(Msg. 9) Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 3:57 pm
Post subject: Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D? [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: microsoft>public>windowsme>general (more info?)
> If I am going to have to put the HD into another laptop anyway,
Since you have never stated the size of the drive I thought I'd try and be
helpful and say what I would do if the drive was more than 32GB, the
maximum size that can be formatted using XP. Perhaps you didn't
understand that.
> Thanks Mike, I will think about this option. But if I do have to put
> the HD in another laptop, is there a simple way to get Setup to format
> only C, not D?
Win Me's setup doesn't include the ability to either fdisk or format the
drive. This is done using a boot floppy. See the file CLEANHD.TXT which
is in the Win 9x folder on the Win Me CD and also as KB271673 - "Windows
Millennium Edition Cleanhd.txt File Contents"
(http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=271673).
--
Mike Maltby
mike.maltby RemoveThis @gmail.com
Gumby <gumbygum RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:
> On Oct 16, 1:07am, "Mike M" <No_Spam RemoveThis @Corned_Beef.Only> wrote:
>>> 1) The only other computers I have available to me run Win XP. Can
>>> you format a Win ME FAT file system with Win XP?
>>
>> Yes however XP can only format partitions up to 32GB despite being
>> able to access FAT32 volumes larger than that. Alternatively use the
>> Delete key and delete all the files and folders in the partition.
>
> If I am going to have to put the HD into another laptop anyway,
> wouldn't it be simpler to format it then? Anyway, the main question
> is...when I run the install program, how can I get it to only format C
> and not D? That's my main concern. There's no need for it to format
> D...is the setup going to insist on it?
>
>>> 2) This old laptop does not have the ability to boot from USB.
>>
>> Are you sure about this? Booting from a floppy connected via usb
>> isn't necessarily the same as booting from say a usb pen drive which
>> is far more unusual and only a feature of recent systems.
>
> I've never seen any option in the BIOS to boot from USB, just floppy,
> CD and HD. This computer was built around 1998, when USB ports were
> just starting to appear, I think. They didn't put any boot option in
> the BIOS and I can't upgrade the BIOS.
>
>> You could try installing DOS on the drive when connected to another
>> PC. You could use the command.com, io.sys and msdos.sys files from a
>> Win Me boot floppy as they don't need installing but rather just
>> need to be copied to the drive. This works for a floppy but I'm not
>> sure whether this will work with a hard drive (it should) but you
>> would then have to create the necessary autoexec.bat and config.sys
>> files as those from a boot floppy might not work. I'm not in a
>> position to check this and others will hopefully give you the
>> necessary details.
>
> Thanks Mike, I will think about this option. But if I do have to put
> the HD in another laptop, is there a simple way to get Setup to format
> only C, not D?
(Msg. 10) Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 7:21 am
Post subject: Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: microsoft>public>windowsme>general, others (more info?)
Gumby wrote:
>> Things I would do:
>> 1) Take drive out put it in an external case or dock
>> 2) Backup your partition D on another PC after you have down step a
>> 3) Put drive back in your laptop
>> 4) Plug in an external USB CD drive and Floppy
>> 5) Get it to boot somehow from the boot floppy or CD
>> 6) Proceed from there
>>
>> Usually on Laptop, if you hold down the on/off button it will shut off.
>>
>> Jim
>
> Thanks Jim, but as I mentioned, I really don't think this laptop can
> boot from USB. Also, I don't have an external USB CD or floppy drive,
> and don't have time to run around trying to borrow or rent one.
> Another thing I should have mentioned is that I want to do this on the
> cheap. I don't want to put any money into this old jalopy of a laptop.
> I just want to get it to run for 2-1/2 more months, until January,
> when I will buy a new one. (tax reasons why I want to wait)
>
Know anybody that has the same model you can put your disk in?
(Msg. 11) Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 1:29 pm
Post subject: Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D? [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
In article <7977c468-48cd-4c97-a93e-7b7f8a4dc421.TakeThisOut@r38g2000prr.googlegroups.com>, Gumby <gumbygum.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Things I would do:
>> 1) Take drive out put it in an external case or dock
>> 2) Backup your partition D on another PC after you have down step a
>> 3) Put drive back in your laptop
>> 4) Plug in an external USB CD drive and Floppy
>> 5) Get it to boot somehow from the boot floppy or CD
>> 6) Proceed from there
>>
>> Usually on Laptop, if you hold down the on/off button it will shut off.
>
>Thanks Jim, but as I mentioned, I really don't think this laptop can
>boot from USB. Also, I don't have an external USB CD or floppy drive,
>and don't have time to run around trying to borrow or rent one.
