Installing Win98 (1st edition) on a wiped HDD

My old Windows computer was built in 1999 and the OS - Win98 1st edition - was installed at the factory. [The computer maker gave me a Win98 CD for my computer.] If I get a more modern, used computer which has a wiped HDD, is it possible to use my factory supplied Win98 CD to install that OS on the used, wiped computer? Or is this not possible because there's nothing on the HDD of the computer?

I'd put Linux on the HDD but wonder if the Linux will somehow allow me to use the Win98 disc to also put Win98 on the computer.

And does my Win98 disc even have the software on it to install a fresh, full Win98 on the Windowless computer?

Any knowledge or thoughts about this? Can this be done or not?


Stan

 

Thanks Pete. I've not yet received my new, used, wiped computer so I've not been able to test what you told me to do. [The computer arrives on Wed. 8 Feb. If I can, I'd like to put Win98 1st Edition on it and then I'd like to put on, as a 2nd OS, a nice Linux distro called MEPIS.]

I'm looking right now at my official, COA, Microsoft Win98 (1st Edition) disc that was sent to me with my 1999-built computer (which, of course, had, as the OS, Win98 1st Ed installed at the factory). Tell me if I'm right in concluding it's an OEM disc (rather than a retail one) because it says on the disc envelope "For distribution with a new PC only....." It says the same thing on the Microsoft COA Win98 (1st ed.) disc and also has, along with other MS wording, "1298 Part No. X04-04214 ". Is my disc then the kind that will probably (but might not too) let me put Win98 on the wiped (i. e. no OS) computer I soon receive? Or did you mean (above, in using the word "retail ") that if I bought the disc separately from my old, 1999 computer, I'd have a retail disc which would surely work in installing Win98 on the soon-to-arrive wiped computer?


Thanks,

Stan

 

this can be done. it is called dual boot. first install windows, then when you installing linux, put it on a different partition of the drive. when you turn on your computer, a selction screen will come up and you select which OS to boot

 

Something's not right

From experienced users of the Linux distro I favor, I knew that the Linux distro should be installed first *before* the Win98 was installed, and according to detailed instructions I got in a forum for my Linux distro, I used my Linux OS CD *only* to create partitions for Linux and for DOS/Windows-- I used the Linux OS CD to make a partition in fat32 just for Win98. [If I can get Win98 installed, I then still have to use my Linux OS CD to fully install Linux.] But I'm having trouble getting Win98 on the wiped HDD. I'm using a Windows prepared boot disk which I made at the website given here by PeteC.

Some DOS app (maybe FDISK) from the boot diskette told me that there's indeed a partition in fat32 for Windows but when I'm asked to make a primary or extended partition for DOS, I get "No space to create a DOS partition ". [Using the Linux distro first, I gave the partition for DOS/Windows a number of GB so there is this space and it was detected by the DOS app, I think FDISK.]

I can't figure out what's wrong. When I used the diskette's DOS to read my Win98 CD, I tried to run SETUP.exe for Win98 but I got this: "Scanning system registry... Can't create a temporary directory. If you have HPFS or NTFS installed on your HDD, you'll need to create an MS-DOS boot partition to set up Windows." I don't know what HPFS or NTFS are-- is NTFS "Windows NF file system" ? [When I first turned on this wiped computer, I did see a Windows NT logo and a log-in. I erased all that later with either Linux or perhaps I was able to use some DOS file (from the boot diskette) to get rid of the WinNT.

Even though Linux apparently created a fat32 partition for DOS/Windows, how is a proper DOS partition created? FDISK on the boot diskette didn't seem to let me make a primary or extended DOS partition. What files or DOS apps <maybe already on the boot diskette> are needed to make the DOS partition.
Any thoughts or ideas??


Thanks,

Stan

 

Boot into Linux and run its Fdisk program and make the partition for 98 a Primary FAT32 partition and then format it, also make the partiton Active. Note: the partition must be Primary. I think who ever told you to install Linux first was wrong. When linux is installed it would see the 98 OS and create the correct boot loader.

