Windows 98 fresh install

[th55]

I just built a computer and can't get Windows 98 to load.
I built one 2 years ago and had no problems. I have been using XP but only have the upgrade and have to install 98 first.

98 will install and run, but locks up at the first reboot and I am trying to figure out why, any help would be apprciated.

Asus P5ND2 motherboard
P4 3.2 CPU
Chaintech 6600 GT PCIE
120GB SATA HDD

 

[ski]

Did you try another clean install?
At which point during a restart does it freeze?

 

[electronicsfreak]

This sounds like a hardware conflict, have you checked to see if everything was compatible?

 

[edfair]

You probably don't need to install 98 to start with, the XP will install to the point of needing to find the qualifying install and you can use your 98 CD as the qualifier.

As far as failing to complete, 98 seems to be particularly sensitive to memory problems.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[th55]

This is the fourth or fifth try, I am formating drive and starting off fresh each time. After Win98 installs and gets ready to run for the first time it requires a restart. It propts you to remove the boot disk and restart. The window screen comes back up for about 2 seconds and locks up- no HDD activity, no indication of anything for 10 minutes. It stops exactly in the same spot everytime.

How can you find a hardware conflict witout a running OS?

I did not think about trying to install from the XP upgrade disk first. Not sure if it will run from DOS, but surely will try. I have 1Gig of RAM, and it is recognized in bios.

I got a VFAT error that said it was corrupt or not availible after trying to restart 2-3 times. Not sure what that is.

Additionally my manual for the motherboard did not include Windows 98 in its list of supported OS's. Started with 2000 on up.

Just ordered a OEM copy of XP Pro, I like to reformat my HDD every 2 years or so, but if I understand correctly the OEM will only allow one install; Only one activation is allowed, is this correct?

My only other idea was to get a new IDE HDD, put it in my old computer dump 98 and XP upgrade, transplant HDD to the new system, then transfer OS from the IDE to the SATA drive. But this IDE to SATA transfer is probably not as easy as I think it will be. Any thoughts?

 

[jazzgirl]

Edfair told you good information. You DO NOT NEED to install Win98. Start installing XP. It will ask for a qualifying product. Remove the XP CD and put the 98 CD in the drive. XP will validate it and tell you to remove the 98 CD and insert the XP CD and will continue to install.

Jazzgirl

 

[karlisi]

Something like this was twice for me, when BIOS virus protection was left on. Somwhere at this point Windows setup tried to change MBR and BIOS built-in antivirus prompted to allow or no. But Windows Getting ready screen was hiding this prompt and PC simply stopped. After I turned off virus protection, setup was ended successfully.

===
Karlis
ECDL; MCSA

 

[th55]

Will not be able to try some of these ideas till Saturday, but am hopeful the XP I have will work from DOS.

I don't remember seeing anything in the bios that delt with anti-virus. There were some abreviations that I did not recognize though.

The bios has a "help>>" off to the right like it will get some definitions and more information, but I can't find a key that opens this. As you highlight through the menu, you do get more information, but not much more.


Does anyone know if there is something on the newer motherboards that will prevent 98 from running? As previously stated Win 98 is not listed on the "operating systems supported" list in the MOBO manual.

 

[ski]

It's possible that the MB's drivers do not support Win 98.

 

[jimp56]

does win98 support SATA (serial ATA) drives? I would believe you would need to install a custom driver for the controller....

 

[th55]

This was really where I am thinking the problem is- no support for the SATA HDD. But it could be a hardware conflict that I can't see.

 

[pudda]

Check your manual for boot option settings, you may be able to press F8 at startup to choose your boot drive. If so, do as edfair and jazzgirl have instructed:

1. Insert XP cd.
2. Restart and choose to boot from CD.
3. Follow the installation instructions for XP, using a clean install.
4. WHEN IT ASKS, INSERT YOUR 98CD FOR VERIFICATION.
5. When OK, remove the 98 cd, insert the XP cd, and continue.

The test continues...

 

[th55]

Here's what I got done, No windows disk would boot up from DOS exept the Win98. The boot disk was from the Original Win 98 computer. I made one from XP and it would not recognize the CD/DVD drive, only A:, B:, C: and D: drives. Went in and manually installed cd driver to the c: drive, off of the 98 Boot disk. Then was allowed to do fresh install from XP upgrade disk.

Everything is loaded now but for some reason the A: drive tries to read anytime you look at a HDD(have 3) or Cd/DVD drive (2 of these). Can't see what it will hurt, but it regularly is making grinding noise tring to read the empty drive??????

 

[electronicsfreak]

Check your floppy drive cable, sounds as if you have it on backwards as it will constantly stay lit when cable is on backwards.

 

[edfair]

More likely it carried forward 98 specs for the search path.
This was common with Norton but yours is the first I recall with XP upgrade.
It will eventually cause the floppy to fail. They are not built to do that much seeking.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.