i'm using win xp,and wanna format it and set up win 98,win xp together but how?? help please?
79300
The simplest way is to use Partition Magic.  In that case you won't need to format the existing hard drive.  Since you already have Windows XP on the primary partition, it will already be formatted in NTFS.  That will save you an additional step.  I would recommend you to back up all your data initially.  The Partition Magic software lets you partition an existing hard drive with data on it.\n\nNow create a new partition from the existing one and format in the FAT32 format required by Windows 98.  Now you will have a FAT32 partition with no OS and the NTFS partition with XP as the primary OS.\n\nPop in the Windows 98 installation CD and restart the system (make appropriate changes in the BIOS to make the system boot from the Windows 98 CD).  When the installation menu comes, install Windows 98 as the OS on the FAT32 partition.\n\nThat should do the job.  If you are concerned about the efficacy of the partition Magic software follow the steps mentioned in the previous post.
749756
Before starting your format please read through this excellent how to list. There are many many things to think about before starting such a drastic step and this is a great checklist\nhttp://www.lifehacker.com/software/windows/geek-to-live-how-to-format-your-hard-drive-and-install-windows-xp-from-scratch-157578.php\n\n///
1874
to the .exe file, go to it's property and there's a option that you can set it up for older versions of windows. If there isn't Dos, then put NT/98.
472145
If you haven't got MSCONFIG, you can copy it from an XP machine to a Win2K machine and it works just fine.\n\nPut it in C:&#92;Windows&#92;System32 (or C:&#92;Winnt&#92;System32 depending on your Windows folder) and run it from the Run dialog.
595592
I don't know if this will apply exactly to your setup, but on a Windows machine (98, NT, 2000, I haven't verified that this carried over to XP)...\n\n1) Create the folder that you want to turn into a "drive" -- for this example let's call it "c:&#92;drive_z"\n\n2) Start Menu -> Run\n\nType...\n\ncmd <enter>\n\n3) Type the following line...\n\nsubst z: c:&#92;drive_z <enter>\n\nYou now have a drive letter Z whose root directory is the contents of c:&#92;drive_z \n\nIt will remain until you reboot your machine, or until you type\n\nsubst z: /d <enter>
898648
Your best bet is a complete reformat and reinstall.  Windows XP uses a different file system (NTFS) than Win98 (FAT32).  While XP can run on a FAT32 drive, it will be much happier and more stable with it's native filesystem.\n\nBack up all your important files to another drive or to external media (DVD-R's, flash drives, etc) and boot with the WinXP CD.  Select a new installation and delete all existing partitions.  Windows will then format the drive and install a fresh copy.
573195
If you have a recovery disc or a windows CD, use that instead. They are boot discs so you can just reboot your computer and set up will appear. It will automatically format for you.\n\nIf you need more help, just contact me.
883252
Important If you follow these steps on a hard disk that is not empty, all the data on that hard disk is permanently deleted. We recommend that you back up your hard disk before you follow these steps.\n\nTo partition and format your hard disk by using the Windows XP Setup program: 1. Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive, or insert the first Windows XP Setup disk into the floppy disk drive, and then restart the computer.\n\nNote To start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM (or from the startup disk), your computer must be configured to start from the CD-ROM drive, the DVD-ROM drive, or the floppy disk drive. In some cases, you may have to modify your computer's BIOS settings to set this configuration. For information about how to configure your computer to start from the CD-ROM drive, the DVD-ROM drive, or the floppy disk drive, see the documentation that is included with your computer, or contact the computer manufacturer. \n2. If you are starting the computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM, select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted to do this.\n\nNote If your hard disk controller requires a third-party original equipment manufacturer (OEM) driver, press F6 to specify the driver.\n\nFor more information about how to use F6 to supply a third-party OEM device driver while the Windows Setup program is running, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: \n314859 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314859/) Limited OEM driver support is available with F6 during Windows XP Setup \nIf you are starting from the Windows XP Setup disks, insert each of the additional disks when you are prompted, and then press ENTER to continue after you insert each disk. \n3. At the Welcome to Setup page, press ENTER. \n4. \nNote If you are using the Setup disks (6 bootable disks), the setup will prompt you to instert the Windows XP CD.  \n5. Press F8 to accept the Windows XP Licensing Agreement. \n6. If an existing Windows XP installation is detected, you are prompted to repair it. To bypass the repair, press ESC. \n7. All the existing partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partition or the unpartitioned space where you want to create a new partition. Press D to delete an existing partition, or press C to create a new partition by using unpartitioned space. If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this step for each of the existing partitions that you want to use for the new partition. When all the partitions are deleted, select the remaining unpartitioned space, and then press C to create the new partition.\n\nNote If you want to create a partition where one or more partitions already exist, you must first delete the existing partition or partitions, and then create the new partition. \n8. Type the size in megabytes (MB) that you want to use for the new partition, and then press ENTER, or just press ENTER to create the partition with the maximum size. \n9. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 to create additional partitions if you want them. \n10. If you want to install Windows XP, use the ARROW keys to select the partition where you want to install Windows XP, and then press ENTER. If you do not want to format the partition and install Windows XP, press F3 two times to quit the Windows Setup program, and then do not follow the remaining steps. In this case, you must use a different utility to format the partition. \n11. Select the format option that you want to use for the partition, and then press ENTER. You have the following options: • Format the partition by using the NTFS file system (Quick) \n• Format the partition by using the FAT file system (Quick) \n• Format the partition by using the NTFS file
619461
you have to download virtual pc. in that you can load 98 then it will become part of xp.\n\nhttp://www.microsoft.com/Windows/virtualpc/default.mspx
671099
Just boot using a windows XP CD and follow the steps, once formatted shut down the machine :)
871064
formatt the whole thing and reinstall windows
1029204
Like was already said you can format and install\n\nOr install win98 and do a repair on win2000 then you can have both at teh same time.\n\nHowever, the hard drive needs to be formated in fat32 to load 98.