After you install 98 you will need to redo Linux boot loader.

Trying to use Win98 fdisk will not work. It will make only one primary partiton be it a Dos or Non-dos.

I'm not sure just what partitions you now have , made a guess, but if you still have problems post the resaults from fdisk (linux or win) so we can see the partition info.

[ HPFS or NTFS are-- is NTFS "Windows NF file system" ] yes for Win above ME.

 

Got 98 installed but runs only in Safe Mode :-(

After some more stumbling, I finally got Win98 1st Edition installed on my new, used, once-wiped IBM. But since I used my offical, COA MS Win98 1st Ed CD (made probably in 1999, the year I got my old Win98 computer-- the CD supplied to me with the computer that year), I think that Win98 can't recognize/see the newer hardware in my IBM. Win98 only runs in Safe Mode and doesn't see the CD drive nor the internal, hardware-type USR modem (and probably other hardware). [I only have the A drive to work with. CD drive apparently is not recognized. Though it's been assigned a drive letter, I don't find it in the place where I can make the CD drive run and work for me. Of course it worked fine during the installation of Win98.]

I'm now wondering this. If I can find the maker names and models of most if not all of the hardware inside the IBM, I could track down <using my old Win98 computer> drivers for the hardware, put the drivers on 3.5" floppies and install them into the ailing Win98 in my IBM. Is this a possibility for me or is this a hopeless matter since there's such an age difference between the IBM's hardware (probably 2 years old) and my old (from 1999) Win98 CD?

In case, after more fiddling and trying this and that, it turns out to be impossible to have a nicely tuned and running Win98, then I'll wipe the HDD and put in the dandy Linux distro I've used elsewhere (a distro named MEPIS) on the HDD and use that as my OS.


Stan

 

Win98 should load and run with no problems. When you was installing 98 did you receive any error messages ? Running in safemode may be why the cd does not work, not sure.
You will need to go to IBM web site and find the motherboard drivers, video, modem drivers, and maybe the keyboard if it has the hot keys across the top.
If you try to start in normal windows, does it give you an error ?

If it is a IBM Aptiva the model # is on the right side panel- lower left side.

 

CPU's faster than 2.1 GHz--> the cause of an error

Well the install seemed to be going OK but with required re-boots during installation, the same error message began to appear: "While initializing device NDIS: Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer." And I continue to get this same message whenever I turn on the computer. The computer never gets to normal running mode, only Safe Mode.

Luckily and easily, I just tracked down the cause of the NDIS error. When one's CPU is faster than 2.1 GHz (and the one in my new, used IBM is 2.8), this error occurs due to a problem with a Microsoft file--> Ndis.vxd. It's explained at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;312108
I now have to contact MS to try to get from them a supported hotfix for this problem. [But will that hotfix be sent to me on a diskette or will MS want me to get it from their website? Because I used nifty freeware called "98Lite" years ago to strip IE from my old Win98 computer, I can't do MS updates-- IE is required to do that. I only use Firefox as my browser. I can't use my CD drive and the modem is not recognized so I cannot connect to the Internet yet.] [I started to find the answer to my NDIS problem by reading the accounts and help here: http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/Win98/Q_20265703.html ]

Yes, I know I have to track down from IBM what hardware was installed so I can use my old Win98 computer to get the latest drivers for my hardware. If there's trouble finding out from IBM's website or from IBM hardware help people the various hardware maker names and model numbers, I'll have to pull out parts and inspect them for numbers, etc. Right?

No, I don't have an IBM Aptiva. My new, used computer is an IBM eServer xSeries which I'll be using as a home/Internet computer. [I know where the machine number and serial number are located. I've started using the IBM website to get info on my computer.]

Thanks for your help TopFarmer. I'll keep you and others here posted about my difficulties, or success(es), and progress.


Stan

 

You should have posted the error here. I've been through that one myself. I think I've got the hotfix around here some place. If you have trouble getting it, PM me with an email address and I'll try to find it and send it to you.

 

Read below site, they posted several sites for needed file fix.
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/t1044124466