Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion (
More info?)
Simple: You will find personal files and/or applications that you
installed after you bought the system. Reformatting, or using a "Quick
Restore" that either reformats and reinstalls, or restores an "Image"
(clone) of the original system will not keep *any* of your own files. It
will look exactly like it did the day you unpacked it (the file system,
that is.)
I'm sorry, I'd like to give you more detailed advice, but it's sometimes
hard to know exactly what mechanism a manufacturer's "restore" does even
when you're looking right at it. They "idiot-proof" these things and it
can be difficult to know for sure how much they "do for you".
--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm
"Ellen" <e.denan@hone.xp> wrote in message
news:uRlHCRVOFHA.1096@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Hi Gary,
>
> thanks for your reply and sorry for the confusion.
>
> I have 2 Toshiba laptops both with windows XP.
> One is only 3 months old, I had to do a "Quick Restore" on it after
Norton
> messed up my system big time and the person in the store told me I
only need
> to put the CD in the machine and voila. This is what I did after
making a
> backup of all my data. I do not recall an option about formatting the
> c:-drive, so I have no clue what it does or doesn't. I just know it
worked
> and solved my problems. I just asked the question since some people
told
> me it is better to do a format and I do not want to go ahead and cause
more
> damage then necessary... if that makes sense.
>
> On the second laptop, the older one, I need to do a re-install since
my ISP
> told me so ---> became an Open Relay they told me. And I had scheduled
to do
> this, this week...
>
>
> Not thinking further, I did similar process for the Desktop we have,
which
> is a Compaq with W98 SE. I backed up all the data on a CD and put
the CD
> in the disk-drive for the quick restore and accepted the options
provided. I
> do not recall seeing something specific about a format, but then again
maybe
> this is not told/presented as an option..
>
> I have asked the question in a Toshiba Forum today about the format,
> including the model I have, but no reply yet.
> If no reply by tomorrow morning, I just go ahead with the Quick
restore as I
> am "used too" and I will figure it out later if a format was required.
>
> Are there ways to tell if there is "old stuff" on the hard disk from
prior
> the re-install?
>
> Thanks in advance for your reply and patience!
>
> Ellen
>
>
>
>
> "Gary S. Terhune" <grystnews@mvps.org> wrote in message
> news:u4MkZHVOFHA.576@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> > These "Restore" CDs all vary as to what they do and what they don't,
> > what options are presented, etc. The main concern with Restore CDs
is
> > that you back up your data, since some of them not only reformat
prior
> > to reinstalling, they actually repartition the entire hard drive.
Only
> > by sitting in from of the system and looking at what's there can
anyone
> > tell you exactly what you have (except the tech support people from
the
> > companies themselves, and even then...) We're simply making educated
> > guesses based upon prior experience, and *nobody* can possibly have
seen
> > all there is to see in the computer world. There are simply too many
> > variations available.
> >
> > As for the Toshibas, I was under the impression you were talking
only
> > about older machines with Windows 98. I don't know how they have
done
> > things in newer systems. The older ones didn't have "proprietary"
> > installation CDs. Windows 98 Setup normally *doesn't* have
> > reformat/repartition options, you have to use a Windows Startup
floppy
> > disk to perform those chores. Again, you can only tell what you have
by
> > looking at what you have. Windows XP Setup normally includes
> > repartitioning and reformatting options. I don't know what Toshiba
may
> > have done to change any of those procedures.
> >
> > --
> > Gary S. Terhune
> > MS MVP Shell/User
> >
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
> >
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm
> >
> > "Ellen" <e.denan@hone.xp> wrote in message
> > news:OCbHN3UOFHA.1172@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> >> Well Gary,
> >>
> >> I am all confused now maybe also because of the translation to my
own
> >> language and getting late here.
> >>
> >> I think for the Windows XP laptop (Toshiba), I just go ahead with
> > placing
> >> the "Recovery CD" Or "Quick Restore CD" in the laptop and proceed.
