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Installing Windows

Site Visitors

To find a topic on this page, Click Edit on the Toolbar, Find (on this page), type in keyword

you will not be able to find drivers for your hardware at this time.

Vista drivers

This is another repeat of XP SP 2.

Three things to remember when you are working with computers.

First thing is "YOU CAN DO IT".
Second take your time, a little mistake can cause a big problem.
Third all answers are only a question away.

Installing Windows

Installing Windows Vista
Clean Install of Windows XP / 2K and some valuable information on a Clean Install of Vista

Clean Install of Windows ME and 98
Prepare Hard Drive for Use
Windows 98 Boot Disk
Using Fdisk And Format
Formatting Your Hard Drive

Installing windows after a virus
Product key for windows installations. (The number on the Window95-98 book
Installing windows from Scratch
Procedure Overview
Rebuild Is Different From Reinstall
Saving Critical Data
Creating A Startup Disk That Loads the CD Drivers
Boot disk that Loads the CD Drivers
- Download Now, after you download You MUST extract it to a Floppy. Insert a Floppy and then double-click on the file you downloaded to extract the files to the floppy.
Rebuilding Your System
Reinstalling the Windows 98 Upgrade
Restoring Your Personal Data
"NTLDR is missing" error message when you install or upgrade Windows XP over Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Millennium Edition

Clean Install of Windows Vista

The following is very important:

All retail copies of Windows Vista use the exact same media.
- The DVD contains all editions and can be used to perform a full installation or an upgrade.
- If you compare a full retail copy of Windows Vista Ultimate and an upgrade copy of Windows Vista Home Basic, you'll find that the installation media for the two products are virtually identical.
The product key included with the copy you purchase determines how the Setup program behaves.
- These behaviors are hard-coded into the Setup program based on the key you enter.
- Specifically, the Setup program is able to look at your key and use an algorithm to determine the edition it "unlocks."
- The same algorithm determines whether you are allowed to use that key for an upgrade or a clean install or both.
The license agreement for a Vista upgrade copy requires that the machine already be licensed for Windows.
- This license agreement does not restrict the method of installation in any way. Section 13 of the agreement reads as follows:
  - UPGRADES. To use upgrade software, you must first be licensed for the software that is eligible for the upgrade.
  - Upon upgrade, this agreement takes the place of the agreement for the software you upgraded from. After you upgrade, you may no longer use the software you upgraded from.
When you run Setup with an upgrade key, the installer does not check to see whether you're really eligible.
- In fact, Microsoft's licensing infrastructure - the activation and validation servers it uses to check product keys against hardware hashes - does not (yet) contain any mechanism to match up your upgrade license with a previous license.
To use an upgrade product key, you must start the Vista Setup program from Windows 2000, Windows XP, or any edition of Windows Vista.
- Your previous version of Windows doesn't have to be activated.
- Even an evaluation copy of the edition of Windows Vista you purchased will allow you to run the Setup program with an upgrade key.
A clean install of Vista replaces the existing Windows system and all of your files, settings, and programs.
Do NOT do what Microsoft calls an in-place upgrade.
This preserves your installed programs and data files but has a greater risk of migrating your problems.
Do a clean install.
Even then there's a problem:
- Microsoft used a crude technique to make clean installs more difficult for upgrading.
- If you boot from the Vista DVD and enter an upgrade key, you'll see this error message and will not be able to go any further:
Microsoft acknowledges that you can be legally entitled to purchase the upgrade version and yet have to do a clean install.
Microsoft's official Windows Vista Upgrade Paths from Previous Versions page, which says: "If you are currently using Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP Professional x64, you are eligible for an upgrade copy to a corresponding or better edition of Windows Vista, but a clean install is required."
Note Prior to upgrading the operating system to Windows Vista, run Upgrade Advisor
to see if there are any compatibility issues that need to be addressed prior to the upgrade. It is recommended to resolve any compatibility issues prior to upgrading.
Now we are ready to install Windows Vista
Place the Windows Vista disc in the optical drive.
Close any dialog boxes that open.
Turn off the computer as you normally would.
After the computer is turned off, disconnect all USB devices except the keyboard and mouse.
- This includes USB devices such as a printer, scanner, removable storage, or camera.
- Note The computer must be configured to boot to the CD/DVD drive.
Turn on the computer.
When prompted, press any key to boot from CD or DVD.
Windows loads files.
In the Install Windows dialog box
Select the appropriate information
Click Next.
In the Install Windows dialog box
Click Install now.
In the Type your product key for activation screen
Enter the product key
Click Next.
In the Please read the license terms screen
Check I accept the license terms
Click Next.
In the Which type of installation do you want screen
Click Custom (advanced) .
In the Where do you want to install Windows screen, you can create new partitions, delete partitions, format partitions, and extend partitions. Make appropriate changes
Click Next.
- Create New Partition
  - This option creates a new hard drive partition.
    - Click Drive options (advanced) .
    - Click New.
    - Enter the appropriate partition size.
    - Click Apply
    - Click Next
    - The partition is created.
  - Delete Partition
    - This option deletes a hard drive partition.
      - Click Drive options (advanced) .
      - Click Delete.
      - In the Install Windows dialog box
      - Click OK.
      - The partition is deleted.
    - Format Partition
      - This option formats an existing partition.
        
