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Thread ID: 38842 2003-10-20 06:29:00 Re - Format problems! mejobloggs (264) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
184994 2003-10-20 06:29:00 I am trying to reformat, following the FAQ, in press f1.

Problem is, I cant acces my cd drive.

I can only boot into safe mode, because something is seriously screwed.

How do I reformat, and install windows without using my cdrom?
mejobloggs (264)
184995 2003-10-20 07:02:00 Either boot off a startup disk with generic CD drivers configured such as that created in Windows 98, or boot off the installation CD provided the CD is bootable.

Check the boot order in BIOS after making a choice, and ensure the BIOS supports CD booting.



Men are four:
He who knows not and knows not he knows not, he is a fool -- shun him;
He who knows not and knows he knows not, he is simple -- teach him;
He who knows and knows not he knows, he is asleep -- wake him;
He who knows and knows he knows, he is wise -- follow him!
- Lady Burton (wife of Sir Richard Francis Burton), given as an Arabian proverb
Merlin (503)
184996 2003-10-20 07:03:00 What do you mean by you "can't access my cd drive"? Does that mean there is no D: (or whatever it is) drive?

What version of Windows are you running? You may be able to put the Windows CD in the CD ROM drive, reboot and do the job from there.

If not, have you tried using a Startup floppy disk? You should have made one prior to trying to reformat.... better still, prior to any problems starting. If you haven't got one you can grab one from bootdisk.com, but give us a bit more information first, please.
Susan B (19)
184997 2003-10-20 07:22:00 well a win98 boot disk is a must for accessing yoru cd drive from dos it'll be easy with taht....... drcspy2 (4743)
184998 2003-10-20 07:54:00 Far, duh!

I put the cd in the other drive, and it worked.

Now though, I try to run setup.exe and it says this

it says Windows Setup requires 'largest executable program size' to be at least 442368 bytes to run

What! ?
mejobloggs (264)
184999 2003-10-20 08:01:00 Oh well.

I did Format c: from the cd drive.

Hope it works the same.
mejobloggs (264)
185000 2003-10-20 08:05:00 most versions of windoze after 95 have bootable cd's so if you goto to your bios and set the boot order to cdrom first the system should boot from that cd and run the setup drcspy2 (4743)
185001 2003-10-21 08:03:00 Great! I cant find my Windows 95 product key.

Its an old Pc Direct computer, so I can't ask them.


What do I do?
mejobloggs (264)
185002 2003-10-21 09:30:00 Has the dirty job already been done? Like, have you wiped out the data on your hard drive? Because if you haven't you may be able to rescue the key from the registry. Susan B (19)
185003 2003-10-21 11:27:00 Purchase a legitimate copy with licence.
Any other option is illegal according to MS

Alternatively wait and perhaps a hypocrite will recommend a path to the netherworld.


Men are four:
He who knows not and knows not he knows not, he is a fool -- shun him;
He who knows not and knows he knows not, he is simple -- teach him;
He who knows and knows not he knows, he is asleep -- wake him;
He who knows and knows he knows, he is wise -- follow him!
- Lady Burton (wife of Sir Richard Francis Burton), given as an Arabian proverb
Merlin (503)
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