format computer,and install new operating system

[loy]

    helo everyone
i'm sory if this not a right place to post my problem.but i'm just trying if someone can help me.
 
i got my old laptop IBM running windows 98.but the system is corrupt because of virus
and need to be reformat again.
i know how to reformat and installed a new copy of windows but my laptop dont have any
cd drive and floppy drive.
  my problem is.how can i reformat and install a new copy of windows if my laptop don't have
any cd drive and floppy drive?  anyone can help me?pleeeas.

my laptop is to much old already but still usefull to use for education purposse only.

[Geek-9pm]

If you like the laptop and really want to use it, consider getting an external CD-drive. You can find one that will work on the laptop battery, but takes two USB ports.
Also, How large is the Hard Drive? And which IBM laptop?

[alan2273]

With the laptop being that old would the BIOS allow booting from an external hard drive. 

[Geek-9pm]

I think I went trough that years ago with an old IBM laptop. Don't remember how  the problem was solved. But somehow, there was a way to install a new system on those IBM laptops that bare bones.

[dr_iton]

You could remove the laptop HD and put it in a usb enclosure and connect to your pc.

Format that with /s

Then copy the contents of the install CD to the disk.

Put said disk back in laptop and install. This has the benefit of having windows detect the laptop hardware instead of the desktop. Granted, you have to have a usb enclosure, but they aren't exactly pricey these days.
Cheers.

[patio]

You missed an important step here...
Another partition would have to be created to hold the Windows files as you cannot install from files whithin the same partition...

[dr_iton]

Also he can go on MS-DOS and create a new directory (with a command MD) and can copy all of OS files from CD in HD. He can give a name to that directory "Windows" and from that directory he can install his OS.
This is all going to work with switching his HD in new PC with an CD-ROM.
Cheers.

[patio]

I guess you didn't read my post...

[BC_Programmer]

Also he can go on MS-DOS and create a new directory (with a command MD) and can copy all of OS files from CD in HD. He can give a name to that directory "Windows" and from that directory he can install his OS.
This is all going to work with switching his HD in new PC with an CD-ROM.
Cheers.

How do you go into MS-DOS at all from a formatted disk? what would copying OS files accomplish? the drive wouldn't be bootable, it was just formatted. Additionally naming this Folder "windows" will just cause problems because it precludes calling the windows install by the same name.


If you are suggesting trying to "manually" install windows by copying a bunch of compressed files into the windows folder without regard to installation of drivers or even setting up a boot drive or registry then I'm afraid  your plan isn't quite well thought out.

[Geek-9pm]

Hi, BC_Programmer
It seems he is skipping over some steps.
If the machine can boot a floppy, but not a CD, he can do some things.
But if not.
For Windows 98. You need both CD and Floppy.
Remove the HDD and slave it somehow into a working machine. Boot Win98 on the good machine. (You may want to disable your main HDD to avoid a disgrace.)
Using  FDISK from the Windows 98 boot floppy, do the usual thing to the slave drive.  FDISK /MBR. Then FDISK again and Crete a primary portion up  to about 2GB, but at least 500 mb, but leave about 700 MB unused space. Mark that primary partition active. Make an extended parson with a logical drive of about 700mb. Now you have to reboot with the floppy
Format the primary partition. Format the logical partition.
If all goes well., format does not report lots of errors, we can go on.
Copy all the Windows 98 CD onto the logical parson.
Aldo, copy the floppy onto the C: drive. And do a SYS C: to make it notable.
Now try to boot the drive on the good machine. Try and find the #@$$ place where the autoexec.bat makes a reference to the A: REM it out or edit it.
Can't find it? Never mind.
Power down and put the drive back in the sick machine. We hope it will boot and gag on the Autoexec.bat, but htat is OK if the HIMEM stuff is working.
Now log onto the logical drive. Find SETUP.EXE. Run it.

DID I  MISS ANYTHING?

[BC_Programmer]

oops, wasn't paying attention.

For some reason I defaulted on thinking it was XP.

my apologies to Dr. It ON, while his method was missing a few steps (graciously filled in by Geek-9pm) it was fundamentally sound. (aside from the partition requirement Patio mentioned- and again, filled in by Geek-9pm) 

[dr_iton]

I didn't thought that I have to explain all of steps, just follow the described procedure from Geek-9pm, it will work.
Cheers.

@ patio
I guess you didn't read my post...
You are right I didn't.

Cheers.

[richiehughes]

I would recommend getting a new laptop. Windows 98 OS is extremely old and very un secure now as Windows no longer support the OS or create new updates for it. And if this is a very old laptop then its very likely that it wont last very long, the battery will likely need replaced and other components such as the hard drive.

[BC_Programmer]

I would recommend getting a new laptop. Windows 98 OS is extremely old and very un secure now as Windows no longer support the OS or create new updates for it. And if this is a very old laptop then its very likely that it wont last very long, the battery will likely need replaced and other components such as the hard drive.

the fact that you referred to MS as "windows" kind of invalidates your credibility.

For the record I have a 12 year old laptop that- at least until a week ago, worked perfectly fine.

Unfortunately the battery, which wasn't working for some time, leaked some and caused some strange issues.

[richiehughes]

the fact that you referred to MS as "windows" kind of invalidates your credibility.

For the record I have a 12 year old laptop that- at least until a week ago, worked perfectly fine.

Unfortunately the battery, which wasn't working for some time, leaked some and caused some strange issues.

Well, excuse me, I typed that incorrectly. I was meaning Microsoft no longer supports Windows 98. And that does not "invalidate" my credibility.