Well... 'maybe', depending on the size of the hard drive Don't you have a WinME CD? I'm not one of those who think Bill Gates is the devil. I simply suspect that if Microsoft ever met up with the devil, it wouldn't need an interpreter.

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It just strikes me as 'odd' that you're intent on using everything but the disc for the OS you intend to install You don't install ME 'over' XP, you have to remove the XP install and start fresh - - sometimes (as mentioned) you need something more robust than fdisk, but sure, if nothing else, the XP disc should be able to remove the existing partitions, and maybe create a FAT32 one if the drive isn't enormous I'm not one of those who think Bill Gates is the devil. I simply suspect that if Microsoft ever met up with the devil, it wouldn't need an interpreter.

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I have a Windows ME CD, but it isn't bootable.

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No, hah, I'm using the ME disc, but before you install XP you go to a page where it has all your partitions, and you have to choose where to install XP, and if you want to create a new one and delete and so on. You can delete the paritition and create a new FAT32 partition, then it formats, and after It formats you can cancel the setup, take the XP CD out and put in ME and then reboot the system. Thats what I think I can do?

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"....should I use the windows XP disc, format my harddrive, delete all partition and create a new fat32 primary partition? then after that just cancel the set up and pop in the windows me disc and install it through ms dos?" I see several problems with what you're trying to do. 1. the WinXP CD will only allow you to format a FAT32 partition up to 32GB...if your partition is larger than that, it will automatically format as NTFS. Since WinME will not work with NTFS, you MUST format as FAT32 & if you use the WinXP CD to setup your HDD, you MUST keep your partitions less than 32GB. 2. you have a WinME upgrade CD. I'm not sure if upgrade CDs are bootable or not. If it's not, you'd need a WinME boot floppy to get you started. And while you're at it, you could just scrap the idea about using the XP CD & use the boot floppy to fdisk, partition & format the HDD. 3. to do a clean install from an upgrade CD, you need a CD from a previous version of Windows to submit as "proof" during the installation. I don't know if a Win98 recovery disc qualifies. Your PC appears to meet the specs for WinXP...why not just stick with it?

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Sure - ME is not an upgrade to XP, and no, that disc is not likely bootable (my mistake, again) It's not usually this complicated, but then again, you're not exactly starting out with the right materials. I'm not one of those who think Bill Gates is the devil. I simply suspect that if Microsoft ever met up with the devil, it wouldn't need an interpreter.

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Alright so tomorrow I'll get some floppy disks and download a Windows ME boot up disc. I don't want XP anymore because I like 98/ME/2000 better. I don't know why. And I've used the Windows 98 recovery disc as proof before. It works. If not, then I'll just buy a full version of 98 on amazon or something. But yeah, when I did this before I made quite a few errors, and I didnt know that the XP would only create a 32 GB partition. Thanks for helping me.

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Don't lump 2000 in with 98 & ME. 2000 is XP's under-dressed older brother...lol. You can download a WinME boot floppy at the following site. The file you dowload is used to create the boot floppy...just click on it & follow the instructions: http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

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One other thing - I don't know how big your HDD is, but I don't recommend making the WinME partition too big. Keep it less than 32GB so that the cluster size holds at 16k. If you go larger than 32GB, the cluster size doubles to 32k. In case you don't know, the cluster size is the minmum amount of HDD space that a file can use. In other words, if you have a 1k text file & the FAT32 cluster size is 32k, that 1k file will use 32k of HDD space. NTFS has a fixed cluster size of 4k, so it makes more efficient use of the HDD space.

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Still here? Ya know, with a little tweaking of the settings & menus (classic Start menu for example), you can make XP very "98/ME-like".

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I have a 80 GB harddrive. Windows XP covers 74 GB of it.

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Is that XP Home? If so it seems odd because I'm only up to 11G with quite a lot of my own stuff now loaded. Seem to think XP was around 2G before I added to it. DerekW

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Installed, XP runs under 2Gb - it's "all the other stuff": applications, restore points and undeleted junk files that end up taking all of the real estate. I've got 'Pro' on a 4Gb drive with plenty of room left over Ah - we finally get the hard drive capacity - too large for the original version of Win98 fdisk, but the ME one will be fine. You definitely don't want a single 80Gb FAT32 partition, for the reasons mentioned by jam I'm not one of those who think Bill Gates is the devil. I simply suspect that if Microsoft ever met up with the devil, it wouldn't need an interpreter.

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... but at 74Gb, there has to be more than 'just XP' (like maybe an impressive download folder) I'm not one of those who think Bill Gates is the devil. I simply suspect that if Microsoft ever met up with the devil, it wouldn't need an interpreter.

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I have a problem. there's no os on my computer anymore and now when I put in the windowsme disc nothing happens. It says "invalid system disk. Replace the disk and then press any key" I don't know what to do. I don't have a windows me bootdisk because it wouldn't work when I downloaded it. All I have is the windows 98 one and its being weird too.