        Click Drive options (advanced) .
        
        Click Format
        
        In the Install Windows dialog box
        
        Click OK.
        
        The drive is formatted.
        
        Click Next when finished.
      - Extend Partition
        
        This option takes an existing partition and extends it using unallocated space.
        
        Click Drive options (advanced) .
        
        Select the existing partition
        
        Click Extend.
        
        Enter the appropriate partition size.
        
        Click Apply
        
        Click Next.
        
        In the Install Windows dialog box
        
        Click OK.
        
        The partition is extended.
    - Windows installs.
    - The computer restarts.
    - Windows prepares to start for the first time.
    - This may take a few minutes.
    - Installation completes.
    - The computer restarts.
      - Note The following Out of Box Experience (OOBE) screens may vary slightly.
    - In the Choose a user name and picture screen
    - Enter the appropriate information
    - Click Next.
    - In the Type a computer name and choose a desktop background screen
    - Enter the appropriate information
    - Click Next.
    - In the Help protect Windows automatically screen
    - Select Use recommended settings.
    - In the Review your time and date settings screen
    - Enter appropriate information
    - Click Next.
    - In the Thank You screen
    - Click Start.
    - Windows checks the computers performance.
    - Depending on hardware, this process could take from 3 to 15 minutes to complete.
    - Windows prepares the desktop.
    - Windows Vista installation is complete.
    - Any updated drivers and applications can be installed if they are available, a lot are not if your hardware is not new or fairly new.
    - It is recommended to update the antivirus definitions and perform Windows Updates.

Clean Install Of Windows XP

If you are planning on formatting your hard drive to do a clean install of Vista where you had XP? Plan on spending $80 more. Upgrade versions of Vista won't accept your old XP CD as proof, you have to install Vista on top of XP or buy a Full Version of Vista.

Boot Disks

If you can boot to the install CD click here to bypass this part on creating the bootup floppies.
If the system does not have a bootable CD ROM you will need to have the floppy install disks.
If you do not already have them use the following information to create them.
These boot disks are different for each version of windows XP.
There are six Windows XP Setup boot floppy disks.
You must have the files and the drivers that these disks contain to access the CD-ROM drive and to start the Setup process.

Create the Setup disks

When you download the Setup disks, the download contains only one large program file.
When you run the downloaded file, it extracts the files. You receive the following prompt:
This program creates the Setup boot disks for Microsoft Windows XP.
To create these disks, you need to provide 6 blank, formatted, high-density disks.
Please specify the floppy drive to copy the images to:
- Type the drive letter for the floppy disk drive (this is typically drive A).
- After you type the floppy disk drive letter, you receive the following prompt:
  - This disk will become the Windows XP Setup Boot Disk.
Press any key when you are ready.
When you press a key, the downloaded file starts to extract and copy the files.
Continue to insert the blank disks as you are prompted to do so until all six disks are created.
If the process is interrupted, you must run the downloaded program file again to create all six disks.
Make sure to label each disk appropriately with the number that is specified by the program.
You must use the disks in the correct order during the Setup process.

