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Thread ID: 31815 2003-04-01 10:07:00 ME problems oldgirl (3505) Press F1
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132705 2003-04-01 11:37:00 Sorry forgot to add that I all so found three CD's called HP Pavilion Recovery.

If I fomatted the computer can these cd's be used to reinstall ME.

oldgirl :-(
oldgirl (3505)
132706 2003-04-01 11:42:00 Run scandisk? Download and run a) Spybot b) jv16 powertools . With jv16 only use the registry cleaner, startjv16-registry tool-tools-registry cleaner Another window will open, just untick show ignored entrys. Once you have run it, go select-all (top menu) and select delete (bottom buttons) There usually is quite a list of useless entrys and it is quite safe to delete them all. Restart your PC and see how it runs. Pheonix (280)
132707 2003-04-01 12:20:00 Hi Oldgirl,

You mentioned that the linux is 9.0 so I imagine that this is Mandrake. If this is the case you need to put the first CD into your drive and reboot the computer. Hopefully your computer bios is set to Floppy,CDRom,Hard Disk as the boot sequence.

If it isn't you'll find out as soon as you reboot because you'll end up with the standard OS :)

Go through the Mandrake setup wizard and make sure you select the Expert Install. This will enable you to alter the existing partition settings. Mandrake will show you which is your windows partition and then will possibly show three additional partitions. These need to be deleted and a new partition created using the free area.

Don't delete the windows partition unless you really want to.

Mandrake will possibly label the newly created partition as / Click on this partition and alter the file format to FAT32. Then accept the new settings. The program will tell you that you will need to format the new partition. After the format has completed exit the setup program.

When you start your computer does a "bootloader menu" appear? If so it will have a number of options along the lines of.....
Windows
Mandrake
linuxFS
LinuxSecure

This will need to be removed.
You will need to create a dos or ME recovery bootdisk unless you have a floppy disk as well as the three HP Recovery Disks.

Insert the floppy and exit to dos Then type c: and then fdisk /mbr and this should remove the lilo bootloader.

Now you are just about ready to reinstall your ME operating system. :)
Gorela (901)
132708 2003-04-01 12:30:00 The three CDs you found will do the trick for you and WILL put the computer back to the day you bought it fortunately or unfortunately depending on you viewpoint.

When you boot off the first CD after asking you the script will put the computer back to the day you got it from the shop. This may or may not be a good idea.

Things to consider:-
1. You will likely end up with only ONE partition on the hard drive and that will be likely the size of the hard drive you had when the computer was new.

2. All drivers loaded for any hardware you bought since the computer was new will be deleted. I'm thinking about the modem here in particular.

3. Any downloads, documents you have created, scanned photos, emails, favourites, mp3's and new installations like Zone alarm, Norton Antivirus updates, Windows patches and the like will also go. You will need to find a way of backing up or copying anything you personally have created on the hard drive to another location.

Do you have access to a CDRW drive even from a friend. I would just hate to try backing up a 60 Gig hard drive to floppies. You could even with arrangement with a friend create a ZIP file with all the REAL IMPORTANT stuff and Email it to the friend. After you use the restore disks get the friend to Email back the ZIP file. I have in the past grabbed all the important stuff off their computer and sent it back later.

Benefit here? The Linux partition will go.

IHTH.
Elephant (599)
132709 2003-04-01 20:23:00 > > Yeah - And then you've got a whole bunch of fresh
> > problems ;-)
>
> like what Chilling_Silence :)?????

Hey - Ask now questions, tell no lies....

;-)

No, but seriously, formatting is usually pretty straight forward as long as you're sure youve got the drivers!
You NEED to have drivers or be sure they come with the OS!

Check in the FAQ here at PressF1 if you're un-sure about it, but apart from that, its not the hardest thing in the world.. :-)

Good Luck :-)


Cheers


Chilling_Silence
Chilling_Silence (9)
132710 2003-04-01 20:27:00 > Sorry forgot to add that I all so found three CD's
> called HP Pavilion Recovery.
>
> If I fomatted the computer can these cd's be used to
> reinstall ME.
>
> oldgirl :-(

Ah, sory - I musta missed that one.. Hadnt logged in so the view was not how I normally have it :(

Restore CD's will have all the drivers (Yay ;-)) and software likely too that came with the PC the day it was bought, however you'll still have to remove the Linux Partitions yourself, as I doubt it will do it for you. The other posts give you a couple of ways, however, I'd be more inclined to simply use FDisk from a Windows Boot Disk (See the Partitioning FAQ here too ;-)).
Chilling_Silence (9)
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