How do I install Windows 98 SE?

[Guest]

Its been awhile. I'm running XP but want to put 98 on the device instead. I have a valid Win 98 SE cd-rom with no floppy boot disc. I think I can find one of these. If I do then what. Arent there some dos prompts? fdisk or format?I forget.

[cd090580]

After you boot, you'll have to reformat your hard disk to FAT32 before running the windows setup or it will not find any hard disk.

You will probably have to make 2 partitions. I think the fat32 is 137 GB maximum.

Why you want to replace xp ??

It would be better to install windows 98 and Windows xp so you have the choice. Install each OS ona different partition. Try to resizz it with partition magic or you can download a small live cd linux with a free partition tool which can resize "whithout" losing data.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Make a startup disc: www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm ,then boot from CD-ROM.
1.Select "Start Windows without CD-ROM support"
2.At the prompt enter 'fdisk' and partition.
3.Remove startup CD and replace with Windows CD,shut down.
4.Bootup and select "Start Windows with CD-ROM support".
5.Install should be automatic.

[mats.hogberg]

You can't be serious. W98 is a discontinued product, prone to lots of spontaneous crashes - Like going from a Toyota Camry to a Ford Model T. XP also have its issues, true, but not even close to the W9x series of OSes. If you want something equally stable as XP, without all frills, bells & whistles, go for W2000.

/Mats

[redwudz]

You probably have to get XP out of there first before W98 will install. You could use a W98 boot disc to reformat the drive to FAT32, then the W98 OS disc should guide you through the install. Just about any disc that you can boot to will also work. Just go in and erase the Windows folder and XP will be no more.

You can find a Windows 98 boot disk program on the net to run from a floppy, or Bart's PE will also allow you to boot from disc. You will lose your NTFS capability and limit your file size to about 4GB per file, as you will need to convert the drive to FAT32 to work with W98, AFAIK.

If you use a floppy for boot, you may have to change your BIOS settings so the floppy drive is first to boot. You will also have to find device drivers that will work under W98 for your motherboard, VGA, etc.

Just curious, though; Why would you want to put a somewhat dated OS into a newer computer?

[handyguy]

You could use Partition Magic & create a partition to put it on & keep XP & have a dual boot machine.

[MOVIEGEEK]

As others have said it's best to create a partition on the HD or use an old HD(<137GB) to put 98 on and use a swappable case.

[ark]

Need for going back to Win98SE depends on resource availability. Since WinXP is resource hungry (RAM, HDD space) it may not be possible to use it on some older machines. My P2 and P3 are still with Win98SE. I have tried putting WinXP on these with very bad experience. My P4 has WinXP. Stability wise, I have not noticed much of a difference between my machines running Win98SE and the one using WinXP. I have to stick to WinXP on one machine since some programs (e.g. googletalk, Imgburn etc etc) just would not run on Win98SE. Incidentally, most of my Video work is done on P3 866MHz running Win98SE - I hardly face any crashes.

Secondly, I fail to see the point of installing both WinXP as well as Win98SE on the same machine. If the machine is capable of using WinXP then better to stick to it. Installing both would need applications to be duplicated on both.

Regarding Dr.Gee's problem of getting the NTFS formatted HDD back to FAT32 for installing Win98SE, try Super Fdisk, a freeware and excellent program. Locate it by googling SDISK. This uses FreeDOS, and the downloaded program allows creation of a booting floppy with sdisk on it. And, then use the Win98SE startup disk created from download from Bootdisk.com suggested by MOVIEGEEK.

[Fred J]

Download Microsoft "Virtual PC 2007" from

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/virtualpc/default.mspx

it's FREE and works on my Windows XP Pro.

I use it on my PC and I don't need to buy anything.

I have Win95 and Win98 SE up and operating in it. I also have VMware Workstation (it's not free) but can connect USB devices when running Win98 SE programs.

[Guest]

Thanks.I like the last option. I have an old laptop I never use (20GB HD) and a program that I really like that wont run on XP.

[CrayonEater]

Be advised that you cannot use 98SE on a machine with 1Gb or more of memory - it will crash 98.

I still use 98 exclusively on my 533-MHz eMachine and have some dual-boot 98/XP machines. If you do elect to do a dual-boot, just make sure to install 98 first and install XP with the FAT32 filesystem, in a separate partition. Same applies to Win2k, just don't use NTFS.

[Cornucopia]

CrayonEater, IIRC there is a setting you can make in SafeMode that limits the "available RAM" seen by the OS, even if it has more. This would be particularly good in a DualBoot or VirtualPC configuration...

You might be able to get to it via TweakUI or via SystemConfig util...


Scott

[Seeker47]

Be advised that you cannot use 98SE on a machine with 1Gb or more of memory - it will crash 98.

I still use 98 exclusively on my 533-MHz eMachine and have some dual-boot 98/XP machines. If you do elect to do a dual-boot, just make sure to install 98 first and install XP with the FAT32 filesystem, in a separate partition. Same applies to Win2k, just don't use NTFS.

