I want to reformat my hard drive so that I can load win 98. I am currently using Windows 2000 server software. This is an old server that we want to make a client computer out of. When I try to boot with the 98 start up disk, I get a message that says I need to "create a boot partition" so that the system can boot properly. How can I make this partition using NTFS? Has anyone ever done this before?

Hmmm i think, you can do it with PartitionMagic. it give you the possibility to modify the current partitions size, add/remove new partitions,...

Win9X doesn't support NTFS, you have to repartition it with FAT16 or FAT32.

'98 uses FAT16/FAT32 (cannot even 'see' NTFS...) For '98 installation you cannot have an NTFS partition... You have to lose any NTFS already present on the drive (at least the 'active' Primary partition) if wishing '98 alone. So two ways you can go (but maybe you know this already?) (1) Boot with '98 boot-disk. Run Fdisk and opt to remove/delete all partitions; then (re-)create at least two partitions; a Primary and Extended. Make the Primary "active" (via Fdisk) and format it as FAT32 - you will need to 'enable large disk support' to allow formatting as FAT32 (otherwise you are limited to FAT16 = 2Gig max partitions). Why two partitions? Primary for OS/apps; Extended for data; allows re-installs (even reformats) on Primary without affecting/losing data an Extended... You can make these two partitions equal size if you wish, or one larger than the other...? Back at the a:>\ prompt, type " sys c: " (not the " " ) and press Enter. (This overwrites/replaces the W2K boot-loader with the DOS/'9x variety.) Install '98 in normal way. What you are missing at present is a " c: system (active primary) partition ", where '98 wants to deposit its boot/start-up files. (It can be FAT16 or FAT32; but FAT16 has the 2Gig limit...) In 'most' single OS installs this will also be where the OS itself resides... From your post it sounds as though you probably have an NTFS Primary from W2K...? Regardless, the above Fdisk routine will lose it for you. "Be aware" however that if you have an NTFS area in the Extended partition space, Fdisk will NOT lose it for you (only works on the Primary partition)... (use W2K set-up routine to lose it/lose them all... - see below). (2) As you probably have W2K set-up floppies and/or a W2K CD... Run a W2K set-up routine; when create/delete partitions option comes up - choose delete (and delete all current partitions); then recreate partitions as FAT32 - again (ideally) create at least two as suggested above? Also run the " sys c: " routine as outlined above from a ' 98 boot-disk prompt; otherwise you will still get the W2K boot-menu popping up... (Run this routine after losing W2K partitions.) Then install '98 as usual. Option (2) is may be your preferred/easier route to go? HTH...