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im having trouble re installing windows 98. Ihave the install disk but it keeps saying its for computers without an o/s. Is there anyway around this?
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re install windows 98
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BradSQLGuy
MIS
Sounds like you have an upgrade version of 98 and not a full version. -Brad
A+, MCSE NT4, MCDBA SQL7
-Best cartoon of all time :-D 'Spongebob Squarepants' :-D
A+, MCSE NT4, MCDBA SQL7
-Best cartoon of all time :-D 'Spongebob Squarepants' :-D
Huh? Logic would suggest if this were an upgrade-only CD, then the PC would have to have an OS on it for it to work, wouldn't it, BradSQLGuy? An upgade-only CD couldn't work on a PC without an existing operating system, so it wouldn't give this message.
mikey1977, are you concerned about losing your existing data? If this CD insists that you not have an OS before you install, maybe you can format the drive, which will wipe out the existing data, and presumably let you install.
Clean installs are always advisable, anyway.
mikey1977, are you concerned about losing your existing data? If this CD insists that you not have an OS before you install, maybe you can format the drive, which will wipe out the existing data, and presumably let you install.
Clean installs are always advisable, anyway.
BradSQLGuy
MIS
Oops sorry I got mixed up. Generally you should be able to reinstall the OS back into the System folder. Are you letting the software try to install itself? If so try doing it from a dos prompt and install to the system directory. -Brad
A+, MCSE NT4, MCDBA SQL7
-Best cartoon of all time :-D 'Spongebob Squarepants' :-D
A+, MCSE NT4, MCDBA SQL7
-Best cartoon of all time :-D 'Spongebob Squarepants' :-D
If you have an OS that came with the computer, such as Gateway and you then installed the 98 SE upgrade over it, you have to do some trickery in order to do a clean install with the upgrade disk only, which may or not work. I assume you have backed up all you wish to save. If you have a 98 start up/ boot disk on a floppy (made from the upgrade disk), put it in along with the Win 98 upgrade disk and reboot. (If you don't have the 98 upgrade start up disk, you will have to have access to a computer that has the program installed, go to Control Panel, then to Add/Remove, then select Start up disk, then Create Disk, put in a new floppy, and make the disk.) At the DOS prompt type FDISK and the next screen asks if you wish to use large disk support-choose yes. Now the FDISK options menu will come up-here's where all is erased. Choose #3, delete partition, which will give you a warning-choose yes. You may have to type in the volume label (it will be at the top of the page:ex. GATEWAY, Just retype it). Enter yes again, now hit ESC key and go back to main menu.
Choose #1 to create DOS partition. Now leave the floppy and upgrade CD in and reboot. Load Windows windows With CD-Rom support. At the A prompt type FORMAT C:/s (there is a space between FORMAT and C) You'll get a warning about losing all on C. It's already gone! Windows will now format your hard drive and when done you will be give the opportunity to create up to an 11 letter Volume Label of your choice, afterwhich hit Enter and at the new A prompt simply type setup.
Windows will check your HDD for errors and when finished click on exit, and answer yes to all Windows wants. Now install will progress and it will tell you you have to have a previous OS and it will ask for confirmation. You then have to put in the OS disk that came with your computer (ex. Gateway 98 se disk) and if that satisfies the upgrade disk version, it will allow you to put the upgrade version disk back in and proceed.
Only problem is this does not always work. It did not for me,and I had to go back to the Manufacturer supplied OS to install. For others it has worked.
Choose #1 to create DOS partition. Now leave the floppy and upgrade CD in and reboot. Load Windows windows With CD-Rom support. At the A prompt type FORMAT C:/s (there is a space between FORMAT and C) You'll get a warning about losing all on C. It's already gone! Windows will now format your hard drive and when done you will be give the opportunity to create up to an 11 letter Volume Label of your choice, afterwhich hit Enter and at the new A prompt simply type setup.
