I reinstalled windows 98 on the advice of my start-up screen, because of some VX error. I did it and I checked the version, after the install, and I found I had lost the SE Part of Windows 98. I put in my Windows 98 SE to install it as an upgrade, and I got a message just before it started the installation saying I could not install that version with the setup on that disk -- instead, I have to use the upgrade. (?)I don't understand what they mean.
This is confusing because I originally installed the SE version like this: I had reformatted my hard disk and installed Windows 98 on my empty hard disk. Then I put in my Travelmate 510 recovery cd and restarted. I was asked if I wanted to put the computer back in its original form. I said yes. The program then asked me to put in the Windows 98 disk. I did, but it didn't work until I tried the Windows 98 SE disk, and that worked (even though I had installed the standard Windows 98 before I used the Recovery disk). I continued to the end and ended up with Windows 98 SE installed.

How do I install, or re-install, Windows 98 SE?

Thanks,

Ron

Ron, assuming that you have a full version Win98SE CD, just rename the file win.com, then reinstall as normal. Setup will suggest installing to a folder such as C:\Windows.000. Just redirect it to C:\Windows (assuming that this is where Windows currently resides.)

HTH

Dave

Thanks, Dave. Sounds like a good idea but my CD, which the Windows 98 SE program is on, will not allow me to rename files. It is read only. Is the file you are referring to on the CD, or is it in the Windows 98 that I already have on my computer?

Thanks,

Ron

Dave, I considered that you probably mean I should rename my existing Win.com in my Windows 98 insstalled program. I did that: I changed it to Win1.com. Then I ran my Windows SE cd disk. I got the same flag -- "cannot be upgraded by this version of Setup. need to obtain Windows 98 upgrade."
I did not restart my machine before I tried to install Windows 98 SE. I was afraid it would not restart with no Win.com available.

Ron, yes, the win.com that I was referring to was the one on your harddrive.

You are correct that your computer won't boot into Windows after renaming win.com, but rebooting is exactly what you need to do...but either with a bootdisk, or by resetting your BIOS to boot from the CD. I personally prefer using a bootdisk, but either one will work. If you need a bootdisk, you can get one from here, or just create one in Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs>Startup Disk.

After rebooting, navigate to the Win98 directory on the CD & type: setup (enter). Follow the prompts from there, with the exception that I mentioned previously...redirect setup to install to C:\Windows.

If you encounter any problems, just rename Win1.com back to win.com, & Windows should boot. If no problems occur & setup completes OK, just delete Win1.com.

Post back with results.

HTH

Dave

Dave,
Thanks for your help on this. I have tried to do this in the past and never made it.
I'm not quite there yet:
I walked through the process, but without renaming the win.com file to be sure I understand the procedure.
I restarted using a win98 startup floppy. I got an A> prompt. I typed D: to go to the drive where the win98se disk is. Looking at the contents on the D> directory, there is no setup file visible. I know there is one because exploring the disk contents from windows in the normal way there is a setup file on the disk. It does not appear from the D> prompt, however. So, Unless I can see it, I am not sure I can run it. I looked at my regular win98 CD disk, and it does not show a setup file from the D> prompt, either. It must be a hidden file(?)
I think, if I rename the win.com to win1.com, all I will need to do to get back to windows, if this doesn't work in the end, is to call up the Windows directory from drive C: and run Win1. Does this make sense?

Thanks,

Ron

At the DOS prompt try this, to see if the setup file shows up.
dir D:\setup.exe /ah /s[Enter]key
Providing that D: is your CD-ROM drive, with the Windows 98 setup CD in it.

"...call up the Windows directory from drive C: and run Win1."
Not sure if that's going to work, but renaming Win1.com back to Win.com is done this way from the DOS prompt:
ren C:\Windows\Win1.com Win.com[Enter]key
or with a little bit more work (typing)
cd\Windows[Enter]key
ren Win1.com Win.com[Enter]key

After you renamed Win1.com back to Win.com you can type in Win[Enter]key or simply reboot without the boot disk in your floppy drive.

Hope this helps

Greetz from The Netherlands,
The Count

Yes, The Count is correct about renaming Win1.com back to win.com.

If you're booting from a normal Win98 floppy, a RAMDrive will be created as D:, bumping your CD drive up by one drive letter assignment, presumably to E:.

So after booting with the bootdisk, at the A:\> prompt try typing: E:\Win98\setup (enter).

That should get you started.

HTH

Dave

Dave and The Count,

YES!!!
I renamed the win.com file in C:, restarted the computer with my Windows 98SE floppy (I don't know if there was any difference between using the windows 98 SE startup floppy and the non SE windows 98 startup floppy-- probably not.) I got a screen that asked if I wanted to start up with or without the CD disk. I inserted my windows 98 SE cd disk and clicked on 'yes' for with the cd disk.
Next I got an A:> prompt. I typed in D:, and got the D:> prompt. I typed in only the word SETUP, no extension. It ran and continued to install Windows 98 SE.
I assume that now I can delete the Win1.com (the renamed win.com.
I learned a lot on this trip. I never would have done this by myself.

Thanks, I feel like I really have accomplished something.

Ron

Hi Ron,

Yes, you have accomplished something, your first time setup of Windows from the DOS prompt.

Glad we could be of any assistance, if I may speak on behalf of Dave as well.

Greetz,
The Count (February 18th, 22:02 hours)

Of course you can speak on my behalf Count.

Congratulations Ron, & thanks for posting back. Often, a poster will not reply, so we don't know whether our suggestions helped or not.

These forums at Computing.net are a great educational tool. Most of what I know about computing was learned right here.

Echoing The Count's response...Glad we could be of any assistance.

Dave