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Thread ID: 57207	2005-04-26 09:24:00	formatting a computer	theother1 (3573)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
349084	2005-04-26 09:24:00	I have just purchased a 2nd hand laptop and I want to format both drives and reinstall all the hardware and software. How do I proceed? Regards, Rob	theother1 (3573)
349085	2005-04-26 09:26:00	You have a few options you can format them with a boot disk or you can format them when you install XP if thats what you wish to put on there	Overdrive_5000 (4950)
349086	2005-04-26 09:29:00	Please note I have presently only tested with 95a, 98SE, 2000 Pro SP3, Windows XP SP1, Windows XP SP2 as the are the only versions I have Windows 2000/XP Auto Installs On The windows XP CD, Probably 2000 CD as well you will find CD:\Support\Tools\Deploy.cab [Note I tested that the XP Generated untattend.txt appears to work with 2k on my configuration, cases will vary] In this file you will find setupmgr.exe You can use this to create new > Unattend Setup > Relevant Version > Fully Automated > Set Up From CD [Or other options Note that the untattend.txt file it generates should be renamed to winnt.sif if you want it to automatically take effect If you boot from the CD it will then use the options in winnt.sif automatically if in the typical floppy Disk drive Notes about 2k/XP Exceptions I found in a few tests: if there is no bootable O/S the CD will automatically boot from the 2k/XP CD. if there is a bootable O/S you may be prompted to press any key to boot from CD. any key may be dangerous on some systems, I would suggest space if the Computer has a boot sequence in the BIOS for the CD Drive behind the hard disk or Floppy disk, it may not work with automated installs if the computer does not support booting from CD then you may require boot disks to load the CD Drive, or other options Utilised e.g. network installs if the ProductID code in the file fails, you WILL be prompted to enter the correct code in typical configuration My suggestion would be to Disable booting from floppy drive, leave the floppy disk in the drive and reboot, this is because multiple boots may be required, and if it tries to use the floppy disk before the CD it may report that its an invalid system disk and kill the automation. If a drive is not partitioned, you will typically be prompted to setup partition info if the drive is partitioned but contains windows, documents and settings or other folders windows needs you may have to confirm that its okay to delete the windows Root directory or that you accept Documents and settings *may* be lost. Ideally restore booting from floppy drive after install completes Windows 95/98 Installs [Note I tested that the 98SE Generated msbatch.inf appears to work with 95a on my configuration, cases will vary] MS Batch for Windows 95 info download.microsoft.com (download.microsoft.com) MS Batch for Windows 98 Info support.microsoft.com (support.microsoft.com) Windows 98SE with the batch tool mentioned in the above url allowed had this to install: [with a few tests] W98 Quick Install.txt (127.0.0.1) Windows 95A with Batch tool mentioned in the above url allowed had this to install: [with a few tests W95a Quick Install.txt (127.0.0.1)Windows 95a, possibly other versions may lose connectivity to setup files in subsequent reboots, for this reason it is best to copy the files to a local HDD with a letter which will not change Win95A unlike the test configuration with 98SE does prompt for drivers, even though an automated install is requested with no prompts, perhaps it may need adjustment but allow for this when installing. Win95a does not support Fat32 [Sometimes called large disk support but not always] because of this if you use a late model boot disk which supports Fat32 and the operating system doesn't you may get errors about incompatibility and its likely the system will not work. because of this with Pre Win95B use Fat16 or the appropriate file system for the operating system in question [check documentation]. Note that in Win95B onwards [or Win95 OSR2] Fat32 is also supported. 95/98 Note that for both 95/98 if its an OEM Version you cannot bypass the EULA and serial screens as mentioned here: support.microsoft.com (support.microsoft.com) Suggestions for 95/98 My suggestion would be to Disable booting from floppy drive, leave the floppy disk in the drive and reboot, this is because multiple boots may be required, and if it tries to use the floppy disk before the CD it may report that its an invalid system disk and kill the automation. Ideally restore booting from floppy drive after install completes File Systems Note there can be a slight discongruency in various reported statements by me, Microsoft or others. Win95a etc onwards uses Vfat which is a modified Fat16 that allows LFS [Long filename support]. although it is no longer supported in XP and or various other operating systems. There is actually very big articles out there about file system differences, but for now I just wanted to point out this aspect ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Change Boot Order:CDHDD FDD#1 Boot Boot From CD-ROMStart Windows 98 Setup FROM CD-ROMEnterConfigure Unallocated disk space <enter>Yes, enable large disk support<enter><enter> to reboot#2 BootBoot From CD-ROMStart Windows 98 Setup FROM CD-ROMReboots and formats automaticallyESC to exit Install#3Boot From CD-ROMNormal Boot [ Becaue last one failed]Start Windows 98 Setup FROM CD-ROMF3F3D:\Win98\Setup.exe B:\msbatch.inf EnterMUST CONFIRM LICENSE AGREEMENT on Possible OEM VERSIONS?Change Boot Order:CDFDDHDD ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Network optionsNetBEUI and IPX/SPX Turned offTCP/IP turned onValidater Logon to NT Domain offInstallation OptionsPrompt for Startup disk offTimezoneDOn't Prompt for printers#1 BootBoot From FDDStart Computer Without CD-ROM Support [Won't get used till next boot]FdiskN no Fat321 Create1 Create PrimaryY full size<Do More if over 2GB]escrestart#2 BootStart Computer With CD-ROM Supportformat c: cd cdrom:\win95md c:\win95copy *.* c:\win95cd c:\win95setup.exe a:\msbatch.inf /iwNEEDS differed PID COdePrompts for Driver OncePrompts for Driver Twice /IW only works with non OEM FOR EULA	CreightonBrown (5692)
349087	2005-04-26 09:36:00	Drivers could be another article, i have no incentive to write it anyway.	CreightonBrown (5692)
349088	2005-04-26 09:51:00	Hey thanks for that. I just threw ibn the recovery disc that came withit and it is doing it all itself. Thanks for the replies, Rob	theother1 (3573)
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