HELP NEEDED ASAP: How do I format a hard drive to intall Windows ME

I am losing the montior for my system in the next two hours and need to do this quickly.

Can I get simple instructions?

I wiped the hard drive and when I put the recovery disk in, it says I need to run FDISK.

What options do I select when running FDISK? (FAT 32 or FAT16? etc. ,etc.)

 

I partioned the hard drive. now I need to format it. However I restarted the computer and am receving the message "Missing Operating System" and can not get a C: prompt.

 

If I remember correctly, Windows ME uses FAT32. But why in the world would you use Windows ME?

 

That is what came with the system. I am selling an old system.

Now my issue is with the C:. If I can get there I should be OK.

From what I am reading on the internet, it means the "missing operating system" means my hard drive is messed up.

 

In FDISK, make sure you set the disk as "active".

Afterward, just boot with the Windows Me CD for installation.

"missing operating system" doesn't necessarily mean your HDD is messed up, you formatted the drive, for sure you will get that message. Have you tried booting with the Windows Me CD?

 

I can't get to FDISK. I partitioned the hard drive but did not format.

I put the Windows ME CD and get the same messge.

BIOS DOES recognize the C drive. That is what makes me nervous.

After running FDISK, I got the C: prompt, and rebooted the computer so I could format the drive (as instructed on the screen).

Now I can't get any prompt.

 

How did you get into the prompt for fdisk in the first place?

Do you have a Windows 98 SE OEM or retail CD? Because you can boot into the prompt with it. This is strange, irrc, you should be able to do the same with the Me CD, maybe I remembered wrong.

 

I am losing my mind.

I got the C:\. The boot order needed t obe changed in BIOS to put the floppy first.

NOW when I type format c:/. I get "Invalid media type reading drive c:/"

 

I did a search for "Invalid Mediat type"

This is what i found:

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000231.htm

 

haha I was gonna post that link too.

Honestly, it has been too long since I worked with 98/Me.

 

And when you type " format c:"?

 

haha... I think Baserk got it, you mistyped the \ as /.

 

It wasn't that. I typed every combination of format c: / \ ,


I changed the boot order to the CD-ROM where the recovery disk is. THANK GOD there is a format program on there. It is formatting it now.

If I don't sell this computer now, I am going to be PISSED.

 

So when I told you to boot with the CD, you didn't change the boot order before?

 

If you don't mind, please come back and let us know how much someone paid for that computer.

 

It's not format c:\ or format c:/

format c:

Then you need to install Windows ME

 

I listed it for $40.00 on craigslist.

I would take $30.00.

I really don't expect to sell it. It seems to be a serviceable computer. Someome might be able to use it.

I am guessing I am going to have to give it away and take a tax deduction.

It is probably has a tax value of $75.00. Since out tax bracket is 33%, we are essentially would be getting $25.00 for it.