Dear Help Desk,

I'm getting ready to do a reformat using the application recovery disk that came with my computer 5 years ago. I didn't get a separate windows 98 disk so I gather its on this disk from HP that came with my computer when I got it. Everything will be the way it was when it came from the factory. I did this before quite some time ago but did something wrong so want to try it again. Everything is so outdated now that I want to find out what I need to do to be able to get back on line after I reformat so I can start all over again with a clean computer that will work right. The last time I discovered that I couldn't install my ISP software without getting some updates first. Trouble is, if I can't install the software and get on line how can I get the updates?? Is it IE6 I need to install before I can install my ISP software and get on line to get the rest of the updates or something else? What's the first thing I do after using this HP Pavilion application recovery Disk?
Please Help
Thanks sincerely,
Kat555lady
I also discovered on looking at my computer... system devices, that all of the drivers are from 1999.

Dear Help Desk,

I'm getting ready to do a reformat using the application recovery disk that came with my computer 5 years ago. I didn't get a separate windows 98 disk so I gather its on this disk from HP that came with my computer when I got it. Everything will be the way it was when it came from the factory. I did this before quite some time ago but did something wrong so want to try it again. Everything is so outdated now that I want to find out what I need to do to be able to get back on line after I reformat so I can start all over again with a clean computer that will work right.

The last time I discovered that I couldn't install my ISP software without getting some updates first.

What ISP do you have?


]
Trouble is, if I can't install the software and get on line how can I get the updates??

Well, you're kind of stuck there, aren't you? :)


]
What's the first thing I do after using this HP Pavilion application recovery Disk?


Well, the first thing you do, is get the thing behind a firewall. If you put a clean-install win98 machine online without any protection, you'll get hit with viruses before you can say "windows-update". The best solution here is a hardware firewall/router, which not only will put some base defenses between your computer and the internet, it will also take care of getting your machine online with almost no hassle.

If that's not an option, install a software firewall. But you've got to have _something_ because the viruses will have a six year advantage.


What ISP do you have?

~psi42

psi42

Yeah, I guess you could say I'm stuck. I like my isp, been using them from the beginning and never had any problems with them. My problems come from my stupidity or lack of knowledge. I figure if I just start all over I won't make the same mistakes... hopefully.
Thanks for the info about the fire wall. I hear zonealarm is good so I'll try that one.

You should have 2 system recovery cds, and 1 application recovery cd, the application recovery cd will not be need to reformat your computer.

What you do is shutdown your computer for 10 seconds

Now start your PC and instantly put the first disc in ( disc 1 of 3 ) once the system recovery appears follow the instruction on the screen.

Argeldeggy,

Thanks for the help. I have only two tapes, one for system recovery and one for applcation recovery. I used the system recovery one and followed all the instructions. I didn't do a reformat but it just put everything back on my compter that came with it on day one. I haven't used the application recovery yet, not sure if I'm suppose to since everything is 5 years old. Thanks
Kat.