Use the Setup disks

After you create all six disks, insert the first disk in the floppy disk drive, and then restart the computer.
The computer must be configured to boot from the floppy disk drive.
You may have to modify the BIOS settings on your computer to do this.
The Setup process starts. Insert the other floppy disks as you are prompted to do so.
You must use the Windows XP CD-ROM to finish the Setup process.

Download the Setup disk program file

Windows XP original release
For information about the Setup boot disk versions that are available for download, visit the following Microsoft Web sites:
- Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1)
Note Windows XP CD-ROMs that include SP1 have the text "Includes Service Pack 1" on the CD-ROM.
For information about the Setup boot disk versions that are available for download, visit the following Microsoft Web sites:
- Windows XP Home Edition SP1
- Windows XP Professional SP1
Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
- For information about the Setup boot disk versions that are available for download, visit the following Microsoft Web sites:
  - Windows XP Home Edition SP2
  - Windows XP Professional SP2
If you are using a CD to install the CD Drive must be set to boot first boot.

After the CD drive is set to boot before the hard drive insert the XP CD into the drive and power on the system.

If you are using floppies you created above make sure the floppy drive is set to boot first and insert the first one and follow the instructions.
After booting you should see the following screen.

The following is the next screen you should see.

At the next screen press the Enter Key.

At the next screen press the "F8" key to accept the EULA Agreement, if you don't agree windows will not install.

These instructions are for an "UPGRADE INSTALLATION"

If you are not using an Upgrade but a FULL INSTALL VERSION you will not see this next image.

If you are using a Upgrade version install CD, remove it and insert any install CD for an earlier version of Windows and press the Enter Key.

It will scan the CD and windows installation will continue

In the following screen you are asked to choose the drive you want to install windows. Here you have the following choices.
- Install on one of the drives shown if you have more than one drive. Choose the drive if there is more than one drive, if only one drive and you do not want to partition it into two or more drives Press the Enter Key.
- To partitions the drive if it is an unformatted drive or if you want to partition the drive into two or more drives. Press the letter C
In the next screen choose the size of the partition. If you want to leave the drive as one drive enter the full size or "100%". If you want to partition the drive into more than one drive choose the size or percent of the drive you want to use for this drive.

If you want to partition the drive into two or more drives here is where you do it. Keep in mind that if you are using an install CD for a version of Windows XP than SP2 windows will not see the complete drive if it is over 137 gigs so if you have a larger drive, partition it.

If you want to change the partition highlight it using the up and down arrow keys and press D.

A confirmation message will be displayed.

After all partitions are created and you are ready choose the drive you want to install to and Press the Enter Key.

The next window will ask about formatting the drive. In Windows XP or newer it is advised you use the NTFS format. Choose the format you want to use and Press the Enter Key.

Next you will be asked to insert the Upgrade CD again and continue. If you are using a Full Version Install CD you will not see this screen.

The formatting will begin and depending on the size of the drive could take a bit.

The installation of windows will begin once the drive is formatted. It will copy files from the CD to the hard drive and here you just sit and watch.

Next screen the configuration is being initialized.

The next screen tells you windows has been installed successfully, Press the Enter Key if you do not want to wait for windows to automatically restart.

The next step is called the Graphical User Interface phase of setup. From here windows does its own thing and you just sit and watch the screens go by and setup continues.

The Regional and Language Options will be the next screen requiring user interaction if you want to use another language than English. If you want to use English and you do entry via the keyboard the defaults will suit you fine. Just click "Next" otherwise make the changes.

The Personalize Your Software screen asks you to enter your name but with security as it is I suggest you use a bogus name such as No Name, same way whenever you use the net. I never put in my name unless I expect a reply or order. Just keep in mind when these sites say they are secure, well they are, the weakest link is your computer and security is only as secure as your computer is and believe me it is NOT secure unless you have a great education in making it secure.