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I assume you powered up with the bootdisk in the drive. Did you "create" the ME floppy (not just put the download onto it). Sorry if I'm being too basic..... DerekW

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I tried just downloading it onto there but I knew that wouldn't work so I formatted it and chose create an msdos boot disk and then after thati clicked the application and tried to install itonto the floppy and all it would do was ask me to reformat so I reformatted it and it asked me to reformat again and then more reformat and so on. But now I don't have a computer to do it on or retry. I'm using my sidekick3. But i don't have a floppy in right now just the windowsme disc and that's all it says but it should bootup and its not

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You can create the floppy on any machine, even XP if you have a friend handy. DerekW

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Sadly, No I dont

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I posted the link to bootdisk.com in response #14 & even explained "the file you download is used to create the boot floppy...just click on it & follow the instructions". I thought that was clear enough, but I guess not. I suggest you reinstall WinXP again & learn how to use it. If you like, we can explain how to set it up with "classic menus" & it will "feel" very much like WinME, only better.

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mmm... Trailing in the dust of the others above… You “can” use XP setup routine (CD boot etc.) to remove any/all partitions and then reconfigure afresh – as fat32 (but definitely under 32Gig max – otherwise as already stated by others XP will default/format it to ntfs…) However I suggest it’s far easier in your situation to use the Fdisk routine to remove all partitions etc… You have presumably downloaded an ME (or '98 SE) boot-disk (with CDROM drivers) from bootdisk.com (as suggested earlier by others); this will be a file that (as already advised) has to run/expanded to a floppy – and “that” floppy is what you use. As you are going for ME – preferably use the ME boot-disk as opposed to the ‘98SE version; avoids the issue of the early version of Fdisk limited to 64Gig. Once you have generated the actual boot-disk... you simply boot up with it and run Fdisk routine; delete all partitions; reconfigure the drive afresh; then format the partitions (as fat32). Then install ME; the boot-disk with CDROM drivers will allow to you access/run ME set up from the CD… "If" you have a single partition on the drive and "if" it's ntfs then Fdisk will see that as a non-dos partition. This you delete and then reconfigure a fresh/new partition - i.e. recreate a Primary partition. But first you delete the Extended partition (if exists), then you can delete the Primary. Or boot with the boot-disk; and at the a: prompt run the delpart.exe util (alluded by others). This util can be added to a boot-disk, or run from a separate floppy – at the a: prompt. Either way – it will wipe the drive completely. Delpart is also at bootdisk.com (if I recall correctly…) Personally I’d encourage you to stick with Fdisk etc. unless you really “want/need” to use delpart… Rather than have an all-in-one partition for the OS and data etc… I strongly advise you have a Primary for the OS/apps etc.; and balance of drive for data etc… So… ideally create Primary partition that is not the whole of the drive… Use around 5Gig max for a typical ME/’98SE installation? Balance of drive will be an Extended partition – for data only. It would also be “wise” to subdivide the Extended partition into two (or more) logical-drives; allows for more efficient data organisation, faster access/faster defrags etc… Once you have preconfigured and preformatted the drive/partitions as fat32, install ME to the Primary. Fdisk tutorial (covers using Fdisk and format routines): http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255867 and Bob Bale’s site: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robert... may tell you all you need to know re’ using Fdisk, format and installing ’98 and installing ME is more or less as per ‘98SE. If you don't have another PC (at home) via which to create the ME boot-disk proper, perhaps see if your local library can oblige; or a local PC store? As for sticking/persevering with XP... it's not a bad idea? Incidentally where are you located?

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I reinstalled xp to see if I can try to get the windowsme bootdisk to work. Ill tell you if it does. I live in northern california.

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"I live in northern california." ... I would have guessed elsewhere (like maybe a different planet) My missteps aside, you seem determined to make this simple project as complex & unwieldy as possible - and so far... outstanding work I'm not one of those who think Bill Gates is the devil. I simply suspect that if Microsoft ever met up with the devil, it wouldn't need an interpreter.

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I agree with jboy...you've turned a simple task into a major project. Everything you need to know is listed in this thread, had you followed the advice correctly, you'd have WinME up & running by now & would be working on "phase 2"...questions about why the graphics are stuck on 16 color & the sound doesn't work. ;-)

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be nice chaps... We all have to start sum-werr (over the raynebow...) in gaining experience/understanding on how it all "really" works etc... Which is why forums (fora?) like this one (one the better forms/fora around) are useful for the novice... And North of Sacramento/South of Seattle is a long way from Sillykone Valley... Lots of trees, a few nice mountains and a volcano or three...?

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Yeah, I'm from outerspace. I park my spaceship outback. I followed your steps. If you read correctly: when I tried make the windowsme boot disk, all it did was freeze and ask me to format after format after format. Yes, I clicked the .exe file I downloaded, no, nothing happened. It didn't boot up my system. The windowsme cd does not boot at all.