Well you've spent the past two days seeking advice here.
>Another thing I should have mentioned is that I want to do this on the
>cheap. I don't want to put any money into this old jalopy of a laptop.
>I just want to get it to run for 2-1/2 more months, until January,
>when I will buy a new one. (tax reasons why I want to wait)
At least that's a valid reason.
How much data do you have on your D: partition that you can't lose?
You can now get 8 GB thumb drives quite cheaply, and one or more of
them would probably still be useful with your new PC.
I'd be surprised if installing ME from CD would reformat your D:
partition if you're simply installing it on C: -- but I have to admit
I don't really *know* what it would do, and I'm always prepared to be
surprised!
(Msg. 12) Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 6:55 am
Post subject: Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
Most of the data on the D partition is already backed up and I could
backup the rest easily enough. THe HD is 120 GB (it's a fairly new
hard drive) THe system recognizes about 112 GB of that amount (amazed
me, too, as most people told me that this old system would not be able
to recognize most of a big HD.)
I don't know anyone who has this same laptop, Jim.
Right now I would really like to try Mike's idea of copying a boot
floppy to the HD. But the boot floppies you can download from the web
all seem to demand to be unpacked to a floppy drive. I can't just
unzip them and copy the files to the HD.
Still working on it...thanks for your suggestions.
One question that occurs to me...if I succeed in copying boot files to
C:, can I command DOS to format C and install Windows on C? Can it do
those things on the same drive that it's installed on? But i can't
copy the DOS files to D, because the system always boots from C,
right?
(Msg. 13) Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 3:29 pm
Post subject: Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D? [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: microsoft>public>windowsme>general (more info?)
> One question that occurs to me...if I succeed in copying boot files to
> C:, can I command DOS to format C
No. Why do you need to do this to format C I've earlier suggested two
alternatives, format C: from XP if C: <32GB, delete all files in C: from
XP if C: > 32GB.
> But i can't
> copy the DOS files to D, because the system always boots from C,
> right?
No. The system will boot from the drive that is active which can be set
as D:.
--
Mike Maltby
mike.maltby.TakeThisOut@gmail.com
Gumby <gumbygum.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:
> Most of the data on the D partition is already backed up and I could
> backup the rest easily enough. THe HD is 120 GB (it's a fairly new
> hard drive) THe system recognizes about 112 GB of that amount (amazed
> me, too, as most people told me that this old system would not be able
> to recognize most of a big HD.)
>
> I don't know anyone who has this same laptop, Jim.
>
> Right now I would really like to try Mike's idea of copying a boot
> floppy to the HD. But the boot floppies you can download from the web
> all seem to demand to be unpacked to a floppy drive. I can't just
> unzip them and copy the files to the HD.
>
> Still working on it...thanks for your suggestions.
>
> One question that occurs to me...if I succeed in copying boot files to
> C:, can I command DOS to format C and install Windows on C? Can it do
> those things on the same drive that it's installed on? But i can't
> copy the DOS files to D, because the system always boots from C,
> right?
>
> Aren't computers intellectually stimulating...
(Msg. 14) Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 4:27 pm
Post subject: Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D? [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: microsoft>public>windowsme>general, others (more info?)
As you are now prepared to 'forfeit' the D: partition (if necessary) and if
you have access to "someone else's laptop" then you *might* be able to
install WinMe as you suggested yourself, in the 3rd paragraph of your
original post.
There are some points you need to consider first. Is your WinMe CD an MS
Retail version or an OEM version?
You asked :- How can I make the install CD only format C and not D?
Your question implies that the CD is an OEM and bootable and would attempt
to first format the drive and install a 'factory fresh' installation. On the
other hand you *might* also need a special floppy disk (supplied with your
CD) - as the installation files on the CD may be in a special (OEM)
compressed format. Also, an OEM version *may* be tied to your original
laptop's BIOS and *may not* install onto another.
Assuming, that you are able to proceed and all goes well, let it completely
install onto your HDD in "someone else's laptop" and confirm WinMe is
working ok on that machine.
Now replace the HDD into your original laptop and re-boot and you will very
likely find that it will hang during the boot sequence. Switch off and
re-boot into Safe Mode and it 'should' now at least work in that mode.
Open Device Manager and 'Remove' any/all devices showing conflicts - Yellow
exclamation/question marks (and there's likely to be a few!). Then close
down and re-boot into Normal Mode.
And this is where the fun starts! - WinMe will ask for various drivers for
certain devices specific to your original laptop (e.g. Display, touch-pad,
modem, etc. drivers) and you will have to try and satisfy its needs until
you eventually get all the correct drivers installed.