The next screen is the Your Product Key screen. The XP installation process stops here if you don't have a valid key. Just a word in advance. Microsoft will only allow you to reregister using the same key 5 times then they void it. So if you are not doing this the first time keep track of each re-registration. Second if you are using a key on the side of a computer box, MS has disabled it if you are doing a clean install and not using the OEM Restore to factory. The number is still good, but you cannot activate this copy of windows using an online method, YOU HAVE TO CALL MICROSOFT by PHONE. But don't worry it isn't as scary as you think it will be, they get this all the time.

Next you have to name your computer in the What's Your Computer's Name screen, I usually just put in the manufacture's name.

Next screen set the Date and Time to suit the area you live in.

In Network Settings, unless you have a good reason for selecting Custom Settings, go with the Typical Settings. In just about all cases it will function perfectly well with the typical settings.

Again, the next few screens will pass with no interaction and will finish the setup by itself. When you reboot there will be more information such as users and passwords for each and user account types. But the worst is over and you are almost finished.

The installation is finished, Reboot and follow the instructions for setting up Users and Passwords.

Installing windows ME and 98/95

Hard drive

Prepare Hard Drive for Use:

Boot Disk

Download Windows 98 Boot Disk Now

Must be extracted to a floppy disk.

Using Fdisk And Format:

Fixed Disk (Fdisk) is a Microsoft Utility designed to partition hard disk drives in preparation for formatting.
This utility is easy to use and help you to create and delete partitions, both active and non active.
You must understand that Fdisk is also a dangerous utility that if misused can do serious damage.
Use this Utility with EXTREME CARE.
- Before using Fdisk on any drive I STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you disconnect any drives that you will not be using Fdisk on.
- If the drive or drives have data on them that would consider valuable, DISCONNECT THEM FROM THE COMPUTER.
The following steps will explain the process for preparing hard drives for use with Promise PCI IDE and ISA IDE Controller cards.
Obtain a Windows 98 Floppy Boot disk or Download here
If you do not have one handy, you can make one on the fly in Add/Remove programs, which is located in the Control Panel.
After opening the Add/Remove Programs Control Panel Applet you need to click the tab labeled "Startup Disk". Click on the create button and follow the prompts.
You may need your Windows 95/98 CD.
Restart computer with boot disk in the drive.
After the boot program has finish loading you should see an A:> Prompt.
Type "Fdisk" without the quotes and then press [Enter].
The first screen you will encounter will advise you that your hard disk is larger that 512 MB and will ask you if you would like to enable Large Disk Support, (LBA Logical Block Addressing), in a nutshell FAT32.
Enter "Y" for Yes.
Now you should see the Fixed Disk Utility main menu.
- ** If you have more that one drive to Fdisk you should select option number 5 first, "Change current fixed disk" and press [Enter].
  - Select a drive and then press [Enter].
  - Repeat this step as often as needed.
  Or
- If drive has a partition or multiple partitions on it and you want swipe the disk clean, Select option number 3 "Delete Partition" and press [Enter].
- Delete partitions by following the instructions on screen.
- Repeat as needed.
If your drive is new and has no partitions select option 1 "Create Dos Partition" and press enter.
- Select option number 1, Create Primary DOS Partition and press [Enter].
- It will verify drive integrity and then ask you if you want to use maximum space available for the partition.
- Answer YES, if you want one partition, after partition is created you will be forced to reboot.
  - Press the Ctrl-Alt-Del keys to reboot.
  - Then proceed to the next step.
- Answer NO, if you want to create multiple partitions.
  - You will have to enter drive size manually.
  - After partition is created, hit the Esc key once and select "Create Extended DOS Partition".
  - After the creation of the Extended DOS Partition you will be asked to create Logical Drives,
  - Proceed as needed.
  - When finished press the ESC key twice to reach the DOS Prompt.
  - Press Ctrl-Alt-Del keys to reboot.
- Leave the boot disk in your A: drive.
- You should return to A:> prompt again. Type "format c: and press [Enter].
- You will be warned, "ALL DATA ON NONREMOVABLE DISK WILL BE DESTROYED".
- Press Y for Yes and Press Enter.
- Format will take several minutes.
  - Notice how the "Format" command displays the drive size upon formatting.
- Repeat this step as necessary for drives D:, E:, Etc. Top of Page

