put onto the fresh install.
2.Put your boot disk into the drive and restart the computer
3.Select the Support CD drive option from the boot menu
4.At the command prompt c:> type format c: /u /s
5.When that is finished reboot your computer with the boot disk in the drive
6.Type d: (or whatever your CD drive letter is)
7.Type setup

Windows will then go through the setup process (follow the on screen prompts)
With Norton as it has expired you can either pay for another subscription or download a free antivirus program such as AVG. You should also consider downloading a firewall program such as ZoneAlarm.

by robert.marsh

Considering all, I WOULD format the drive and start over. BUT, since you're installing Win98 again, I would download and install the most current BIOS for that board and download the chipset drivers for that board (you will need them AFTER installing Win98)

This discussion is closed to new replies.