I need help removing Win Me

[BarontheFirst]

Sorry if I am on the wrong board with this Ok I got an older pc laying around a HP Pavilion. I want to use it but can't seem to remove the OS from it. Basically just want to put Win 98 sec in it. I can't even get into DOS to format the HD. I looked on the net and I have tried to go into add/remove programs but Win ME isn;t on list at all. There has got to be a way to remove it from a factory built pc isn't there? With my home built comp I can add or remove anything. Does the problem rest with HP or is it a Win Me issue? Please any help would be great before I just go out and blow money on a board and CPU.

[AlanS17]

First of all, can you boot into Win 98 setup? If so...

When installing Win98, it should give you the option on where you want to put it. Basically, remove all partitions, rebuild your partition, and reformat the HD. If you can't repartition through the Win98 setup, at least reformat it. That'll take care of everything and start you from scratch.

I don't blame you for wanting to get rid of ME, though. 

[markb]

Okay this 'should' work, heres a guide first but I'll run through the basics. Please note though i'm doing this from memory so i suggest doing a google search and reading other guides.

http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=14700253#_

boot to Windows as usual.

Drop a blank floppy in your drive.

Go to my computer, select A drive then right click and select format.

A box should come up, then put a tick in the box that says create an ms dos start up disk. A copy of ms dos will now be created.

reboot your PC and go into the bios(the key to press will be on the bootup screen), change the boot priority to floppy first then exit saving changes.

make sure the floppy is in the drive for start up and ms-dos will now start to boot.

select option 1 from the list "boot with cd rom support"

once booted ms-dos will be there 'a:\'

type 'format c:' BE AWARE this will wipe your hardrive.

when its finished type 'd:\' and make sure your windows 98 cd is in the drive.

type setup.exe to begin to install windows 98


Like I said please make sure you check the guide, but there is no reason to replace your hardware as all you need to do is format the harddrive.

[BarontheFirst]

Thank's for the replies. I will give it a shot. Didn't think to make a dos disk!!!!! Being unable to restart in DOS sucks. Now before I go any further let me also add that I am unable to upgrade to Windows XP also. I thought maybe it had to to with the bios on the board or a partion of the HD that HP had setup to make you use the operating system sold with the comp.

[cdbrown]

You can get various boot disks from here

http://www.bootdisk.com/

Alot of these will actually put fdisk.exe onto the floppy as well which means you can do a repartition.  I found the silly Create MS-DOS floppy in XP doesn't have fdisk nor put any of the cd/dvd drivers so it was basically a waste of time.

[AlanS17]

I would have recommended the boot disk but I don't have the patience to explain...

[Dire Radiant]

I use the Ultimate Boot CD from http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ Just about every tool you'll ever need on one bootable CD.

[daywane]

I can see not being able to redow indows from ME to 98
disk will say this version is older than thw windows installed.

XP should just take over , ask for upgrade or full install
something like that

hit f8
format
install
can do this from boot or with windows Me running.
I have done 5 HP pavilions allready that had windows ME

[BarontheFirst]

Well TY I got what I thought to be a dead computer to work! I just have one thing to add in addition to what I was told to do incase anyone in the future looks at this thread. I also had to go into the bios setup and change it to boot cd as primary HD secondary to install windows 98 Second Edition then after it was all installed I had to go back into the setup bios and set it back to secondary for CD and Primary for HD to get my cd drive to work correctly. Now it boots up in Windows  98 fast and with no issues. Again TY for the help!