Formatting Your Hard Drive:

Once you've backed up your hard disk, saved any valuable configuration information and created a startup disk that loads your real-mode CD drivers, you're ready to format your hard disk.
- Reformatting the hard drive will clear it of all bits and pieces that are on it. This will give you a perfectly clean hard drive.
- Don't let this scare you, the procedure is really a piece of cake.
Boot up your system with the startup disk you made.
- Just to be on the safe side, double-check that your real-mode CD drivers are loading properly by inserting a CD into your drive and trying to access it.
- If you can, you're ready to proceed.
Once your system boots up from your startup disk, you're ready to begin the formatting procedure.
To do so
- Type the command
  
  Format C:
- at the A:\> prompt.
- When you do this, Format will display the warning message and prompt you to proceed.
- Next type Y and press [Enter].
- Format will check your existing disk format, verify the size of your hard disk and begin the format operation.
- Format will keep you apprised of its progress.
- Once the operation is complete, Format will inform you, transfer the operating system to the hard disk, and prompt you for a volume label.
  - The volume label is the name you want to give the drive (C:).
  - If you leave this blank it will label it (C:) automatically.
    - After you type a volume label, or press [Enter] for none, Format provides you with detailed information about the hard disk's new format.

Before you continue on with the setup you should read the information on down about how to do a clean install.
You should also read the information about backing up, saving data and also about drivers before you continue.

Installing Windows:
- Once the harddrive has been formatted the A:> prompt should appear again.
- At the A:> prompt type the following
- Press the enter key. E being the drive letter of the CD ROM. It is usually always one letter higher than it normally is. In other words if it was D: then it will be E:, if it was E: then it will be F:
- The E:> prompt will appear.
- Type in
- Press the enter key and set up will start, just follow the instructions.
Installing windows after a virus:
- After a virus some times to install Windows 98 you have to disable Virus Warning in BIOS and perform the following:
- Use the undocumented command Setup /ir to prevent Win 95/98 setup from writing to the Boot Areas
- Create an Emergency disk during installation (you will be prompted)
- Boot from this disk when Setup has finished
- From the A:\> prompt give the command SYS C: and type 'Y' to accept the modification of the Boot Sector if the Virus Warning pops-up.
- Remove the Emergency disk. You should now be able to boot and run Windows 95/98 from your hard disk.
Product key for windows installations:
- This is the product key that windows asks for when you install windows (the number on the MS Windows book) in case you lose the book.
This is the easy way for Win 98, if you don't have Win 98 use the directions below.
- Copy and paste the following into notepad, and save it as productkey.js
  - var WSHShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell"); var ProductKey = WSHShell.RegRead("HKLM\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows
    \\CurrentVersion\\Productkey"); WSHShell.Popup(ProductKey, 0, "Windows 98 Product CD Key", 64);
- Then, go to where you saved it and double click on it.
- Go to start
- Run
- Type in regedit
- Click OK
- Find the following key
  - HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\windows\
    CurrentVersion then in the right pane look for product key.
OR
- Open My Computer
- Highlight drive (C)
- Click on File
- Click on Explore
- A new window will open
- In the left pane click on the plus sign next to windows
- Click on Welcome
- The Welcome screen comes up, normally it has music too
- It has four choices (usually)
- Pick the one called register now and click on it
- A registration panel should appear
- Choose next
- Then next again
- Now there's a bit to fill in
- Put a dot in "home"
- Click in the space for "last name"
- Put any letter in there
- An n for "name" will do
- Click on next, now "city"
- C for city will do
- Click on next
- Next again
- Now you should have up a System Inventory
- This should be what's in the computer, you may want to note it down
- Now put a dot into yes or no, you have to choose one
- Click on next
- That should present you with the OEM number
- Now to come back out, press cancel
- Press yes to quit
Installing windows from Scratch:
Procedure Overview:
- Rebuilding your system from scratch isn't as bad as it sounds, although it will take a significant amount of time and effort on your part.
- However, the end result-a smooth running operating system-is guaranteed to be worth it! But, before we get started, let's take a brief look at what's involved.
- To begin with, you'll back up all of your critical data. Then, you'll create a startup disk that contains your real-mode CD device drivers. Next, you'll reformat your hard drive. At this point, you'll reinstall Windows and all of your applications. Finally, you'll restore all of your critical data.

