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I have an old computer that I want to give to my mother. Is there away I
can reformat the HD without erasing Windows? I have searched high and low
and simply can't find my old Windows 98 disk. Also, I've never reformatted a
hard drive before. Is there a good site anyone can recommend that I can go
to that would give me instructions? Thanks in advance.

Duncan

I`m afraid you can`t reformat a drive, ans keep the operating system (Win9
on it. All you can do is have a go at removing anything that you don`t want
Mum to find.(if that applies of course). best wishes..J

"DD Woodford" <> wrote in message
news:5WMce.1739$ ...
>I have an old computer that I want to give to my mother. Is there away I
>can reformat the HD without erasing Windows? I have searched high and low
>and simply can't find my old Windows 98 disk. Also, I've never reformatted
>a hard drive before. Is there a good site anyone can recommend that I can
>go to that would give me instructions? Thanks in advance.
>
> Duncan
>

"DD Woodford" <> wrote in message
news:5WMce.1739$ ...
>I have an old computer that I want to give to my mother. Is there away I
>can reformat the HD without erasing Windows? I have searched high and low
>and simply can't find my old Windows 98 disk. Also, I've never reformatted
>a hard drive before. Is there a good site anyone can recommend that I can
>go to that would give me instructions? Thanks in advance.
>
> Duncan

Reformatting will wipe out the existing opeating system and data. If you
haven't got an install disc/CD with valid serial number, you can't reinstall
the operating system.

Instead, first get rid of all your data files including identities,
newsgroup and email dbx files and accounts by using shift/delete so stuff
won't go into the recycle bin which you should empty. Next download CCLEANER
and let if fix up the registry errors and wipe needless files and histories.
Then d/l PGP or one of the other security programs and do a DOD security
wipe on the remaining free space on the disk. Lastly, defrag.

You'll be giving mom a stable machine to use-- and won't have to worry about
her accidentally stumbling onto pix from your favorite porn site or reading
any embarrasing emails.

Cleburrne

DD Woodford wrote:
> I have an old computer that I want to give to my mother. Is there away I
> can reformat the HD without erasing Windows? I have searched high and low
> and simply can't find my old Windows 98 disk. Also, I've never reformatted a
> hard drive before. Is there a good site anyone can recommend that I can go
> to that would give me instructions? Thanks in advance.
>
> Duncan
>
>

Have a look and see if c:\windows\options\cabs exists. This should
contain all the 98 install files so if you copy them to a CD you have a
new install CD.

To get your install key, download and run Belarc Advisor.

Make a boot disk with CD support, and install from the CD you have made.

--
Cheers
Oldus Fartus

You will have to re-install Windows if you format the drive.

Have you thought about simply erasing all that you do not want passed to
your mother?

Have you been visiting naughty sites, and you don't want your mom to know?

--

JANA
_____

"DD Woodford" <> wrote in message
news:5WMce.1739$ ...
> I have an old computer that I want to give to my mother. Is there away I
> can reformat the HD without erasing Windows? I have searched high and low
> and simply can't find my old Windows 98 disk. Also, I've never reformatted
a
> hard drive before. Is there a good site anyone can recommend that I can
go
> to that would give me instructions? Thanks in advance.
>
> Duncan
>
>

Thank you. I will give this a try. What is d/1 PGP? I'm not familiar with
this. Is it a program or part of CCleaner?


"Patrick Cleburne" <reb@_rebyell.xcom> wrote in message
news:rjNce.2012$ ink.net...
> "DD Woodford" <> wrote in message
> news:5WMce.1739$ ...
>>I have an old computer that I want to give to my mother. Is there away I
>>can reformat the HD without erasing Windows? I have searched high and low
>>and simply can't find my old Windows 98 disk. Also, I've never reformatted
>>a hard drive before. Is there a good site anyone can recommend that I can
>>go to that would give me instructions? Thanks in advance.
>>
>> Duncan
>
> Reformatting will wipe out the existing opeating system and data. If you
> haven't got an install disc/CD with valid serial number, you can't
> reinstall the operating system.
>
> Instead, first get rid of all your data files including identities,
> newsgroup and email dbx files and accounts by using shift/delete so stuff
> won't go into the recycle bin which you should empty. Next download
> CCLEANER and let if fix up the registry errors and wipe needless files and
> histories. Then d/l PGP or one of the other security programs and do a DOD
> security wipe on the remaining free space on the disk. Lastly, defrag.
>
> You'll be giving mom a stable machine to use-- and won't have to worry
> about her accidentally stumbling onto pix from your favorite porn site or
> reading any embarrasing emails.
>
> Cleburrne
>

DD Woodford wrote:

> Thank you. I will give this a try. What is d/1 PGP? I'm not
> familiar with this. Is it a program or part of CCleaner?

