Hello, and Welcome to
D-A-L.
Does this machine have a floppy drive? If so, grab this
Win98SE Boot Disk* and boot the machine with it, choosing
Start with CDROM support.
When you get to the
A:\> prompt, type in
format/c/autotest c: and hit ENTER. This will format your C: partition without any further prompt/confirms.
CAVEAT: I'm unfamiliar with the Magnell recovery CD and/or process, so if you format the drive, and the CD
still doesn't work, you may be out in left field without a catchers mitt.
I did find this through a Google search;
http://www.abs.com/knowbase/answer.asp?FaqCode=10047
Prior to wiping the partition, you may want to grab any of your personal files. I use a CD/DVD burner to grab any user files and copy them back into the "new" user(s) directories.
I copy the user specific, not system common, files from;
C:\Documents and Settings\%_%_Users_name_%_%\Desktop
C:\Documents and Settings\%_%_Users_name_%_%\Cookies (if the user wants them)
C:\Documents and Settings\%_%_Users_name_%_%\Favorites (if the user wants them)
C:\Documents and Settings\%_%_Users_name_%_%\My Documents
C:\Documents and Settings\%_%_Users_name_%_%\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{445BA***************************} \Microsoft\Outlook Express (*user*.dbx files if using MS Outlook Express)
C:\Documents and Settings\%_%_Users_name_%_%\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book
C:\Documents and Settings\%_%_Users_name_%_%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook (*user*.pst files if using MS Office Outlook)
C:\Documents and Settings\%_%_Users_name_%_%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Themes (if applicable)
C:\Documents and Settings\%_%_Users_name_%_%\Recent (if they want it)
C:\Documents and Settings\%_%_Users_name_%_%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
C:\Documents and Settings\%_%_Users_name_%_%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
And any personal files which ~may~ have been saved to the root directory. ( C:\ )
*The above bootdisk image file is a self extracting file and has to be executed (run) from a running Windows machine in order to create the actual startup diskette on one of your floppy disks. (This image file produces the same bootdisk which 98SE creates.) This downloaded image file will format your floppy disk to ensure its integrity, write the files to the disk, then verify the file write, so it'll take a minute or three to create the bootdisk.
Ensure the floppy drive is set as the first boot device in the
bios.
NOTE: When you boot a machine with this boot floppy, it creates a RAMDRIVE in system memory to contain DOS system tools/drivers. Thus it will move your "normal" CDROM device/drive letter "up" one level. (If your CDROM is normally E: it will be F: when booting with this bootdisk.)
The path to the found CDROM will be set with the bootfiles, so entering (
A:\>)
f:\setup is the same as entering (
A:\>)
setup at the
A:\> prompt. There is no need to include the cdrom drive letter. The CDROM device letter will be assigned near the end of the floppy boot process, right after MSCDEX is loaded.
Reformating 98se CD problem
