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I hope someone can help. I wasn't the one that originally set up this computer. We had someone install and format a new hard drive. Now all I have to get us going is a floppy disc of Windows 98 startup. I'm getting partially through the starting point, but never get to the actual windows screen. Went on windows.com and they suggest holding down the CTRL key to prompt, this got me further than before, but now I have all these questions I have to answer Y or N to. My fear is I answer the wrong thing and screw up the computer. ANY suggestions? I've tried all the different ways I can think of and found on the internet to access the setup screen and have no luck.
See if this link helps you out , if not post back
How to Install Windows 98 on a Computer with No Operating System" It'll Get Ya When You Aint Lookin "
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A 98 startup floppy does not contain the setup files. It's just DOS with some drivers.
To install 98 you need a 98 CD.
[and the floppy]
If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.M2
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Scroll down to the "How to Install Windows 98" section since you already have it formatted
" It'll Get Ya When You Aint Lookin "
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If the drive has been formatted then it's completely empty. If you think of the scale of things a floppy disk can only hold about 1.38M (about the size two or three good big pictures). Not likely to contain the whole of Windows operating system, which cost big bucks when it first came out.
DerekW
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"We had someone install and format a new hard drive."
Was Windows loaded, or is it just a blank formatted hard disk?
"Now all I have to get us going is a floppy disc of Windows 98 startup."
If the floppy you possess is not a 98 or 98SE boot disk, then download the boot disk* from here.
Boot the machine with this floppy. When you get the A:\> prompt, type in
dir/a/o
and hit Enter. Is there anything listed? (Files/sub-directories)
If you get a "No files found (or similar message), Windows was not installed. Type in
fdisk
and hit Enter. Choose Y for large disk support. Choose #4 and post that information here. (Using the ESC key anywhere in fdisk will back you out with no changes to your hard disk.)
* The above bootdisk image file is a self extracting file and has to be executed (run) from a running Windows machine in order to create the actual startup diskette. (This image file produces the same bootdisk which 98SE creates.) This downloaded image file will format the floppy disk, write the files to the disk, then verify the file write, so it'll take a minute or three to create the bootdisk.
Ensure the floppy drive is set as the first boot device in the machines bios.
When you boot a machine with this boot floppy, it creates a RAMDRIVE in system memory to contain DOS system tools. Thus it will move your "normal" CDROM device/drive letter "up" one level. (If your CDROM is normally E:, it will be F: when booting with this bootdisk.) Watch for the CDROM device letter which will be assigned near the end of the floppy boot process.
It's a good day when you learn something
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Nice post Dan.
JennQ
Your post implies you have no W98 CD. You need one in order to complete this process. Sometimes they appear on eBay (cheap). Make sure anything you buy has a product key - although there are ways around this which are not for this forum.DerekW
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If you go the route suggested in response #7, try to get 98se, as it has better compatablity with many of the newer programs and hardware. If you work at a big company or organization you might want to consider the bulletin board, I've picked and sold some stuff like that.
larry
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ok let me say this YOU NEED A STARTUP FLOPPY DISK and A WINDOWS 98 CD.
1st: INSERT THE FLOPPY DISK
2nd: POWER UP THE PC
3rd: WAIT FOR IT TO START YOU PC IN DOS
4TH: TYPE FORMAT C:
5th: INSERT YOUR WINDOWS 98 CD
6TH: TYPE IN SETUP HIT ENTER
7TH: FOLLOW DIRECTIONS FROM WINDOWS 98 CDNOTE : SOME WINDOWS 98 CDS ARE BOOTABLE. TRY YOUR CD ON BOOTUP! ALSOP MAKE SURE YOU CAN LOCATE YOUR WINDOWS 98 COA LABEL. THIS CAN BE FOUND ON A STICKER ON YOUR PC OR ON THE BACK OF YOUR CD CONTAINER OR BOX.IT SHOULD BE IN THIS FORMAT XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
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Hi Dan,
Slight correction.
I think the needed DIR is:
dir c:\/s
Have an espresso on me.
If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.M2
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Oops. Right, I forgot to mention the c:\ in the dir command. Thanks M2G.
It's a good day when you learn something
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