Trying to install Win98, what step did I miss?

[capman21]

I have two pc's, but one is tearing up so I am going to take the HD out and install in the other. The HD has xp on it so I did FDISK and than Reformated it to change it over to FAT32, because I am going to put Win98 on it because my working pc already has Win98 on it. When I put the win98 disc in to install it on the HD I get "System Error, PC not responding, Incorrect System Type".

[kschang]

I think you have to wipe out the WIN98 directory on the HD so that you can reinstall the OS... Or are you trying to avoid that?

[Cornucopia]

#1 Did you use the FDISK that's on the Win98 BootDisc? It ought to be that one.

#2 Did you Format the repartitioned disc AND include system files (from the Win98 bootdisc)?

#3 Did you Boot from the Win98 CD when doing setup?

There are a number of sites that help in this area (most better than here when partaining to this topic), however you'll have to be MUCH more specific in your equipment and your step-by-step description, any where you go.

Scott

[jimmalenko]

It's been a while but I'll see how my memory is:

Download a Win98 boot floppy (ultimate boot floppy I think it is called) from www.bootdisk.com
Boot using boot floppy
Wipe out any existing partitions with fdisk and create one new partition
Format c: /s
Copy Win98 CD contents over to a directory on C: (saves looking for a CD every time it wants them)
Run setup.exe

[Bjs]

No ... it amaze's me that people still find this difficult ... for first timers it can be excused , but those having done the procedure more than twice should know better when it comes to xp vs win98 .

Fdisk dose not show , nor handle ntfs partitions .

Google seach for delpart ... it is a tool used to see , and remove partitions found on the hard drive ... having a graphical interface helps newbies .

Place delpart onto a floppy if you have a floppy drive , or cd (multisession cds work in dos , even if they have not been closed) .

In bios ... disable boot from hd ... set cdrom only as bootable drive (or floppy - new pcs dont have them) .
Insert floppy or win98 cdrom
Chose exit and save changes , Y , enter ... system reboot's .

Note : I have seen on occassion the system ignore the bios settings ... recheck your settings in the bios dose not have "boot from other device's" set to enabled .

The place for boot discs of all kinds : http://www.bootdisk.com/ ... just incase users need them .

Once you have booted the system into dos (some may need cdrom support if delpart is on cdr) ... you only need to insert the disc or floppy containg delpart ... and type it's name , followed by the enter key .

Navigation within delpart is proceeded by the ALT key , then the required letter .

For pre-existing xp system removal , sellect the required partition , then from the menu , sellect delete .
Any other partitions should be removed .

From the main menu , after partitions have been dealt with , you must choose "save" .
You then exit ... remove the floppy / disc ... reboot pc .

Run win98 cd or floppy , boot with cdrom support
Fdisk , setup partition tabels as required ... exit ... do not just allow system to restart ... TURN IT OFF .
Then turn system on , again boot with cdrom support ... now format the new partitions to fat32 .
After these have been done , reboot pc , boot with cdrom support , setup win98 ... and on your way .

Install chosen os .
Upon reboot after files have been copied ... re-enter bios , and set hard drive to first bootable drive .
Save bios changes , and you continue finalizing the new install ... done .

============

For the fastest method ... visit the manufacturer's web site of your hard drive ... and download their new hd install setup tool ... it's designed to be run from a floppy ... simple enough for anyone to follow ... just read the instructions .

For those without floppy ... go to http://www.inside-security.de/download_en.html
Here you can download the "insert" security iso ... 60 mbs

It contains all the hard drive management tool's from the manufacture's , and much more ... burn iso with nero works fine ... even includes tools that allow you to generate system image file incase system becomes damaged by one form or another ... barring actual hardware failure .

---------------------

Thats how it works .

[Heavensent]

Bjs said :

Fdisk dose not show , nor handle ntfs partitions

actualy, you are wrong here.
you CAN delete NTFS partition with fdisk.
and after that you CAN format it to FAT32.

fdisk is considering ntfs as a "non dos partition"
so all you have to do is delete the "non dos partition"
and go on from there to do the rest.

[Bjs]

Heavensent ... in all the times I have reformatted hds ... fdisk is useless for ntfs (non dos) .

"Fdisk dose not show , nor handle ntfs partitions" ... it was never programed to know this format type .

Point 1 : the tool , fdisk , dose not recognize the partition type , therefore it is reported as non-dos ... correct statement .

Point 2 : As fdisk dose not recognize the partition format , it cannot be relied upon to handle the removal correctly .

You think you have removed it , and recreate partition table .
You choose to display available , current partitions , and it show's non-dos nolonger exists ... correct statement .

Try running fdisk again after the system has "rebooted" , and that non dos partition will in most case's reappear , if not in all case's .

You need to KILL it off properly .

[Heavensent]

well, i did use fdisk to remove ntfs and format to fat32 more then once
and it did work.

read here > http://www.geocities.com/kilian0072002/fdisk/fdisk1.html

this is probably why it didnt work for you.

[kosz]

Deleting an NTFS Partition
1. Select Y for treating NTFS partitions as large
2. Select 3. Delete partition or Logical DOS Drive
3. Select 4. Delete Non-DOS Partition
4. Enter 1 for the primary partition to delete
5. Enter in the number of the Non-DOS Partition.. It should show as Type NTFS in the list above.
6. Press the Enter key
7. Enter Y for Do you with to continue
8. Press the Esc key to bring you back to the main FDISK screen.