About 3 years ago, I tried to install W98 on a then new box. The installation failed, apparently due to the lack of several drivers (or correct drivers) for the hardware -- this despite the use of a mfr. supplied CD with drivers for all the Win OSes, including separately installable ones for '98. Finding the right drivers for more recent iron can be another problem to consider. If you have a much older machine that is no longer in use, that might be a better home for W98, if you really want to run it.

[bevills1]

Only 8 to 10 months ago I upgraded a system and installed Win98SE and W2K dual boot with no problems. It must depend a lot on the particular mobo since Seeker47 had failed W98 install 3 years ago.

[handyguy]

"Be advised that you cannot use 98SE on a machine with 1Gb or more of memory - it will crash 98. "

I thought it doesn't notice anything over 256m?

[Jim44]

"I thought it doesn't notice anything over 256m?

Incorrect. My old 98SE machine had, and recognized, 768MB of RAM.

Jim

[bigstusexy]

98SE usually comes on a bootable CD, if you don't have the original I do believe you can start the setup to make the diskettes. However I think all the good bases were covered except.

You might come into a problem that after the initial install process 98 still doesn't boot, this is because of the Master Boot Record which is a bit different from NT when you go to recreate a new partition try fdisk /mbr if you are still having a problem try getting ranish partition manager. There will be a section that says boot ipl, change it to standard.





to anyone that cares. 98 actually wasn't that bad with stability, the only bad thing was that it was in use in the beginning of the widespread use of the net... before we knew about things like spyware. Sure you'll encounter DLL hell but if you keep to a minimum the packages that REQUIRE a certain level of a runtime and nothing before or after it then you won't have much issues.

[ark]

As per MicroSoft, Win98SE supports only upto 512MB RAM

Some new MOBOs with onboard sound chips (5.1 or 7.1 surround support e.g.realtec) do not have drivers for use on win98se. If it is really necessary, one can always use a 2 channel sound card. Afterall how many like to use their PC as a music system?

[ark]

Regarding installing, Win98SE still uses a form of MSDos as the underlying layer - I think it is MSDos7. A bootable CD is not strictly necessary to install it. Booting with a Win98SE startup floppy with CD Rom support is enough. Thereafter, setup on the CD would install the windows.

[redwudz]

I understand Dr.Gee is putting W98 on a older laptop, which is a perfectly good choice. I have a similar older laptop that came with W95 and no way would handle XP.

A good compromise is W2000sp4. It will run on older machines with limited memory and CPU speed and still has a lot of the benefits of XP as far as setting up the system. I remember how much 'fun' it was getting W98 to work with a LAN, at least compared to XP. Drivers and antivirus programs that run on W2000 are also much easier to find.

But he has a W98 OS disc, so might as well use it. Being it's a laptop, the drivers still should be out there somewhere.

The main complaint I had about W98 was the system getting corrupted to the point of requiring a reformat and reinstall about four times a year to insure the best performance.

[handyguy]

"Incorrect. My old 98SE machine had, and recognized, 768MB of RAM."

You can put in 2gb if you want but it can only use 512M.

[Fred J]

As I metioned before, my PC is running WinXP Pro with 1GB of RAM and hard drives NTFS formated.
Both Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 and VMware Workstation are installed on this PC.
I'm running Win95 and Win 98SE using Virtual PC 2007 and running Win98SE
using VMware Workstation. Everything can be running at the same time without adding
additional hardware.
Both Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 and VMware Workstation are [size=18]"VIRTUAL" I said "VIRTUAL" PC's and work great.

[Seeker47]

Download Microsoft "Virtual PC 2007" from

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/virtualpc/default.mspx

it's FREE and works on my Windows XP Pro..

The link says you must have at least XP. I'm running W2K. So, would I need to get an earlier version of Virtual PC ?

[Fred J]

Seeker47
If Microsoft says you need XP then you are out of luck.
Sorry.

[AlecWest]

Its been awhile. I'm running XP but want to put 98 on the device instead. I have a valid Win 98 SE cd-rom with no floppy boot disc. I think I can find one of these. If I do then what. Arent there some dos prompts? fdisk or format?I forget.

Well, there are a few issues you'll run into. First, the good news. If this Microsoft page is correct, you can create a fairly large partition in FAT32:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255867/EN-US/

Of course, you may run into another problem. If you FDISK/FORMAT your hard drive and reboot, you might find that your CD-ROM device is no longer recognized. I ran into that bugaboo a few times myself. Here's how to get around that issue should it arise.

1) If you don't have a floppy drive but your computer has a USB port, just buy an external floppy drive. I think they cost about $15 or less at Fry's. They automatically assign themselves as "Drive A" (I believe).

2) Download THIS self-extracting EXE file and run it in an empty directory.

3) Get someone you know who has Win98 installed to make you a bootable floppy disk and be sure to put both FDISK.EXE and FORMAT.COM files on it (they're both in the C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND directory). Copy the files found in the temp directory you created above onto the floppy disk.