This is likely to be an iterative process - each time it hangs when trying
to boot into Normal Mode, restart in Safe Mode and correct the Device
Manager issues - until you eventually get it to work.
BTW - if your CD is an MS Retail version, things might be a little simpler.
Best of luck
Mart
"Gumby" <gumbygum.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:41ea7537-6502-47bd-b4bd-a349d7fd46e7@42g2000pry.googlegroups.com...
> Most of the data on the D partition is already backed up and I could
> backup the rest easily enough. THe HD is 120 GB (it's a fairly new
> hard drive) THe system recognizes about 112 GB of that amount (amazed
> me, too, as most people told me that this old system would not be able
> to recognize most of a big HD.)
>
> I don't know anyone who has this same laptop, Jim.
>
> Right now I would really like to try Mike's idea of copying a boot
> floppy to the HD. But the boot floppies you can download from the web
> all seem to demand to be unpacked to a floppy drive. I can't just
> unzip them and copy the files to the HD.
>
> Still working on it...thanks for your suggestions.
>
> One question that occurs to me...if I succeed in copying boot files to
> C:, can I command DOS to format C and install Windows on C? Can it do
> those things on the same drive that it's installed on? But i can't
> copy the DOS files to D, because the system always boots from C,
> right?
>
> Aren't computers intellectually stimulating...
(Msg. 15) Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 6:05 pm
Post subject: Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D? [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
The boot floppies you can download - from boot-disk.com at least - can be
extracted with winrar (http://www.rarlab.com/download.htm). That leaves you
with an .ima or .imz which can then be extracted using winimage
(http://www.winimage.com/download.htm). Both can be run as fully functional
evaluation versions.
Shane
"Gumby" <gumbygum RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
news:41ea7537-6502-47bd-b4bd-a349d7fd46e7@42g2000pry.googlegroups.com...
> Most of the data on the D partition is already backed up and I could
> backup the rest easily enough. THe HD is 120 GB (it's a fairly new
> hard drive) THe system recognizes about 112 GB of that amount (amazed
> me, too, as most people told me that this old system would not be able
> to recognize most of a big HD.)
>
> I don't know anyone who has this same laptop, Jim.
>
> Right now I would really like to try Mike's idea of copying a boot
> floppy to the HD. But the boot floppies you can download from the web
> all seem to demand to be unpacked to a floppy drive. I can't just
> unzip them and copy the files to the HD.
>
> Still working on it...thanks for your suggestions.
>
> One question that occurs to me...if I succeed in copying boot files to
> C:, can I command DOS to format C and install Windows on C? Can it do
> those things on the same drive that it's installed on? But i can't
> copy the DOS files to D, because the system always boots from C,
> right?
>
> Aren't computers intellectually stimulating...
(Msg. 16) Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 6:23 pm
Post subject: Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D? [Login to view extended thread Info.] Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
You get an error message in the winrar stage, but it can be ignored. It has
nothing to do with the contents and presumably applies to the fact the .exe
contains commands for writing to a floppy.
"Shane" <shanebeatson DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
news:%23JDKIPUMJHA.5844@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> The boot floppies you can download - from boot-disk.com at least - can be
> extracted with winrar (http://www.rarlab.com/download.htm). That leaves
> you with an .ima or .imz which can then be extracted using winimage
> (http://www.winimage.com/download.htm). Both can be run as fully
> functional evaluation versions.
>
> Shane
>
>
>
> "Gumby" <gumbygum DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:41ea7537-6502-47bd-b4bd-a349d7fd46e7@42g2000pry.googlegroups.com...
>> Most of the data on the D partition is already backed up and I could
>> backup the rest easily enough. THe HD is 120 GB (it's a fairly new
>> hard drive) THe system recognizes about 112 GB of that amount (amazed
>> me, too, as most people told me that this old system would not be able
>> to recognize most of a big HD.)
>>
>> I don't know anyone who has this same laptop, Jim.
>>
>> Right now I would really like to try Mike's idea of copying a boot
>> floppy to the HD. But the boot floppies you can download from the web
>> all seem to demand to be unpacked to a floppy drive. I can't just
>> unzip them and copy the files to the HD.
>>
>> Still working on it...thanks for your suggestions.
>>
>> One question that occurs to me...if I succeed in copying boot files to
>> C:, can I command DOS to format C and install Windows on C? Can it do
>> those things on the same drive that it's installed on? But i can't
>> copy the DOS files to D, because the system always boots from C,
>> right?
>>
>> Aren't computers intellectually stimulating...
>
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