How Do You Reformat The C Hard Drive On A Gateway Essential With Windows 98?
Formatting a hard drive completely erases the information from the disk. Sometimes, this makes it easier to start over and install a new operating system. For older computers running Windows 98, reformatting the hard drive is accomplished in DOS with a blank floppy diskette. This allows you to boot in DOS and use the “format” command to delete information from the drive. Insert the blank floppy disk into the drive. Click the Windows Start button and select “Run.” Type “command” into the text box and press the “Enter” key. Type “format a: /s” into the DOS command prompt. This deletes any information from the floppy disk and copies the necessary system files, creating a disk that boots you to DOS when inserted into the machine. Leave the floppy disk in the drive and restart the computer. With the disk in the drive, the computer detects the bootable floppy and uses it to bring you to a DOS command prompt. Type “format c: /s” into the DOS command prompt. The computer will display the messa