That's "d/l" (download) "PGP". Generic term for "Pretty Good Privacy"
encryption. Google it up.

> "Patrick Cleburne" <reb@_rebyell.xcom> wrote in message
> news:rjNce.2012$ ink.net...
>> "DD Woodford" <> wrote in message
>> news:5WMce.1739$ ...
>>> I have an old computer that I want to give to my mother. Is there
>>> away I can reformat the HD without erasing Windows? I have
>>> searched high and low and simply can't find my old Windows 98 disk.
>>> Also, I've never reformatted a hard drive before. Is there a good
>>> site anyone can recommend that I can go to that would give me
>>> instructions? Thanks in advance.
>>>
>>> Duncan
>>
>> Reformatting will wipe out the existing opeating system and data. If
>> you haven't got an install disc/CD with valid serial number, you
>> can't reinstall the operating system.
>>
>> Instead, first get rid of all your data files including identities,
>> newsgroup and email dbx files and accounts by using shift/delete so
>> stuff won't go into the recycle bin which you should empty. Next
>> download CCLEANER and let if fix up the registry errors and wipe
>> needless files and histories. Then d/l PGP or one of the other
>> security programs and do a DOD security wipe on the remaining free
>> space on the disk. Lastly, defrag.
>>
>> You'll be giving mom a stable machine to use-- and won't have to
>> worry about her accidentally stumbling onto pix from your favorite
>> porn site or reading any embarrasing emails.
>>
>> Cleburrne

No. That's not my worry. They're in their 70's and don't do more than
emails and solitaire. I have Quicken and Turbotax and I simply wanted a
clean erase for those purposes. I've decided to simply install a lot of the
programs that are really unnecessary for them. However, I just took off
something that I probably should not have.... I have Windows 98 and thought
there was a way to restore things as they were, say on a certain day
(something like that). I've posted a new post on information regarding
that. As you may have guessed, I'm not the most computer literate person...


"JANA" <> wrote in message
news:...
> You will have to re-install Windows if you format the drive.
>
> Have you thought about simply erasing all that you do not want passed to
> your mother?
>
> Have you been visiting naughty sites, and you don't want your mom to know?
>
> --
>
> JANA
> _____
>
> "DD Woodford" <> wrote in message
> news:5WMce.1739$ ...
>> I have an old computer that I want to give to my mother. Is there away I
>> can reformat the HD without erasing Windows? I have searched high and
>> low
>> and simply can't find my old Windows 98 disk. Also, I've never
>> reformatted
> a
>> hard drive before. Is there a good site anyone can recommend that I can
> go
>> to that would give me instructions? Thanks in advance.
>>
>> Duncan
>>
>>
>
>

DD Woodford wrote:
>
> I have an old computer that I want to give to my mother. Is there away I
> can reformat the HD without erasing Windows? I have searched high and low
> and simply can't find my old Windows 98 disk. Also, I've never reformatted a

Sooner or later you, or your mom will need that disk. So, best bet is to
acquire one.






--
http://www.bootdisk.com/

DD Woodford wrote:

> No. That's not my worry. They're in their 70's and don't do more than
> emails and solitaire. I have Quicken and Turbotax and I simply
> wanted a clean erase for those purposes. I've decided to simply
> install a lot of the programs that are really unnecessary for them.
> However, I just took off something that I probably should not
> have.... I have Windows 98 and thought there was a way to restore
> things as they were, say on a certain day (something like that).
> I've posted a new post on information regarding that. As you may
> have guessed, I'm not the most computer literate person...
<snip>

You should find a method here to get you out of the hot water:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...99111116313539
(if the link 'wraps', you may need to paste it into your browser.)
--
Then, whatever you did... don't do that anymore.