Win98 setup cannot find the setup files

[bubarooni]

I have installed many versions of Windows so I have some experience installing OS's. I have a problem on one machine I have never encountered. The OS is WIN98SE. When the setup program goes to install new hardware it can't find any of the files it extracted from the cabs on the CD. It defaults to the C:\Windows\System\Precopy folder. Nor can it find them on the CD if I point it to the win98 dir on the installation CD.

Out of frutstration, I installed the operating system from the same disk on another machine this afternoon and had no problem at all. I have tried 5 times on this HP Pavilion 8280 to no avail.

None of the dll files needed for networking, the ATI vid card or anything else can be found on the hard drive or the install disk. I tried to copy files one by one from another machine but, lost patience.

I am frustrated and totally lost. I need direction.

 

[gcw1]

Have you tried C:\Windows\System\and C:\Windows\ i've had to redirect hardware setup to these two areas for a few things.

Glenn

 

[bubarooni]

Yes, I tried that. Any other ideas?

 

[Seegee]

Did the machine originally come with Win98SE or ME? I have installed 98SE on a HP machine that came with ME preloaded, and I had the same type problems, but it would install ME with no trouble. if that isn't it, then it sounds like the CD-ROM drive might be having intermitten problems.

 

[bubarooni]

I finally gave up after five installs. I booted up off a boot disk extracted every file from every cab on the install disk into a folder on the machine's d: partition. Now when it asks for the disk I point it to the d:\extrcabs folder and it finds the right files with no problem.

Not exactly a satisfactory solution though. It took 5 hours to extract the files and the folder takes up 310 MB! I would still appreciate any theories.

Thanks

 

[aspectz]

try c:\windows\option\cabs. Many large OEMS keep the win98SE from here. Alternatively copy the win98 folder of the CD on to C: first. That should sort out the networking(except for the Network Card drivers). Then browse HP's site for the VGA drivers.

 

[Howi]

Why bother with extracting files from CAB's - just copy all of WIN98 directory from cd to HD and run setup from HD win98 dir - faster and less error prone than from CD