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I'm having a problem with my WIn 98 OS. It keeps getting errors that does now allow it to boot up normally. It gives illegal operation messages that freeze the booting process. I wanted to format my c drive, but I need to know how to do it using ths start-up disc and using the MS-Dos program to execute the formatting. Any suggestions? Thank you.

Whoa there, let us know what the errors messages are, maybe we can fix those save you the hassle of a reinstall? Have you powered into the Boot menu (F8 key) and done a step by step confirmation boot up? If not then do so noting down what point you get the errors and what failed to load.

I get an illegal operation message right when it seems to enter Windows (msgrv97). When I exit them, ignore of close, another one pops up, I do the same to the other and the screen remains unoccpupied with no menu at the bottom or anything if Windows were to be botting. ONly the mouse and the background is seen

I just want to format my C drive. The Step-by-step thing brings up a lot of y/n text that I didn't really know.
Are there any possible ways to format my drive with a start-up disk?

Just boot up the machine with the boot disk. When you are at the A prompt, type in format c: \s
It will ask if you are sure. Hit enter and away it goes.

Hi what have you done so far and what are you doing when it gives you the "invalid media error"?

Brian,
Use a bootdisk. At the A:\> prompt, just try typing the following:
Format C:
Then hit Enter.
When it tells you all data will be lost, proceed with format, type: Y, and press: Enter.
The screen should then display the size of the hard drive, and start formatting it. A percentage formatted appears as it goes along.
After the Format is complete, you can then proceed with installing the Operating System.

The 'invalid media type' indicates there's no valid dos partition.
Boot from the bootdisk again and at the a:\> prompt type:
fdisk
and enter. Y to large disk support, then option 4. What does it say?

HOw do you get into ms prompt? Isnt there a button that you can press that automatically gets you into it?

No i meant how do u getn into ms prompt when the computer first starts up? cause i cant get into windows so i cant reset it or go 2 start

Need a Windows 98 bootdisk.
If you do not have one, download one from www.bootdisk.com
When you start the computer with the bootdisk in the floppy drive, it gets you to the DOS prompt: A:\>
From A:\> you can Format the C:\> drive.

Hi Brian, make sure your computer is set to boot from floppy first. To do this you need to go to CMOS at beginning of your boot it shoud give you the option to go to setup. It should say to enter setup press delete or maybe F2 press what ever it says. Then move over to boot by using your arrows on your keyboard, MAKE SURE THE FLOPPY DRIVE is set to boot before the hard drive then you can use the boot disk. I would FDISK the hard drive first then format it. For detailed info on how to FDISK the hard drive and the MBR ( Master Boot Record) Email me at dmfjef@yahoo.com then you can print it out, or if you have access to another computer in the same room we can get on Messenger and I can walk you through it. When I do this I setup a second partition for a backup.

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