Rebuild Is Different From Reinstall:

When you reinstall Windows 98 over top of an existing Windows installation, Setup replaces some of the main operating system files but not all of them-like you might assume.
This means that if the operating system has reached the OS Decay stage, where you've already installed a lot of patches and updates not to mention applications, reinstalling Windows over top of an existing installation will only make the problem worse.

Saving Critical Data:

Back up the contents of the Windows folder, the Program Files folder, and all the files in the root folder of the C: drive as well as any other data you deem crucial.
That way, if necessary you'll be able to restore your Windows installation to the way it was.
- The first thing that you'll want to do is perform a full backup of your system. That way if anything goes wrong, you'll be able to restore your system to its current state.
- You may also want to backup your data files-the documents that you've created-separately. This way you can easily restore your data files to your newly rebuilt system.
- In addition to the data files that you've created, your Windows operating system is packed with critical information that you'll want to backup separately in preparation for your system rebuild.
- Following is a list of some of the most typical types of additional files you'll want to backup.
- Keep in mind that each system is configured differently and you may have other types of files that you'll want to individually backup.
- As you read through this list, you may come up with other information that you want to backup before you reformat your hard drive.
- You may want to think about this for a couple of days and compile a list of things that you want to save before you rebuild your system.
  - Internet Connection Information.
    - The first thing that you'll want to take note of in the Internet connection category is your ISP's name's phone number.
      - Open the Dial-Up Networking folder in My Computer.
      - Then right-click on your ISP's name connection, and select Properties from the shortcut menu.
      - Copy down the telephone number in the connection's dialog box.
    - The next things that you may want to take note of are your IP numbers.
      - If you're using a major ISP, such as MSN, you won't have to worry about recording IP numbers as major ISPs assign new numbers each time you connect.
      - If your ISP's name requires you to use specific IP numbers, you'll find them by clicking the Server Types tab in the connection's dialog box.
      - Click the TCP/IP Settings button. Once the TCP/IP Settings dialog box appears, write down all the all the numbers that you find on the page.
    - Instead of writing down the information, you can take a screen captures of each dialog box.
      - To do so, you simply open the desired dialog box and press [Alt][PrintScreen].
      - Then launch Paint, pull down the Edit menu and select Paste.
      - In a couple of seconds, Paint will display a copy of the dialog box. At this point, you can pull down the File menu and click the Print command.
      - You'll then have a printed record of the information.
  - Internet URLs.
    - In addition to your connection information, chances are that you want to save your Web site shortcuts or URLs.
      - If you're using Internet Explorer, you'll find the URLs in the C:\Windows\Favorites folder.
    - Simply back up the entire Favorites folder to tape or floppy disk.
  - If you're using another browser, check with your documentation to find out where and how your URLs are stored.
  - E-mail Folders And Address Books.
    - If you want to keep your address book and E-mail folders intact, you'll need to back up the corresponding files.
      - Example If you're using Outlook Express, you'll track down your address book by using Find to search for a file with the extension WAB.
      - You'll then track down your E-mail folders by using Find to search for a folder called Mail.
      - This folder contains all your E-mail folders as well as links to any newsgroups that you subscribe to.
    - If you're using another E-mail program, check with your documentation to find out where the files containing your E-mail folders and address book are stored.
  - Updates And Patches.
    - If you've downloaded any updates or patches to your operating system or to your applications, you'll want to make sure that you back up those files individually.
  - Shortcuts Or Scripts.
    - If you've created any special shortcuts or script files, you'll want to track them down and back them up.
    - Icons, WAV Files, And Graphic Images.
  - If you've downloaded any cool icons, WAV files, or graphic images that you use for desktop wallpaper.
  - Start Menu Organization. If you've spent a lot of time customizing and organizing your Start menu's structure, you won't want to have to recreate it from scratch.
    - Take a few moments to write down the names and sketch the menus organization.
  - Application Information.
    - If you're using Microsoft Office or some other application suite, you should also backup any templates, macros, or other customized items that you don't want to have to recreate.
    - Suppose that you're using Word and you've created a lot of macros that help you to quickly an easily produce your documents.
    - You'll find most of your macros stored in Word's templates. By default, macros are stored in the Normal.dot template.
    - If you've created a custom template for your word processing needs, the template also probably has macros stored in it.
    - If you use and have added personalized entries to the AutoCorrect utility, you'll want to back up the AutoCorrect files as well.
      - Use Find to track down the ACL files on your hard drive.
      - You should be able to find all the ACL files in your Windows folder.
    - If you're using another office suite with similar functions, you'll need to refer to your documentation for more information on which files you need to back up.
    - Don't forget to check the company's Web site if you don't find the information in the documentation. Top of Page

