[ladyandjan]

Have an Acer computer with Win95 that has something wrong with it on the computer currently. Was just given a new Win95 disc with license. Would appreciate step by step instructions on how to wipe off the current Win95 and install the good one from scratch so nothing remains from the old win95 software at all to screw up the new software. Computer only has 32mb. Thx for the help.

[ScottGem]

You need to reformat the computer which will wipe everything off it. Before doing that you need to make sure you have drivers for all your hardware and the install files for all your software. Drivers can be obtained at manufacturer's websites. If you need to know what hardware is on the system I suggest www.belarc.com/download.htm.

One you have everything you need, you need to have a system floppy. If the Win 95 is on CD, this floppy needs your CD drivers as well as FDisk and Format. Test the floppy by booting with it and seeing if it can read the CD. If you need a boot floppy go to bootdisk.com.

Once eveything is tested, boot to the floppy and at the A: prompt Run Fdisk if you want to repartition. Or just run Format to reformat the drive. Make sure you run Format C: /S to copy the system files. From there run SETUP from the CD and follow the onscreen prompts.

[fredg]

Hi,
Here are step by step instructions on how to Format the drive. But, you do need a Boot Disk (floppy) to do it.

Turn off the computer.
Insert the Boot Floppy Disk into the Floppy Drive (A Drive), then turn on the computer.

Wait until it comes up to the A:> prompt.
We must do do an "FDISK", which will delete and re-create a DOS partition for the Full Version.

At the A:\ prompt Type: FDISK and press ENTER.
Press ENTER to select Large Disk Support.
Select Option 3, Delete partition or Logical DOS drive. (whatever option # this is)
Select Extended Partion, then
Delete Extended partition.
Select delete Primary DOS Partition.
Press ESC.
Select Create Primary DOS Partition.
Choose Yes to use maximum size.(100%)
Press ENTER when prompted for a Volume Label.
When Back at the FDISK Menu, select Set Active Partition.
Press ESC on the keyboard.

Now, if you wish to format the hard drive, then:
Re-boot and,
At the A:> prompt, type in FORMAT C: /S
It will look like A:>FORMAT C: /S
(The /S will copy system files to the harddrive).
When it finishes formatting, then go to the next steps.

Best wishes,
fredg

[ScottGem]

Lady,
You do NOT need to do an FDISK as Fred mistakenly tells you unless you want to repartition the drive. An FDISK will do a more complete wipe of the hard drive, but I don't think that's necessary in this case.

If you want to repartition, you can follow Fred's FDISK instructions, but that's up to you. As to the rest of his answer, its just a repeat of what I already told you.