Windows will check your HDD for errors and when finished click on exit, and answer yes to all Windows wants. Now install will progress and it will tell you you have to have a previous OS and it will ask for confirmation. You then have to put in the OS disk that came with your computer (ex. Gateway 98 se disk) and if that satisfies the upgrade disk version, it will allow you to put the upgrade version disk back in and proceed.
Only problem is this does not always work. It did not for me,and I had to go back to the Manufacturer supplied OS to install. For others it has worked.
GRR
no
all you need to do is delete wthe Win.INI and WIN.com out of the /windoes dir (rather rename it to be safe) then try reintalling
to save mosty of your application data delete or rename system.dat to a extesion that the computer doesn't recognize too. all should werk fine.on a similar note, if you do have the upgrade version and a new (or empty) HDD all you need to do is create a /windows dir and create a win.ini and win.com file (they can conitan jung and gibberish, they just need to exist) and it will insyall the upgrade as new OS. ;-) I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every moment of it.
no
all you need to do is delete wthe Win.INI and WIN.com out of the /windoes dir (rather rename it to be safe) then try reintalling
to save mosty of your application data delete or rename system.dat to a extesion that the computer doesn't recognize too. all should werk fine.on a similar note, if you do have the upgrade version and a new (or empty) HDD all you need to do is create a /windows dir and create a win.ini and win.com file (they can conitan jung and gibberish, they just need to exist) and it will insyall the upgrade as new OS. ;-) I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every moment of it.
Just a suggestion:
You can always format the machine and start over. Here is how I format and reload Windows 98:
Before you do this make sure you know exactly what devices you have. Soundcard? Mfg? Model #? Video card? NIC? Modem?
If you have the driver disks from the origional load of your computer you should be fine, I would search the net for all the drivers before I blew my machine away to reload windows. I cannot stress how important it is to know what devices and what version of the device you computer currently has. example: 3Com 3C905C-TX Network Card
go to control panel- system icon- device manager and print out your system information
this process will completely remove the current loaded version of windows and will replace it with a brand new install. Be sure you have all personal data backed up to disks before hand.
 Boot to Windows 98 Boot disk (floppy)
 at the A:\ prompt type: a:\format C: /s
 Destroy all data?  Yes (no label)
 After format: go to C:\ and type c:\md win98
 Insert windows98 CD
 Switch to CD drive letter (usually D; or E
 at cd drive letter prompt type e:\Cd win98
 E:\win98 copy *.* c:\win98
this action will put the windows cab files on your hard drive making it easier to load software in the future.
swithch back to C:\win98
 c:\ CD win98  type: setup
 after windows loads check device manager and make sure all devices were found correctly
fix any needed drivers
contact: Boo on AOL/IM: b0012wk
On 4th and 10 and all has failed, you can always backup and punt. But beware. If you are going to be dumb you had better be tough.
You can always format the machine and start over. Here is how I format and reload Windows 98:
Before you do this make sure you know exactly what devices you have. Soundcard? Mfg? Model #? Video card? NIC? Modem?
If you have the driver disks from the origional load of your computer you should be fine, I would search the net for all the drivers before I blew my machine away to reload windows. I cannot stress how important it is to know what devices and what version of the device you computer currently has. example: 3Com 3C905C-TX Network Card
go to control panel- system icon- device manager and print out your system information
this process will completely remove the current loaded version of windows and will replace it with a brand new install. Be sure you have all personal data backed up to disks before hand.
 Boot to Windows 98 Boot disk (floppy)
 at the A:\ prompt type: a:\format C: /s
 Destroy all data?  Yes (no label)
 After format: go to C:\ and type c:\md win98
 Insert windows98 CD
 Switch to CD drive letter (usually D; or E
 at cd drive letter prompt type e:\Cd win98
 E:\win98 copy *.* c:\win98
this action will put the windows cab files on your hard drive making it easier to load software in the future.
swithch back to C:\win98
 c:\ CD win98  type: setup
 after windows loads check device manager and make sure all devices were found correctly
fix any needed drivers
contact: Boo on AOL/IM: b0012wk
On 4th and 10 and all has failed, you can always backup and punt. But beware. If you are going to be dumb you had better be tough.
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