To anyone out there that can help me. I need a step by step instruction sheet on how to reformat my computers. I have two of them...a Dell and a Compaq neither of which is workin properly (the Dell is not working at all when it comes to the internet) and of course the owner of them...ME...knows nothing on how to fix them.

If there is anyone out there who is interested in assistin me I will be exceptionally greatful for your help

Ok when you say "reformate" you must mean you want to wipe the hard drive clean and start a new right? Window 98 and above will have that option right on the CD, just stick the OS CD click on the reinstall button and it will wipe your hard drive clean.

What exactly are the problems, perhaps you don’t need to reformat.

Thank you for coming back to me so quickly.

Ok on the Dell...I had windows 98 but tryin to log onto the internet and stay connected was a story all on its own. I kept on gettin error pages or the computer would freeze so bad that i would have to turn it off at the wall...so bright spark over here decided to put Windows 2000 over the 98. Lol yeah i am an idiot i know but now me problem is I cannot get IE to open at all. I can connect to the Internet ...but when i go to click on IE I get an error page.

Ok on the compaq....i needed Excel and Word on the compaq so I did the same thing on here...put 2000 over 98. Somewhere along the line somethin went majorly wrong lol...so I need to take 2000 out wipe this computer clean and start all over from scratch. Oh and when connectin to the internet ...i can get onto the MSN homepage but I cannot access hotmail or Messenger. I did the critical update yesterday and since then cannot get into the above.


If i dont make sense I do apologise but these things (computers) confuse the hell outta me

Wow that @#$% up sound like you got a internet connection problem, it could be many thing including your ISP.

Originally posted by im_no_g00d2003
Thank you for coming back to me so quickly.

Ok on the Dell...I had windows 98 but tryin to log onto the internet and stay connected was a story all on its own. I kept on gettin error pages or the computer would freeze so bad that i would have to turn it off at the wall...so bright spark over here decided to put Windows 2000 over the 98. Lol yeah i am an idiot i know but now me problem is I cannot get IE to open at all. I can connect to the Internet ...but when i go to click on IE I get an error page.

Maybe your IE settings are wrong

Originally posted by im_no_g00d2003
Ok on the compaq....i needed Excel and Word on the compaq so I did the same thing on here...put 2000 over 98.

How would installing w2k get you word and excel :confused:

Originally posted by im_no_g00d2003
Somewhere along the line somethin went majorly wrong lol...so I need to take 2000 out wipe this computer clean and start all over from scratch. Oh and when connectin to the internet ...i can get onto the MSN homepage but I cannot access hotmail or Messenger. I did the critical update yesterday and since then cannot get into the above.

See Wellcooked's advise to reinstall and do you know wich update you installed yesterday?

How would installing w2k get you word and excel


I wasnt sure bachus.....I guess I was hopin for the best. I know I am really pathetic when it comes to this machine in front of me but then that is why I came here to this site because I knew there would be people willin to wade thru my confusion and help me.

But I am goin to take WellCooked's advice on the reformattin and thank you both for your input...it was appreciated

Ok for word and excell you will need to get microsoft office which is pretty expensive, try openoffice http://www.openoffice.org/ for a free alternative if you don't feel like spending alot of moeny on an office suite.

let us know how it goes, and good luck!

and good luck!


LOL.....this redhead with a.d.d is gonna need it


Thank you bachus and thank you river-wind...I sure will let you know how it goes...but a word of advice...if you dont see me in a couple of days...send out da "cyber" search party *grinz*

good luck then.