You may want to format your hard drive and start over from scratch if your computer is generating a lot of error messages and you can't seem to fix them. Before formatting, you may want to try optimizing (and fixing) your Windows registry.  If that hasn't worked, you can also just try reinstalling windows (just run the setup.exe from your Windows CD).  If all else has failed, try to format, which will lose all your information and access to your CD-ROM drive. Make sure you have your own valid copy of Windows and that it is a full version rather than an upgrade (if it's an upgrade, Windows won't let you install it without an existing Windows installation).

     First, you'll want to backup all of your important files.  Of course, this will vary depending on the user, but files you want to consider are listed below (and some you might not have realized you needed):

           --My Documents folder (or wherever you keep your docs)

           --Any programs or downloaded files that you don't have on CDs

           --C:\windows\favorites (want to keep your favorite websites?)

           --Netscape bookmarks

           --Any saved computer games you want to keep!

           --Any special settings you have for particular programs (the .ini files for WS-FTP is an example - containing all your logins and passwords to FTP sites, the buddy lists in AIM or Yahoo Messngers, etc.)

           --Your email if it's on your hard drive

           --Any files created in programs that may have been saved in that particular program's directory (i.e. Photoshop defaults to save in the Photoshop directory)

           --C:\windows\fonts (got any fonts you need to keep?)

           --Sometimes backing up your Start Menu can be helpful in reminding you what you need to install.

           --You may also want to go to Device Manager (Right click on My Computer and go to Properties) and write down the names of all your components in case you have to decide which drivers to install later. Then, you can go to the manufacturers' web sites and download the newest drivers (which may be a good idea anyway)

     1. Copy whatever files you may need to Zip Disks, CD-Rs, Floppy Disks, another partition, etc. You can just drag and drop the files to those storage devices. You may find it helpful to use WinZip or WinRar to compress your files, especially if you have to use floppy disks.

     2. You will need a floppy boot disk with CD-ROM support.  You can do this by going to Start-Settings-Control Panel-Add/Remove Programs-Startup Disk-Create Disk. This will create a boot disk that will most likely have support for your CD-ROM Drive. If that doesn't work, you can go to your Windows 98 CD and navigate to tools\mtsutil\fat32ebd\fat32ebd.exe which will also create a boot disk with CD-ROM support. I would STRONGLY suggest doing it from the CD though. That will make sure you also have fdisk.exe and format.com.  Format.com is required for formatting your hard drive!  You can also get a boot disk at http://www.bootdisk.com.

     *If the boot disk doesn't work, you will need to manually install the CD-ROM drivers.  See your manufacturer's documentation or website for details.

     3. Once you have done all this and backed up your files, start up your computer with the boot disk in.  Select startup computer with CD-ROM support. It should boot to A:.  At the A: prompt, type in format c: (assuming C: is the drive you want to format). Confirm that you want to format.  When it asks for a volume label, type in whatever short name you wish to use.

     Insert your Windows 98 (SE or Original) CD and go to your CD-ROM drive letter (which should have been specified as your computer was booting up) by typing cd d: (assuming d: is your CD-ROM drive). Then type in setup.exe to start setting up Windows.  Windows will begin installing, asking you basic questions that shouldn't be a problem.  That's it!  When completed, just copy back the files you backed up!

This brief tutorial assumes your hard drive has not previously been formatted, fdisked, or had any operating system on it (but this procedure can be followed even if that was the case).  It's to help you if you have just built your own computer from scratch.

WINDOWS 98

     1. Once you have put your computer together, insert the Windows 98 boot disk (discussed in the above statements). and power on your computer.  Assuming you have no major error messages, you should boot to the A: prompt.  Now type in fdisk and you will begin setting up your hard drive.  You will probably want to press Y to enable large disk support (FAT32). Press 1 to create a DOS partition. 1 to create primary DOS partition. Unless you need to create separate partitions, just allow it to use all available space in the primary partition and to make it active.  You can press 4 to display partition information from the front menu.  Make sure C: is partition one and is set as active (A). Exit fdisk and restart your computer with the floppy disk still inserted.

     *Note - fdisk may display a smaller amount of disk space that what you think your drive is supposed to be.  That's normal so don't be alarmed (i.e. a 9 GB drive may display 8,754 MB).

     2. After your computer restarts to the floppy, your hard drive is set up, but it has not been formatted. So, type format c: and press Y to confirm.  It may take awhile to format your hard drive. Give the hard drive a volume name if you wish (a short name - perhaps your last name).

     3. Assuming you booted with the option "Startup computer with CD-ROM support," you should now be able to access your CD-ROM drive (if not, just restart your computer and select that option). Insert your Windows 9x CD-ROM. To access your CD, type in cd d: (assuming d: is your CD-ROM drive). Then type in setup.exe to begin setting up Windows.  That's all there is to it!  Windows will ask you for some basic information, and you may need the driver files for some of you hardware (should have come with the hardware you purchased - on CD usually).  Windows' setup process is mostly automated, and you should have your computer setup in less than an hour once you have started installing.  Have Fun!