1. Just as you can format a diskette to erase all information on it, you can format a logical drive (like c:, d:, etc). If you look at in Explorer, you'll see it has no folders and no files. So you can make a fresh start with filling it. The process doesn't change the characteristics of the drive: if it's FAT32 it stays so. To change that you use fdisk, a tool to delete and make logical drives. But why do you ask the question.
2. After the format comes the rebuilding of the contents, generally. Things to do before include: backup all your personal data (including Outlook Express 'folders', IE favorites, MS Word normal.dot etc), find all needed drivers (including motherboard drivers, if present), gather all CD's you've used to install programs, note all settings (like OE accounts, passwords etc), and make a boot diskette.
3. That's simple (with the precautions taken). Put in the boot diskette, set the BIOS to boot from a:, boot, choose to go into MS-DOS, type format c: /s (followed by enter) and the drive is (re)formatted. Then put in the Windows 98 CD, reboot from a: and choose to install Windows. Then install all drivers, set all the settings, see that everything works, visit Windows update for all patches, see again that everything works, install all applications from CD or Internet and restore your data. That's all
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Some useful sites:
http://www.cyberwalker.net/columns/jul99/290799.html
http://groups.msn.com/ComputingSolutionsCenter/reformatting.msnw
http://www.geocities.com/merijn_bellekom/new/reformat.html
There must be many more/
Good luck.
Kees
i have a few questions concerning reformatting.
1.what exactly does it do?
2.what precautions should i take (is is important i save anything beyond personal data? do i need to make a bootdisk, networking information, etc?)
3.how do i do it?
i am running on windows98se. thank you for any help recieved.
ps. does reformatting undo the process of making a FAT32 drive??

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