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Installing Win98 via HD

Discussion in 'Legacy Windows' started by harryt, 2008/12/16.

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  1. 2008/12/16
    harryt

    harryt Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hey there.

    I have a question. I let someone borrow my Win98 cd... never got it back. So, I'm pretty much *******.

    HOWEVER, when I bought this PC a long time ago. The seller put the cd files eg. made a backup of the win98 cd on my Hard drive.

    I found it and ran the setup, but stopped it.

    What I'm trying to do is get Win98 installed on my 2nd "new" HD. Right now it's my D:

    The win98 cd files are on C:

    Is there anyway I can run the installation from one HD to another? Meaning install windows on D: through the files from C:?

    Thanks.
     
    harryt,
    #1
  2. 2008/12/16
    FastTracker

    FastTracker Banned

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    By 2nd drive, you mean installed as slave? If so, try xxClone to copy entire C to D. Can also make D bootable.
     
    FastTracker,
    #2


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  4. 2008/12/16
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old

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    Fasttracker's advice is good but I'll assume you want a completely fresh install of 98.

    If so then format your new drive and copy the setup folder over to it;( I recommend \windows\cabs)

    create a bootable floppy;

    switch your new drive to master;

    boot from the floppy;

    and install (assuming you followed my previous recommendation).
    Code:
    cd \windows\cabs
setup
    Note that you will need your product key.
     
    Last edited: 2008/12/16
    wildfire,
    #3
  5. 2008/12/16
    harryt

    harryt Inactive Thread Starter

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    By 2nd drive, you mean installed as slave? If so, try xxClone to copy entire C to D. Can also make D bootable.

    Yes. I have a 2nd "slave" drive, a lot bigger than my master drive.. It's been formatted and is empty. I want to do a fresh install of windows 98 and make this drive my master.

    I have a folder on my c: right now, which has the files from the windows 98 disc. It was put on the PC, incase I lost my disc.

    So, what procedure do I need to go with here? In order to do a fresh install on my new HD.

    Do I move the install files over to the new HD? I'm assuming I can do that, restart pc and run dos. That way I could run the setup.exe file?

    Or can I simple run the setup via in Windows, since it's not my main drive yet?
     
    harryt,
    #4
  6. 2008/12/16
    harryt

    harryt Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks.

    I was thinking roughly to that extent. I assume the product key is the same listed, when I check the system requirements tab.

    EG. Lists who the software is registered to and ID etc...

    As I don't have my disc anymore and it had the id on it.
     
    harryt,
    #5
  7. 2008/12/16
    FastTracker

    FastTracker Banned

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    I was assuming that he may be wanting to keep all files and programs intact.
     
    FastTracker,
    #6
  8. 2008/12/16
    FastTracker

    FastTracker Banned

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    To find your key , download System Information For Windows.Run and go to Software. Drop down to Licenses. Can learn MUCH more about your system with this program.
     
    FastTracker,
    #7
  9. 2008/12/16
    harryt

    harryt Inactive Thread Starter

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    Well I tried to install via DOS. I got an error once I got the setup.exe going.

    It was having issues saying "cannot write to startup disk" It also said something about NTFS. I know that's for hard drives, but mines is a FAT. I had to use that format for win98.

    I assume that's the floppy drive? I'm not sure why it would write to it?

    Is there no way to install to another drive via windows?
     
    harryt,
    #8
  10. 2008/12/16
    harryt

    harryt Inactive Thread Starter

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    It seems like I may need MS-DOS partion installed?

    I'm not sure why I'm getting this error. Unless this drive is not setup properly.

    I did a FDISK run on the new drive. If I do a PRIMARY add.. it only ads 8MB, if I do a EXTENDED add, it gives me the full specs 29GB.

    Could this be causing the error?
     
    harryt,
    #9
  11. 2008/12/16
    FastTracker

    FastTracker Banned

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    Don't recall if 98 had it, but in XP you could try the sometimes reliable right click and Send To option.
     
    FastTracker,
    #10
  12. 2008/12/16
    TopFarmer

    TopFarmer Well-Known Member

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    When you run "fdisk" it should ask if you want "large disk support" be sure to say "YES ". Select option #4 (I think) (show current partitions) , does it list a non-dos partition ? IF yes, you likely have a NTFS or linux partition that needs deleted.

    It is best (I think) to have only the one hdd installed, so no mistake can me made using the wrong hdd.

    If you run setup from Windows you will have problems later.

    Not sure what is going on there, if I remember 98's fdisk will only let you have 1 primary partition.

    it is possible that with in the BIOS setup you have virus detection on and when setup tries to write a new MBR the bios will not let it.
     
    TopFarmer,
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  13. 2008/12/16
    Rockster2U

    Rockster2U Geek Member

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    wildfire,
    I'll certainly leave the command lines to you - I am still in awe of your expertise. After looking at the very first post, it appears that whoever did the initial setup made a Win98 folder on the root of C: and copied everything there. That's exactly the way I used to do 98 Installations and it would change the directory you are commenting. Just a thought for your consideration.

    harry,
    Here's the link for SIW which FastTracker referenced. I think the ball is in your court re: doing a clean installation on your new drive or cloning your old drive to your new drive. Once you make a decision, FastTracker or wildfire can get you there as long as you have your key. Let us know which way you plan to go.

