Hello everyone, I've been trying to find an answer to my question for a while now, but haven't been having any luck. A little while ago I was dumpster diving and I found a really old Emachine 466id computer. Had a monitor and tower and some plugs. Whatever plugs it didn't have I took from my old fried computer. I can tell just by turning it on that it hasn't been used or updated in at least a couple years, its still running on Windows 98 just to let you all know.

Now what I want to do is reformat it with my windows xp disc, but I've never used an Emachine before and when I turn it on with the XP disc in the driver, the screen with "Press any key to reformat computer now" never shows up. I asked a friend and he said something about taking a look in the bios or something like that, but he didn't have a clue how to on an Emachine, nor do I. Can anyone tell me how I'm supposed to reformat this computer? If any more information is needed just ask. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

BIOS setup should be:
Press Tab during boot = Emachine

eTower 466id Support Information
Specifications
Specifications
CPU: Intel® Celeron™ 466MHz (w/128KB L2 Cache) PPGA CPU
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® 98
Memory: 64MB SyncDRAM (up to 256MB)
Hard Drive: 8.4GB HDD (Ultra DMA EIDE)
Optical Drive: 5x Max. DVD-ROM Drive with Software Decoder
Video: ATI Rage Pro Turbo 2X AGP with 4MB SGRAM
Audio: Crystal CS4280 3D PCI Audio
Network: Internet Ready
Modem: 56K ITU V.90 PCI Fax/Modem
Peripherals: PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse, Stereo Speakers
Ports/Other: 2 USB Ports (1 is on Front), Audio In & Out / Game Port on Front, 1 Serial / 1 Parallel
Expansion Slots: 3 Expansion Slots

Unless someone upgraded that RAM you will have a hard time running XP. The recommended minimum is 256MB

That being said there is no "Press any key to reformat computer now" in XP. You should get the option to Install or Setup XP. You should get guides from there with your options.

If the XP CD does not boot you need to change the BIOS boot menu to boot the CD drive prior to the hard drive.

What exactly happens when you boot the XP CD?

Is this an upgrade XP CD or a full version? Is it new?


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Yeah, I was worried that this computer wouldn't be able to handle XP, but if it doesn't owell, its not like I loose money or anything.

What exactly happens when you boot the XP CD?

Nothing, I haven't been able to get it to work at all on the comp. :/

It's an XP Home Edition, fairly old, not even sure if I have the serial key for it anymore, must find that.

If the XP CD does not boot you need to change the BIOS boot menu to boot the CD drive prior to the hard drive.

Press Tab repeatedly after Power On.

Does anything show on the monitor after Power On?

Unless you find your Product Key or some proof of purchase there's not much you can do with XP.

Okay, I'm not sure how to get to bios. Especially on an Emachine.

From what I see online it is the Tab key.

Power On the machine & just keep tap tap tapping Tab.

See what happens.