Formatting a "scrubbed" hard drive

Does it have a CD-ROM drive? Most newer operating system CDs are bootable. Assuming that the CD drive is set to boot first (which they typically are unless someone has changed it), you should be able to boot from your OS CD.

If the CD does not boot first, you will need to change the boot order in your BIOS to set CD to first. This may also be the problem with the floppy drive.

Lots of if-then-else questions here.

NOTE: the following will not work for a USB floppy drive.

Start by setting up the laptop to boot from a floppy.

Insert the startup floppy for your version of Windows.

Boot up.

At the DOS prompt, run the command fdisk /mbr
press enter to execute the command.

Now, run fdisk
Partition the hard drive as desired.
Some of the options in fdisk depend on which version of Windows, and how big the hard drive is.

Check out www.fdisk.com/fdisk for links to tutorials.
There is a good article on partition planning at www.aumha.org

After the drive is partitioned, exit fdisk and re-start the laptop.

For Windows 9X, you need to format at least the C: drive.
Use the command format C: /s
The "S" switch copies over the system files and makes it possible to boot off of the C: drive.

After the format is complete, insert the Windows CD into the CD drive, and see if you can run setup.

Alternately, remove the hard drive from the laptop.
Get a 2.5" to 3.5" drive adapter kit ($4 US) and install the drive as a slave drive in a desktop PC.

Partition and format the drive again using the "S" switch when you format the drive.
(In Windows, there is a box to select copy system files or make bootable.)
Then, copy the Windows CD to the drive.
Use a folder such as W98.

Place the drive back into the laptop.
Boot up from the C: drive.
At the DOS prompt, switch to the folder where you copied the Windows CD
cd c:\w98
run setup

You should be all set.

Chas