    Good Luck
    ;)
     
    Rockster2U,
    #12
  14. 2008/12/16
    harryt

    harryt Inactive Thread Starter

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    The issue I'm having is with the drive.

    What's the difference between an Primary DOS and Extended DOS Partion?
    My drives shows
    PRI DOS : 8MB
    EXT DOS: 29GB

    In other words.. can I delete the PRIMARY DOS and live with the EXTENDED DOS? All my drives space is on that partion.


    PS: I downloaded the program above and installed it. So, I can provide info if needed.
     
    harryt,
    #13
  15. 2008/12/17
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Jumping in here with a few thoughts:

    No, there must be a primary partition. It needs to be active to be bootable and I think FDISK will prompt for activation.

    First, write down the path to the install files on the old hard disk. Wildfire may be correct that it should be C:\windows\cabs but you have to verify your own path.

    I'm working from memory and not all steps using the Win98SE startup disk have stuck. Follow the prompts.

    Disconnect the old hard disk. Set the jumper to SLAVE. Leave it disconnected.

    Set the jumper on the new hard disk to MASTER. Connect it to the end connector on the ribbon cable for the Primary channel.

    Start the computer from the Win98SE startup disk. Follow the prompts and enable "large disk support ".

    If any partition(s) should exist, delete them all. First logicals, next extended, finally primary.

    On the blank hard disk, have FDISK create a single primary partition of all available space. I think that now, you will be prompted to make it active - do that. Format the partition.

    With the computer shut down, connect the old hard disk to the middle connector on the ribbon cable for the Primary channel.

    Start the computer from the Win98SE startup disk. If it starts OK, follow the prompts to get to A:\ with a blinking cursor. Type in C: > hit enter. It should now be at C:\ with a blinking cursor.

    Type in: md C:\WIN98 > hit enter

    You should still be at C:\ with a blinking cursor.

    Type in: D: > hit enter. Type in: cd windows > hit enter. Type in cd cabs > hit enter.
    (Note that the old path was C:\... but is now D:\... and you may have verified a different path.)
    Type in: copy *.* C:\WIN98 > hit enter.

    When done, shut down the computer, disconnect the old hard disk, restart the computer from the Win98SE startup disk. When started at the A:\ type in: C: > hit enter. At C:\ type in: cd WIN98 > hit enter. At C:\WIN98 type in: install > hit enter. Cross your fingers but don't hold your breath!

    If the installation was successful, get it fully updated and install your programs. When all steps of the installation are completed, defragment and shut down. Connect the old hard disk to transfer any user files (e.g. from My Documents) to the new hard disk. (When done, you can keep it as a backup or whatever. Delete all partitions, create an extended partition of all available space and a single logical. Don't forget to format.)

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #14
  16. 2008/12/17
    Centurion

    Centurion Inactive

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    I am sure if you LOOK hard enough on the net,You would be able to find Win 98 to download.. I did..
     
    Centurion,
    #15
  17. 2008/12/17
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old

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    Harry, christer's advice is good but there may be slight (but problematic) variations between his and my advice. The key is not to erase your current (win98) drive. I'd suggest you follow either christers advice or mine, but trying to use both will cause problems.

    Both our solutions follow a similar track but pathnames could leave you stuck in a canoe without a paddle. ;)
     
    wildfire,
    #16
  18. 2008/12/17
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old

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    Rockster, thanks for the vote of confidence but you should note I recommended copying the folder to the new drive as \windows\cabs.

    I was not suggesting that was the source ;)
     
    wildfire,
    #17
  19. 2008/12/17
    FastTracker

    FastTracker Banned

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    And going by Centurions way would lead you to a pirated or cracked version which would be illegal. Windows does not come as a download.
     
    FastTracker,
    #18
  20. 2008/12/17
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old

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    To be fair, I believe the actual source of the software is not legally a problem. As long as you have a valid license to use the software it shouldn't matter where you obtained the setup files. However, dubious sources can cause problems... Whilst cracking what else did they do :eek:
     
    wildfire,
    #19
  21. 2008/12/17
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    wildfire,
    there are a few "unknowns" in this situation.

    When I install (read installed - a long time ago) a Win98SE system, I always copy the setup files from the CD to the HDD. In order to not "confuse" the installer, I choose a folder name that isn't normally created during the installation. Often, I create the folder on a partition other than C: (a backup partition with drivers and such as well). As far as I can remember, the installation has never created the "windows\cabs" folder but linked to my copied files.

    I quote harryt:
    In this situation, if the system was installed from a CD and afterwards, the files were copied as a backup, I think the files will exist in two places. I would use the copied files, not the files created by the installer.

    If some step(s) in my procedure has/have slipped my teflon coated mind, don't hesitate to correct me.

    Let's wait for harryt and his comments.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #20
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