Installing an Operating System (OS)

Insert your floppy and turn the power on. Once everything is done starting, you will be at a DOS prompt, that will look like this:

A:\>

What you will want to do now is type in FDISK.EXE. This will start the software required to prepare your hard drives. The software is fairly easy to use with step-by-step instructions.

If it allows it, I suggest that you enable large hard drives. This will save you the hassle of having to split up your large hard drive into smaller partitions.

Once FDISK is done, you will need to reboot your computer again. Make sure you keep the system disk in your floppy drive.

Once the system is done rebooting, and you find yourself to the great colorful A:\> DOS prompt. Next task is to format your hard drive(s).

Simply type:

FORMAT /S C

Then your hard drive will be formatted. You will then want to reboot (take the system disk out of your floppy drive).

Once you reboot, if all went well, you will now see a C:\> prompt. Now the next thing you will want to do is install your CD-ROM for DOS. Refer to your CD-ROM instructions for this.

You will probably have to reboot again, which is okay, since it will be one of the last times.

After you reboot, and you're back to the C:\>, insert your Windows95/98 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, then type in:

D:\>SETUP.EXE (replace the D:\ with the appropriate drive letter of your CD-ROM).

If the Windows setup starts, then you're all set, the rest is real easy stuff!

If not, you may want to load up HIMEM.SYS. Copy that file to your newly built computer's hard drive (get it from your current computer) and make a CONFIG.SYS file that will load up that memory device.

Well now you're all done. What's next? Maybe it's time to get yourself a snack, or maybe go to bed if you've been working on building the computer all night.

Whatever the case, you know have a brand new computer, that you can be proud of to say "I built this computer on my own!". More than likely you've saved a bundle by building it yourself, and you also learned tons on how computers work. Now don't go telling everyone that you can build PCs, because you're going to get tons of friends and relatives asking you to fix their PC or even build one!

Have loads of fun and good luck!

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