Windows 98 Installation issues

[atlCotter]

Hi
My compaq windows 98 desktop had to be reformatted - the quickrestore that came with the desktop did not work. So, I installed a windows 2000 OS - but lost the product key and could not complete the installation. I had a startup disk and procured a windows 98 CD and am trying to install. First I had to delete the NTFS partition and created a new partion. Am using setup.exe on cd to install - but it keeps hanging after displaying the message: Windows setup requires 7340032 bytes ava
Can anyone help me with this, please.
Thanks
VG

[innio]

I just want to clarify, you are trying the 98 install, not the 2000 correct? And you removed the previous NTFS partition and I assume are installing onto a fat32 partition. What stage in setup gives you this error, what steps do you get through before getting the error. Also, the way I used to install 98 was this

Boot using a 98 disk, create my primary partition make it active (using fdisk), then reboot the machine, then format the partition using format.com (if format isn't on the boot floppy then it can be found in the 98 cd under a folder called win98), then I would create a directory in the root of my c drive called win98 then copy all the files from the win98 folder on the cd into this directory then go into this directory and run setup.exe

I did this because anytime windows requires the 98 cd it will already have the cab files and know where to find them so you don't have to enter the disk (assuming you leave the win98 folder in tact after installation)

Also, if you are having trouble finding or using the 98 boot disk go to www.bootdisk.com they have a nice selection there. I recommend the 98 se disk since it will probably have a compatible atapi driver on it to give you access to the cdrom from dos.

Hope that helps,

kris

[chris_frost88]

I have tried and looked at various installation procedures to do this but failed. I want to know how to change the start up configuration to A Then CD to D. I haven't seen the prompt in the advanced option menu after pushing F8 on startup. Any advice where I'm going wrong?

[innio]

If memory serves me you can change these options between the config.sys and autoexec.bat

The A: drive is simply a ramdisk that Windows loads some tools to, the D: drive is the CD like you said. you can specify these by editing the calls in the config.sys, I'm struggling to remember the actual calls but if you look at the files you will see what I am talking about. I know mscdex is where the CD drive letter is specified, the ramdisk I can't remember off the top of my head.

Is that what you were looking for? I can take your question a couple different ways.


Way 2 could be by CD you mean Change Directory, not Compact Disc, once again you can batch whatever you want in autoexec. And I'm not quite sure exactly what you mean by startup config, do you mean hardware profile?

Sorry for so many answers which may not be correct I am just a little confused as to what you are asking. If I didn't nail it then write back a little more specifically and I'll try to help,

kris

[innio]

I just noticed your subject, removing 2K and installing 98, a couple things to remember when doing this, first off, 98 doesn't support NTFS so make sure your filesystem is correct, you can always go into fdisk and kill the partition and recreate it if not sure (note that will destroy the contents). There is no good way to roll back to 98 from 2000 so you are pretty much in that boat anyway. Also if you messed up anything with trying fdisk already dont' forget to do an fdisk /mbr to repair the master boot record.

it is recommended to use FAT32 for 98. If you use a 98 boot disk to create the partition(s) and the drive is larger than 2048 Megs than just use auto and it will make FAT32 for you. Don't forget to reboot after making the partition and then format it and don't attempt a quick format on a new partition.