Creating A Startup Disk That Loads the CD Drivers:

Once you reformat your hard drive, you're going to need to be able to access your CD drive in order to reinstall Windows.
Obtain a Windows 98 Floppy Boot disk or Download here

You will need a Windows startup disk that includes the real-mode CD drivers.

If you're using Windows 98, all you have to do is create a startup disk as you normally would because Windows 98 automatically includes CD drivers on the startup disk.
If you're using Windows 95, you'll need to create a startup disk as you normally would and then add the CD drivers and the commands to load them to the startup disk.
- If you can't locate the real-mode CD drivers for your CD drive, you should check out the drive manufacture's Web site.
Launch Windows Explorer or My Computer and access the C:\Windows\Command folder and copy the file Format.com to the floppy disk.
To complete the procedure reboot your system from the floppy disk and make sure that you can access your CD drive.

Setting Up Real-Mode CD Drivers:

If your Real-Mode CD Drivers are already on the startup disk you can skip this step.

The real-mode CD drivers are basically the DOS-based drivers for your CD drive.
How you go about finding them and the commands that you use to load them will depend on a number of things, including the brand of the CD drive and how the drive was installed on your system.
- If Windows 95 came preinstalled on your computer, chances are good that the real-mode CD drivers are on the system.
- Search your hard drive for two files called Autoexec.bat and Config.sys.
  - You can also look for Autoexec.dos and Config.dos.
- If they're present, open the Config.sys file in Notepad and look for a line that begins with the command DEVICE=.
  - You might find a command like this DEVICE=C:\CDROM\TAISATAP.SYS /D:MSCD001
- In this example, TAISATAP.SYS is the real-mode CD driver.
  - You'd copy this file from the C:\CDROM folder to the Windows 95 Startup disk.
  - You'd then create or edit the Config.sys file on your Windows 95 Startup disk and add the command
    
    DEVICE= TAISATAP.SYS /D:MSCD001
- Then, you'd open the Autoexec.bat file in Notepad and look for a line that contains the command MSCDEX.
  - You might find a command like this C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX /D:MSCD001
  - Here, MSCDEX, which is short for Microsoft CD Extensions, acts as the translator between DOS and the real-mode CD driver.
  - More specifically MSCDEX configures the CD drive to work just like a regular drive and assigns it a logical drive letter.
  - In this case, you'd copy the MSCDEX.EXE file from the C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND folder to the Windows 95 Startup disk.
  - You'd then create or edit the Autoexec.bat file on your Windows 95 Startup disk and add the command
    
    MSCDEX /D:MSCD001
  - If you don't find the real-mode CD drivers or the commands to load them on your hard drive, you'll need to expand your investigation.

Downloading Drivers:

Rebuilding Your System:

Once your hard drive is formatted, you can install your Windows operating system and applications.
You can now restore the data that you backed up.
Once you do, you will basically have a brand new operating system.

Reinstalling the Windows 98 Upgrade:
- You do not need to reinstall Windows 95 in order to install the Windows 98 Upgrade.
- After you reformat your hard drive, simply insert your Windows 98 Upgrade CD into the drive and run Setup as you normally would.
- Setup begins the installation, it discovers that Windows 95 isn't installed on the hard drive and will prompt you to verify that you own a previous version of Windows.
- At this point, simply remove your Windows 98 CD from the drive, insert your Windows 95 CD, and then click the Browse button and access your CD drive.
- Once Setup verifies your Windows 95 CD, it then continues with the Windows 98 installation and will prompt you to reinsert the Windows 98 CD.

