Hi. I have a Packard Bell Legend 74 CDT Supreme that I'm trying to install Windows 98SE on, since the original 98 won't work anymore. 98 keeps freezing up when I try to view the C:\ drive in Explorer, so I decided to upgrade the OS and start anew. However, when trying the CD from within Windows 98, the installation detects 98 and tells me that I would need to get the upgrade instead. On top of that, the 98SE boot disk I made with another computer will not detect the CD drives on that computer. (Could have something to do with the age of the drives, since this computer is from back around 92) Does anyone know if there is a switch to set to force the setup to ignore the presence of Windows? Or if you just happen to know exactly why my CD drives aren't being recognized, that would be great. Thank you.

First,I would use another floppy disk.Format the new floppy disk,then go to >www.bootdisk.com<Download the win98se OEM boot disk.When you have it downloaded you double click on the icon.Click on run,put your formatted 3.5 floppy disk in the A drive and it will create your boot disk.

My "gaeosh" I didn't even know you COULD run '98SE on one of those things, but a few comments: One reason you can't upgrade is that you probably have a so called "OEM" CD--which should say on the front something like "to be supplied only with a new PC." A "store bought" so called RETAIL 98SE CD, or an "UPGRADE" CD either one will do an upgrade from earlier versions of Windows. However, IF you have upgraded the CPU/RAM and IF that machine actually can run 98SE, I would do a clean instll, BUT FIRST you'll have to do a few things. Try to boot the existing machine into safe mode, get into control panel/ system/ device manager, and write down all you can about the devices in the system, as in, CDROM, sound card, modem, display, etc. It would be a great idea to actually LOOK at the CDROM and write down the model no. then put that into Google. Also, notice WHERE the cable for the CDROM connect? Does it connect to the hard drive cable? or at least to a cable to the main motherboard? Or, does it connect to a separate card, such as the SOUND CARD? This CD may well be a "proprietary" CDROM, and you'll have to locate drivers for it and build a custom boot floppy to drive it. (Good reason to keep all your old software, huh?) By the way are you SURE it is running 98, and not 95? If you post back with your findings on the CDROM, we may be able to help locate a driver. Most important thing we need to know is where does the CDROM cable connect What brand and model is the CDROM? How fast is the cpu and RAM in the computer?

I forgot you will need to do the regular fdisk and format routine.The floppy disk on bootup will also ask if you want to boot with cdrom support.

Sorry,{name},guess you already addressed response3 in great detail.That 53 seconds makes a lot of difference almost posted together.

IF your W98SE CD is a full version you can use it as an Update CD if you disable the file win.com (in c:\windows) from DOS before you start. Best way is to just rename it to win.co- or whatever. If it asks whether you want to install Windows in anywhere other than c:\windows (such as c:\windows.000) then say no and force it into c:\windows Re-install should be done from true DOS otherwise you might get problems due to various system files being found in use. You will need boot floppy as given in #1. If, as it seems, there is something wrong with the existing W98 installation then you are taking a chance updating a bad system. Better to either fix the problem first or reformat. If you reformat make sure you have a full W98SE CD with a "Product Key". Reformat will obviously loose the lot. DerekW

... looks like I overlapped too (I was typing it off line and got delayed). DerekW