4) Hook up the external floppy drive, make sure your BIOS settings look for a Drive A first at bootup, put the floppy into the drive and reboot your system. FDISK/FORMAT as needed ... then follow the instructions in the "README" file for CD-ROM recognition. After you're done, remove the floppy disk.

5) Reboot, this time with the Win98SE installation disk in your CD-ROM drive. Everything should be copasetic after that.

Other problems? While you still have XP on the computer, try to make as detailed of a list as possible of your installed hardware devices ... and find Win98SE drivers for them. This is getting harder and harder to do as time passes (good luck).

[Fred J]

Its been awhile. I'm running XP but want to put 98 on the device instead. I have a valid Win 98 SE cd-rom with no floppy boot disc. I think I can find one of these. If I do then what. Arent there some dos prompts? fdisk or format?I forget.

Well, there are a few issues you'll run into. First, the good news. If this Microsoft page is correct, you can create a fairly large partition in FAT32:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255867/EN-US/

Of course, you may run into another problem. If you FDISK/FORMAT your hard drive and reboot, you might find that your CD-ROM device is no longer recognized. I ran into that bugaboo a few times myself. Here's how to get around that issue should it arise.

1) If you don't have a floppy drive but your computer has a USB port, just buy an external floppy drive. I think they cost about $15 or less at Fry's. They automatically assign themselves as "Drive A" (I believe).

2) Download THIS self-extracting EXE file and run it in an empty directory.

3) Get someone you know who has Win98 installed to make you a bootable floppy disk and be sure to put both FDISK.EXE and FORMAT.COM files on it (they're both in the C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND directory). Copy the files found in the temp directory you created above onto the floppy disk.

4) Hook up the external floppy drive, make sure your BIOS settings look for a Drive A first at bootup, put the floppy into the drive and reboot your system. FDISK/FORMAT as needed ... then follow the instructions in the "README" file for CD-ROM recognition. After you're done, remove the floppy disk.

5) Reboot, this time with the Win98SE installation disk in your CD-ROM drive. Everything should be copasetic after that.

Other problems? While you still have XP on the computer, try to make as detailed of a list as possible of your installed hardware devices ... and find Win98SE drivers for them. This is getting harder and harder to do as time passes (good luck).

If you need a Win98SE boot disk download it from http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
All you need is a 3.5" disk to put it on.
You use it after installing Virtual PC.
DO NOT I repeat DO NOT format your hard drive.
Once you have Virtual PC running you will FDISK and FORMAT
a VIRTUAL drive, NOT your hard drive.
Get "VPC2007TR.pdf" from http://vpc.essjae.com/
it has "Windows 98 installation instructions"
You can also get additional information from microsoft at
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?query=virtual+pc+20...xp=&sloc=en-us
Good luck.

[CBC]

As per MicroSoft, Win98SE supports only upto 512MB RAM

Afterall how many like to use their PC as a music system?

you're joking , ...right?

[Xylob the Destroyer]

no doubt...

I've got an "old" Dell running Win2K that is used for nothing other than juke-box (now that we've moved, it's no longer conveniently located for print-server...).
It's plugged into the amp in the living room/party room and on the network. We listen to whatever we want in any room with a PC.
It might only have stereo on-board sound, but who needs surround when your playing cards/board-games and drinking? And the other PC's in the house all have surround cards, but it's not like there's really a lot of music out there that takes advantage of surround anyway. I crank it up in the home theater when I'm playing video games...

Still, I'm sure I'm not the only one who uses their PC for music. In fact most of my friends have some sort of similar set up.

[V20]

For more than you ever wanted to know about Win 98, go to:

www.mdgx.com

They have a whole subsection on Windows 98, including more information than you could possibly ever want.

They even have a patch for the recently discovered Windows .ani cursor vulnerability that works for Win 98 and even Win 95! (M$ support for Win 98 and ME ended on July 11, 2006).

Yes, there are people that still like and use Win98. There are some limitations with video work. You cannot have a file that is bigger than 4 gb. in Win 98. Also, officially the maximum hard drive size with Win 98 is 137 gb, but there is a patch on the mdgx site that will allow you to use bigger drives, I have not tried it.

You can use over 512mb with Win 98, I have a computer right now that is running Win98 and 768mb of RAM, it runs fine. Once you get up to 1gb. or more of RAM, then it can get ugly.

Reducing your AGP aperture size to 64 mb can help with RAM over 512 MB in Win 98.

If WinXP is too resouce hungry, I'd reccomend Win2K. I use it as my main OS and am very pleased with it. Think of it as XP without all the extra eye candy that turns XP into a slug. Also, no Fisher Price look.

Back in 2002, I ran it on a 550mhz. system with 128meg of RAM (although that's too slow a system for most video work).

Ther is also a great Windows forum at

www.msfn.org

Click on the 'forums' link at the top of the page. There is a huge sub-forum on Windows 98.