You can install Windows ME over top of itself, but it certainly isn't recommended, and usually winds up causing more problems than it fixes.  If you use the Windows ME startup floppy to format the drive first, you'll only add about 7 minutes (or less, depending on the size of the hard drive) to the process, and you can then do things the right way, and reinstall ME to a formatted drive.  I've also heard that some Windows ME reinstallation CDs allow you to format the drive from them, prior to reinstalling, but I have yet to actually run across one of these CDs.

For instructions on reinstalling Windows ME and your drivers and utilities, click on the Solutions tab above.  If you've registered the Service Tag with Support, and are logged in, your system information will appear on the left.  You can then use the Reinstall Guides link at Solutions for complete instructions on performing a clean installation of the OS.  Follow the individual guides in the order that they appear, particularly with regard to installing chipset drivers immediately after the operating system.

Flooby is correct about the clean install...Reinstalling over the old system mostly causes problem....

 As for formating with the windows operating disk...First you must set up your PC to boot from CD .. see these instructions...

http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document.asp?DN=1032262#numbered

Then the format procedure using the cd see here...

http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document.asp?DN=1057331#step2

Then the reinstall see here..

http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/org/selection.asp?sid=DIM_PNT_P4_8100&OS=44&category=0&x=22&y=13

Back up all your personal data before you start or you will lose it all...

Its not hard just time comsuming...

Hope this helps ...Good luck...

My mind works like lightning one Brilliant flash and its gone!!!

Dell Dimension 8100
Intel Pentium 4
Windows ME
Ram 384 k
40gig Hard Drive
AVG 6
Zone Alarm 3.1


Dell Dimension 4300
Intel Pentium 4
Windows XP
Ram 256 k
40gig Hard Drive
AVG 6
Zone Alarm 3.1

 

 

Message Edited by Wolfin13 on 08-26-2003 09:51 AM

Have followed the good instructions on the site about reformating...boot off of the Dell ME Operating System CD.  At A:  use the following command  extract ebd.cab format/ l c:   and I get the message that there are No Matching Files.    Really need to reformat...HELP!

 

 

 

Did have sequence correctly inputted 

(extract ebd.cab format.com /l c:)  Being told that file not found.  Any help would be appreciated.  Definitely need to get this reformatted.  Thanks.

 

 

kanhow... If you typed it as you typed it in your post it is incorrect....

 This is the correct one....   extract ebd.cab format.com /l c:

You forgot the .com part.... Double check to make sure you typed it correctly..

Hummmm... Well your other opition is fdisk... You can go here to download a bootable floppy and instructions....

http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document.asp?DN=1011782#boot

Okay...have the bootable floppy but for whatever reason by 4100 will not boot from the diskette drive.  This saga is turning into a LONG one.  What am I doing wrong?

kanhow,

Assuming your floppy drive is working properly, you may have the boot order set incorrectly in BIOS to allow booting from the floppy. Go into BIOS (instructions here if you need them) and in the BOOT section make sure the floppy disk drive is in the first position.

How do I reformat my system I have windows ME dimension 4100

Message Edited by bent1964 on 03-23-2004 10:09 AM