> >> If I am correct and understood things right, this should format the
> > c:-drive
> >> and I guess I got worried about nothing here...
> >>
> >> And if the W98 PC, I should be covered too, if I am correct...
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> ~Confused~ Ellen
> >>
> >> "Gary S. Terhune" <grystnews@mvps.org> wrote in message
> >> news:u2qmRhUOFHA.3704@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> >> > No, Toshiba laptops don't, as I recall, use "Proprietary" restore
> > disks.
> >> > They use generic OEM versions of Windows. But you *do* want to
make
> > sure
> >> > you have all of the required hardware drivers on hand before
> > starting
> >> > the procedure.
> >> >
> >> > "Proprietary" in this case simply means that the manufacturer
> > altered
> >> > the original Windows installation program to insert programs and
> >> > hardware drivers of its own. In the case of Compaq, a "normal" or
> >> > "generic OEM" installation CD won't work satisfactorily, since
they
> > did
> >> > some really screwy things that put functions on the hard drive
that
> > are
> >> > normally handled by hardware, or ROM chips on the motherboard,
not
> >> > software on the HD..
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> > Gary S. Terhune
> >> > MS MVP Shell/User
> >> >
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
> >> >
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm
> >> >
> >> > "Ellen" <e.denan@hone.xp> wrote in message
> >> > news:%23ifXVfTOFHA.1392@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> >> >> Hi Richard,
> >> >>
> >> >> first of all thanks for your reply!
> >> >>
> >> >> I have done a Quick restore actually on that the W98 PC last
week
> >> > after 5-6
> >> >> years, not being aware of this "format" thingy.
> >> >> I do not recall seeing an option to reformat the hard disk....
> > then
> >> > again
> >> >> I just accepted the default options...
> >> >>
> >> >> I guess I will leave that PC as it is right now and pay more
> > attention
> >> > to
> >> >> it, a next time. Is there a way to tell if it did a reformat??
> >> >>
> >> >> Just curious... I have 2 Toshiba Laptops and I need to
re-install
> >> > Windows
> >> >> on one, do you know if they have a "non-proprietary"
installation
> >> > (whatever
> >> >> that means `Worried look~)??
> >> >>
> >> >> Thanks,
> >> >> Ellen
> >> >>
> >> >> "Richard Goh" <me@mailinator.com> wrote in message
> >> >> news:O%234CRzSOFHA.440@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> >> >> > With your Compaq, you need to use the Restore Disk and follow
> > it's
> >> >> > instructions.
> >> >> > One of the options in the restore will reformat your C drive
for
> > you
> >> > in a
> >> >> > format that Compaq approves (There may be a hidden partition
> >> > required and
> >> >> > only the Restore disk will do that.)
> >> >> >
> >> >> > The instructions you were referring to from Microsoft assume
you
> >> > have a
> >> >> > non-proprietary installation. This is not the case for either
> >> > Compaq or
> >> >> > HP machines.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > "Ellen" <e.denan@hone.xp> wrote in message
> >> >> > news:O44feaSOFHA.2348@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> >> >> >> Hi All,
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> I was told that it is better to format your c:-drive prior to
do
> > a
> >> >> >> re-install of Windows.
> >> >> >> Is this true?
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> I have a Compaq Presario, model 7450/7460. Windows 98 SE and
it
> >> > came
> >> >> >> with so called "Quick Restore" cd's.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> What are the steps to take for a Format of your hard drive
> > anyways?
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> I saw an article on Microsoft which is for Windows XP
> >> >> >>
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;313348)
> >> > and that
> >> >> >> worried me a bit, since the person telling me made it sound
soo
> >> > simple
> >> >> >> and it probably is... but I rather double-check before
getting
> > into
> >> > a big
> >> >> >> mess.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Do I need to check all these things mentioned in the article
for
> >> > W98 as
> >> >> >> well??
> >> >> >> For one how can I check the BIOS settings...??
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Appreciate any advice in this matter!
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Thanks in advance,
> >> >> >> Ellen
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >
>
>