Instructions for using Partition Magic

To completely delete all partitions and information and do a fresh system install:

Use the Partition Magic diskettes (if they're around, they may be labeled 'PQ Magic'). If you don't have PQ Magic diskettes, you can make them from the Partition Magic CD. Make the first of the two diskettes bootable, and copy over the files from the disk image folders.

Insert disk 1 and boot computer. It will ask you to insert the second disk and hit any key. Do so.

If you are reformatting the computer, go to Operations and Delete any partitions. Then go to Operations and Create. Make a FAT partition and set it to primary next to "Create as". Then go to Operations, Advanced, Set Active. Next, create a FAT 32 partition out of the rest of the space.

It will take awhile for all of the operations to finish. When you're done, Partition Magic will say it needs to reboot - click OK. It will reboot to the second PQ Magic disk and say, "Invalid system disk - replace the disk, then press any key." Remove that diskette and put in the Win95 boot diskette and proceed with your Win95 or WinME install.

Repartitioning a disk where you want to preserve the install or information already on the disk

Use the Partition Magic diskettes (if they're around, they may be labeled 'PQ Magic'). If you don't have PQ Magic diskettes, you can make them from the Partition Magic CD. Make the first of the two diskettes bootable, and copy over the files from the disk image folders.

Insert disk 1 and boot computer. It will ask you to insert the second disk and hit any key. Do so.

Commonly, with newly purchased computers you will want to keep the factory install but repartition with a primary drive of 2 GB. Of course, this will only work if the whole disk has less than 2 GB of information on it (!).

Go to Operations, then to Convert --> FAT32 to FAT. Then click on the unpartitioned part of the disk, and go to Operations, Create, and make it a FAT 32 partition. Then click apply. It will take awhile for this to finish. When you're done, Partition Magic will say it needs to reboot - click OK.

It will reboot to the second PQ Magic disk and say, "Invalid system disk - replace the disk, then press any key." Pop the disk and proceed with boot.