Can I install Win98SE on a 60 GB or 80 GB HD?

[StormcrowGrey]

I have looked around the boards here today for awhile and have seen various questions about installing Win98SE then upgrading to WinXP. I want to do just this on a new HD I got awhile back but when I tried it before, Win98SE install disk would not recognize the new larger HD. I think it had something to do with the NTFS partition.

 

[bazzert]

Yep the problem is the NTFS file format, 98 doesn't recognise it.

 

[dkdude]

Hi there,

Bazzert is right -if there is an NTFS partition on the new HD. If that's the case, then delete the partition with FDISK and create a new FAT32 before installing Win98.

However, if your PC is kinda old and the new HD is large then it *can* also be that your BIOS won't recognize the large HD. I had such a problem. It was fixed by setting a jumper on the HD. The downside was that with the jumper in that position only some of the HD space was available.

Solutions? Well, I bought a new PC. Another would be to look for a BIOS upgrade.

Regards


Jakob

 

[LouisNgan]

Go ahead and install Windows 98 on the FAT32 partition. After you have upgraded it to Windows XP, you can use a dos command within XP to convert it NTFS. I believe the command is something like this:

convert C: /fs:NTFS

 

[Jontmke]

Wait, if all you want is to end up with XP, then just install XP! When it asks for the 98 CD put it in. After that you can take it out and continue with the XP install.

Jon

There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge. (Bertrand Russell)

 

[Snickle]

Could it possibly be because the fdisk in Win98 doesn't work with drives larger than 64GB?

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q263044

 

[Big0range]

What Jontmke said. If the ultimate result is to install XP, just do a nice clean install, DON'T install 98 just to upgrade. You're only asking for trouble when you start playing with upgrades.

 

[StormcrowGrey]

So I dont need to install the Win98SE first even though my WinXP is an upgrade version?

 

[wolluf]

No - you'll be asked to load the 98 install disk briefly during the XP install, and then it will continue in the same manner as a non-upgrade disk.

 

[StormcrowGrey]

Sweet ... ty one and all for your responses.