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And I already know how to fix the graphics and sound.

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Don't mind the leg pulls... Enjoyed a few trips into your territory - up as far as Shasta, Redditch, and over to Russian River, Nappa Valley, Sanata Rosa etc. Northern California is "nice"; much less crowded/"spoilt" than the southern part...; almost as upspoilt as northern Oregon and BC (over the border...). To refresh/clarify re' the downloaded ME bootdisk... That is "usually" a compressed self-extracting file which can be (self-) extracted to a floppy and that floppy becomes the boot disk. Said file is saved to a hard-drive; then run/extracted from there to the intended boot-floppy. The floppy is usually best preformated before you extract the compressed file to it... If the compressed file you pulled down is dubious (doesn't seem to work correctly in either form...) perhaps download a fresh compressed file and repeat the above process? It's not unknown for some compressed files either to be corrupted during download - and thus it won't self-extract etc. properly; or occasionally the extraction process itself produces a less than "purr-fekt" set of files... If you cannot boot to an a: prompt with the extracted floppy you have at present... then make a fresh one as immediately above. Likewise once you can boot with it to the a: prompt see if you can run Fdisk routine - at least to check partitions etc. Also if at the a: prompt you type: dir /w/p (note the space between dir and /w/p) you will get a window listing the entire contents of the floppy. You may also get a prompt to press "any key" to continue the display if info exceeds more than a single window allows... If "format" is not part of that list - i.e. it is not shown as format.com then the version you have does not include the ready to run/extracted version of the format util. It will however be in the .cab folder on the floppy (or orta' be...) and can be extracted to the floppy. But there are boot-disks for download that include it already extracted. Typically they are for '98SE (and usually include the CDROM drivers regardless). A '98 version will do just as well in your situation, if it includes the updated Fdisk version (to handle drives over 64Gig). I think that many of the current "crop" of downloadable bootdisks for '98SE usually include that updated Fdisk? The two critical utils on that floppy you need are (updated) Fdisk, and format.com; and also you need the CDROM drivers - to allow you to access the ME CD. Incidentally why I asked where you were was in case it might be useful to send you a known to be OK boot-disk (floppy). But as I'm currently in the UK ... it would take a few daze to get there, and it didn't orta' be really necessary. Until you can both to the a: prompt (via the created boot-floppy), and know you have both Fdisk and Format utils on that floppy... (and the CDROM drivers) you can't go anywhere useful. And off-topic as it were for a mo... The UK has actually gotten a little real snow - about 6ins or so expected...; first time in several years that more or less the whole of the UK has been given a snow job... But whether or not the snow-ploughs etc. will be in the right places (if needed)...?

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How about a more detailed explanation? The file you downloaded from bootdisk.com should have be called something like bootme.exe. Once you had it, all you had to do was click on it & follow the instructions...you have been told to insert a formatted floppy disc, then the files would have been copied to it & the disc would have been made bootable. That's all there is to it. Then all you needed to do was boot off the floppy & go from there.

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EDIT: you would have been told to insert a formatted floppy disc

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Looks like my #22 & #24 have come back around again a couple of times. DerekW

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He still hasn't explained what he did. I suspect he simply copied bootme.exe to the floppy disc, formatted his HDD, then nearly crapped himself when the floppy wouldn't boot....lol. Is that what you're thinking?

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Yes, I'm eager to begin 'phase 2' as well (and from now on I'll ask for 'planet of origin' up front) It's not like a conversation, where, if you miss something, it's gone - - just reread I'm not one of those who think Bill Gates is the devil. I simply suspect that if Microsoft ever met up with the devil, it wouldn't need an interpreter.

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Jam Yeah, something like that anyway. No problem, I think the record number of posts on 9x was over 200 so we still have a way to go........ DerekW

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"jam" - tak for confirming the need to have preformatted floppy to which one expands the compressed boot-disk file. Been an age since I ever used one of those downloads... so the ol' gray cell was not totally sure if it demanded/prompted etc. in that regard. ***************** Events thus far do tend to point to the boot-floppy not being properly created...? Might be usefool if bootdisk.com etc. were to perhaps rather (more) obviously post a caveat advising the clear need to both use preformatted floppy and also that the download does need to be expanded etc. There is info there re' the latter aspect (perhaps not too obviously) - but not the former. Although even then I suspect many will just not see it... - let alone read and digest... 200 posts... mmm - I doubt I'd stay the course, especially if it started to go round in circles...

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All Windows Me disk should be bootable. My 98 FE disk is bootable my 98 SE disk is bootable my Windows Millennium disk is bootable. Keyboard not detected. Hit F1 to Continue. BREAKFAST.SYS HALTED Cerial port not Responding!!

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