Restoring Your Personal Data:

Next you need to do is restore your backed up files to the same exact location you found them in when you backed them up.
Then after you reinstall Windows and your programs, you simply copy the files and folders with your personal data and information that you backed up right over top of the new ones.
You can follow this same procedural outline for restoring all the files that you back up.
You'll install the files you backed up right over top of the new ones using drag and drop.
Example
- Outlook Express' folders are usually stored in the C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook Express folder, as shown in the figure below.
- You'll back up all the files and folders contained in this folder.

"NTLDR is missing" error message when you install or upgrade Windows XP over Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Millennium Edition

NTLDR

Error Message

NTLDR is missing
Press any key to restart

Solution

Solution 1
- The computer is trying to boot to a floppy, CD that is not a bootable disk or CD
- If you are using a bootable XP or 2000 CD and get this message most likely your bios is not set to boot to a CD Check your BIOS setting.
- When booting to the CD you should get a message as follows:
- Press any key to boot from the CD
- After receiving this message press the enter key or you will receive the NTLDR error.
Solution 2 (most likely to work)
- Extract a new copy off of the install cd.
  - Insert the Windows XP bootable CD into the computer
  - Reboot
  - When prompted to press any key to boot from the CD
  - Press any key
  - Once in the Windows XP setup menu press the "R" key to repair Windows
  - Log into your Windows installation by pressing the "1" key and pressing enter
  - You will then be prompted for your administrator password, enter that password
  - Copy the two files listed below to the root directory of the primary hard disk.
  - In the below example we are copying these files from the CD-ROM drive letter "E"
  - This letter may be different on your computer. The ??? is where you type in your root directory.
  - Type the code you see below and change just the CD Drive letter and the replace the ??? with the name of the root directory.
    - Type in
    - Press Enter Key
    - Type in
    - Press Enter Key
    - Type in
    - Press Enter key
    - Once both of these files have been successfully copied, remove the CD from the computer and reboot
Solution 3 This is Microsoft's solution
- To resolve this problem, correct the Heads (sides) value in the FAT32 BPB so the Windows XP startup can continue. To update the value, rewrite the Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Millennium Edition startup code. To do this, follow these steps:
  - Restart the computer by using a Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Millennium Edition startup disk that contains the Sys.com file. (By default, this file is included.).
  - Make a backup copy of the Msdos.sys file in the root directory of your system drive. To do this, type the following commands at a command prompt:
  - At a command prompt, type sys c: to rewrite the Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Millennium Edition startup code with accurate BPB information.
    - If you are using a Windows Millennium Edition startup disk, and you receive the following error message, one or more files in the Windows Millennium Edition installation have been removed:
    - Follow these steps to put the correct files on the drive so that the sys command can locate them:
    - Type the following commands.
    - Press ENTER after each command:
    - If Windows is installed in a folder other than the Windows folder, adjust the commands accordingly.
    - Try to switch to the Command folder by typing the following command:
    - If you do not receive an error message that the path is not found, type the following command to create the Command folder, and then run the CD command command again:
    - Switch to the EBD folder by typing the following command:
    - If you do not receive an error message that the path is not found, type the following command to create the EBD folder, and then repeat the CD ebd command:
    - In the EBD folder, use the following commands to copy the Io.sys file from the root of the hard disk and to rename the Io.sys file to Winboot.sys:
    - Switch back to drive A, and then type the following commands:
    - Type the following commands to restore the original Msdos.sys file.
    - Press ENTER after each command:
    - Press Y to overwrite the existing Msdos.sys file.
    - You will receive a "1 FILE(S) COPIED" verification that the file was overwritten.
  - Restart the computer to Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Millennium Edition, and then try to install or upgrade to Windows XP again.
  - Note Alternatively, after you run the sys c: command, you can you can start to the Recovery Console, and then use the fixboot command to rewrite the Windows XP startup code. With this procedure, the original installation continues normally.

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