98m still restarting

jubalsams

Can you tell me what the DOS syntax is for moveing the 98SE files to my HD. Did the rename but haveing trouble with the file transfer.

 

copy X:\win98\*.* c:\foldername

Unless you mean how to run setup.

X:\win98\setup

 

markp62

Thanks, needed the syntax also need how to run setup after copy to folder. Tried in win DOS command and got skunked with running another DOS program. Then I booted to f8 command prompt and couldnt get the machine to recognize i drive with the way I was trying to use the old DOS command of just the letter (ie) C:\i: Would I just copy to windows folder or use another name.

 

Whoa, we seem to be getting confused here: evidently you want to copy your win98 folder to the hard drive for setup. You don't need to do it this way but many like it this way. You could have copied the folder to the HDD while inside windows but if you have already renamed win.com .. then you don't have windows anymore. Assuming you have already copied your win98 folder from the CD to your C: drive into say; C:\Win98 (or as markp62 says C:\foldername), then all you need to do is boot from your startup floppy and key in C:\Win98\setup
If on the otherhand you want to run setup from the CD; boot with the startup floppy and key in X:\WIN98\setup where X is the CD rom drive letter (usually E if you only have one partition). And actually you can just key in ie: E:\setup

Best

 

jubalsams

My biggest problem is the fact that I can't get my i drive in dos thru command prompt. I tried a: thru z: a & b will tell me there is nothing in the slot but the rest just give me an invalid reply. However I can gain access to i drive thru windows. Did not change .com to .old in dos but one time and then changed it back to .com to gain windows. Guess I should have used the boot floppy as you suggested. much more and I am going to tie a hook and line to this thing, I feel like a fool comeing back to you guys with a different problem every time you give me info. Plus I have learned that the machine has an old D and old E partition. Could the files be hiding in there. It had partition magic used on it, found it in explorer.

 

Well, don't toss it in the lake yet. The fish probably won't like the taste, but i will take the bait.
I guess i can't understand the problem. What is your i drive ?
So you have C:,D:,E: partitions .. then the startup floppy should put the CD-ROM at G: as the ram drive takes the first after the hard partitions (F.
You need the startup floppy to get access to the CD-ROM because your setup may not have drivers for CD-ROM in pure DOS mode. CD-ROM drivers are not installed for pure DOS by default, so if you just boot from the HDD and select "DOS mode" , ya ain't got no driver running. So boot with floppy and key in G:\setup

Best

 

jubalsams

Booted with the disk to A, changed from A to C and found out I have an OldD, OldE, OldF dir. left over from the partition magic. Tried G as directed and got invalid drive. Tried F and got the 98CD. did an F setup and also a:\>f:\win98\setup to no avail. Tells me that this program requires microsoft windows. Could I be missing RAM drive?

 

"program requires microsoft windows. "

That must not be a Win98 operating system CD.
What does it say on the CD ?

Best

 

jubalsams

Sorry about that, I did have the wrong disk. Too much junk on my desk, anyway on my way now, sure wouldnt be if I didnt have you guys to help. Cant tell you how much I appreciate it. Even though I'm looking at a BSOD now. I think I will just give up and format the cotton picker and start over fresh, enough is enough. Again, thanks for the help and for this time I think I'll drag out my old DOS book before I start a format. May have to call for help again. Oh for the good old DOS days.

 

If you want a totally clean install of 98 SE, follow these instructions. Boot the computer with CDRom support, use the drive letter for the CD for the X below. Have the the 98 and 98SE CD's handy, copy everything you want off of the C: drive onto one of the others. I noticed you have a D: and an E: drive, it would be good to copy the setup files onto one of these.
md d:\win98
md d:\win98se
Insert 98 CD, do the command below.
copy X:\win98\*.* d:\win98
Insert 98se CD.
copy X:\win98\*.* d:\win98se
format c: /u /s
When the format is done, remove the floppy and reboot. My format command will completely wipe the C: drive, then transfer system files to it. This will make the drive bootable, just enough to start the install of windows.
This command will start setup.
d:\win98se\setup
When the Upgrade setup is running, it will ask for proof of any previous version of windows, just browse it to d:\win98, then setup will continue.
When windows is up and running, you can delete the d:\win98 folder, leave the d:\win98se folder there.
BTW, select the Custom Install, and only pick what you want.
Install motherboard drivers as the very first thing.

 

Alas, i long for the good ole DOS days also. But then along came a program called Windows 3.0 and started all this madness.

Best

 

jubalsams

Here was my final solution before format. May help someone else. Ran msconfig and unchecked all but the most needed programs such as antivirus(which I had to disable in safe mode to run defrag) scan registry, task monitor, system tray, pchealth, load power profile, state manager. Cleaned out internet explorer such as clear history and cookies also set default to google for yucks, then restored defaults. Checked programs tab and made sure IE should check to see if it is the default browser. Turned of screen saver set all power schemes to never. Changed windows scheme to standard and did a disk cleanup by checking all items. Then I did a restart in safe mode, ran scandisk and defrag. May not work for all, but it seemed to help my problem.