Windows ME Start up disk

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I had to replace the hard drive in my computer which had Windows ME installed on it. I need a ME start up disk since once did not come with the computer. It is a Compaq computer which came with a restore disk (no individual software). Any ideas where I can download a startup disk? Alos would a Windows 98 SE startup disk work

Thanks, BP
 
Hi

You may be able to get the files from here:

www.bootdisk.com

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User


| I had to replace the hard drive in my computer which had Windows ME
installed on it. I need a ME start up disk since once did not come with the
computer. It is a Compaq computer which came with a restore disk (no
individual software). Any ideas where I can download a startup disk? Alos
would a Windows 98 SE startup disk work?
|
| Thanks, BP
 
Hi,

I will preface this by stating that you need to take these questions up in
one of the MANY WinME groups, as things differ between operating systems,
and you may get advice here that is not suitable for your system. In the
future, please ask questions in the appropriate group. That stated, see:

www.bootdisk.com

and yes, a win98 disk will work, but you may need one with fdisk for larger
drives depending on your hardware, see:

Fdisk Does Not Recognize Full Size of Hard Disks Larger than 64 GB
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=263044

For anything over 128GB, it would need 48 bit LBA support from the system
BIOS.

However, you should be able to simply boot your Compaq restore CD to start
your new installation. There's no real need for a startup disk in most
cases.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Windows
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
 
You may not need an ME boot disk. The restoration CD from Compaq is
probably bootable, meaning that if you place it in the CD reader and reboot
it will run an installation program that formats the disk and installs the
operating system plus any software that originally came with the computer.
Your users manual should describe how to do this, or contact Compaq support
for details.

If your PC does not boot from the CD, then it may be that use will need to
change the boot order in the BIOS setup. That is specific to each PC, so
contact Compaq for further advice.

You might also try using the floppy or CD that usually comes with a new hard
drive to do the partitioning and formating. I have used the software by
Maxtor and by Seagate and both were friendly, and definitely superior to the
DOS command called fdisk.

Finally, the use of a restoration CD may cause the new hard drive to seem
take on the size of the old hard drive, even if it is larger. The extra
space may be left unpartitioned, raw, unused, whatever you want to call it.
If this happens, you can recover the extra space by the use of third-party
software, such as Partition Magic. However, do not simply add the extra
space to the C:\ drive. Instead, make a one or more separate partitions and
use them to organize things. In particular, try to move your personal files
away from the operating system.

BJ Perone said:
I had to replace the hard drive in my computer which had Windows ME
Click to expand...
installed on it. I need a ME start up disk since once did not come with the
computer. It is a Compaq computer which came with a restore disk (no
individual software). Any ideas where I can download a startup disk? Alos
would a Windows 98 SE startup disk work?
 
One other thought: Some computer vendors do not provide restoration CDs.
Instead they provide restoration partitions, which are hidden partitions on
the main hard drive. They may provide a CD to access that hidden partition,
but it has little more than the equivalent of a boot floppy and an
installation program. Read your manual and/or check the Compaq support
website to determine whether this is the case for your PC.

If your Compaq is one of those, then your only hope is to get a new hard
drive from Compaq, complete with hidden partition. If the pC is out of
warrantee, and I suspect that it is, the cost might not be worth it.

Alternatively, you could buy a retail copy of ME, or better yet XP, and
install that on the new hard drive.


BJ Perone said:
I had to replace the hard drive in my computer which had Windows ME
Click to expand...
installed on it. I need a ME start up disk since once did not come with the
computer. It is a Compaq computer which came with a restore disk (no
individual software). Any ideas where I can download a startup disk? Alos
would a Windows 98 SE startup disk work?
 
Hi, BP.

Unless Compaq removed it, WinXP can create a boot floppy for MS-DOS, from
which you should be able to boot WinME.

In My Computer, right-click Drive A: (with a diskette in the drive). Click
Format..., then check the box for Create an MS-DOS startup disk.

RC
 
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