1176971
Let me get this right, it says you need to format it, in order to be able to use it?  The only thing I can think of is if you were trying to boot from it, it might say that, but Windows is telling you this?  If you were using Windows XP you shouldn't even have needed to install drivers, it should have just worked.  Format means it would completely wipe the drive, typically done when you either want to sell the drive or reinstall Windows.\n\nIs the drive working now?  I just can't fathom this... unless you aren't using Windows XP.  What operating system are you using right now?\n\nI'm asking because if the drive had Windows XP on it, it was most likely formatted as a NTFS drive.  If you plugged the drive into a Windows 98/ME machine, it would not recognize the NTFS format (probably, it's been a LONG time since I've used any Windows 9x OS) and would want to format it.\n\nWell, that's your problem then.  Windows ME will not recognize a drive that had Windows XP on it that was formatted as NTFS.  If the XP drive had been formatted as FAT32 then Windows ME would not have had a problem with it.  But, since it isn't recognizing it, it's a safe assumption that the drive was formatted as NTFS.  I think the "computer guy" assumed that it was FAT32 (though how he could have missed that is beyond me) or that you were going to plug it into another Windows XP machine.  If it were a blank drive (non-formatted) it would indeed be compatible with all the operating systems you listed.  But, as I said, the NTFS format is compatible only with Windows 2000/XP and Mac OS can read NTFS formatted volumes but not write to them.\n\nGet access to a PC that has Windows XP on it, plug the drive it, pull all the files you want off of it, burn them to a CD or stick them on a flash drive and transfer them to your laptop.  Or get yourself a new laptop that has Windows XP on it.  (I don't know how much you are willing to spend in this pursuit).\n\nTo everyone who's answered this question, it's not a drive problem or a USB problem, it's the simple fact that Windows ME cannot read a NTFS formatted drive.\n\nThat gives me another thought.  While you can safely convert a FAT32 volume to NTFS the same is not true for NTFS to FAT32, in fact, it's dangerous, it may result in data loss.  Partition Magic among other programs has the ability to convert a NTFS volume back to FAT32 but it may result in damaging files and you may end up having to reformat the drive after all.\n\nThe only answer and the only correct answer is to plug the drive into a Windows XP or 2000 based system and see if the drive is recognized, I'm 99% sure it will be.  If it is not then I could only take a wild guess as to what is wrong with it.
1071371
go to MS dos mode (not MS dos prompt-go to the real thing). Now insert a cd having installation of windows, and install it, BUT ON D DRIVE. After this is done, give the following commands:-\nd:\nformat c:\n\nI think that should do the trick
538424
If you have a WinXP disk\npop it in\npress ENTER to load disc when it asks\nyou can format from the winxp installation\nby selecting a partition and choosing to delete it\nformat as NTSF quick, best choice for today's world - the full format is useless and needlessly LONG\n\nif you don't have a XP disk..you shouldnt't be deleting your computer
274042
Under the circumstances, a clean install would be the best option. Delete the 3 directories ie. PROGRAM FILES; WINDOWS; MYDOCUMENTS and you're over with Win9x. Boot the computer using the XP disc and pick up the setup from there.
130510
If you want to format, you need at least a boot diskete or cd rom with the file Format.com of Microsoft. after this, you need the boot/install disk for the O.S. you want to install!! if you want to format and use again Windows XP there is no way to do without the oem install provided disk or the standard install disk. Other procedures aren´t so easy (as example, make a image of the disk, format and reinstall the image, but it implies that your have created that imege without failures, if not, you will reinstall the errors and/or the viruses you want to eliminate with the format)