When trying to install Windows 98, I get as far as "Setup is preparing the Windows 98 Set up Wizard, which will guide you through the rest of the process ..." The bar proceeds all the way to 100%, then the whole thing hangs. it just freezes up and I can't do anything but restart. And the same thing happens again. The computer in question had Windows 98 originally, but my daughter attempted to install Linux, which is how we ended up here. Any help appreciated.

If your intention is to do a clean install of Win98. Then download a (free) program called DelPart. Use it to delete the Linux partition. The reason for this is that Fdisk does not get along with Linux partitions. Then you can use fdisk to repartition the drive, format and install Win98

DelPart is on this page under MS-DOS Partitioning http://www.bootdisk.com/

Thanks for the speedy reply, lou and ED. I tried that delpart thing, but there are no partitions to delete. hmmmm. I'm reading around, trying to find an answer, and I read something that makes me think it's a virus protection thing. (well, that and the stupid warning that popped up at the beginning of this nightmare ... I totally forgot about that - duh!) So, now I'm trying to figure out how to get rid of that. Any suggestions?

AHA, check in the Bios for am anti virus entry. Disable it. You can reenable it after the install. If you don't know how the enter the Bios setup routine check back with your computer make. Usually you get a message on the screen at the beginning of the boot process telling you what to do to enter the setup routine.

Also, try stripping system hardware down to bare bones b4 98 does initial plug-n-pray. Remove NICS, modems, audio...all cards 'cept video. I prefer starting, at this point, with BIOS set at NON-PLUG/PLAY OS. Then real-mode assignment of ports, I/Os, etc. will maintain better agreement with 98's protected-mode assignments. After 98 gets thru a couple boots, gradually introduce rest of hdw. When your system settles down, go ahead and reset your BIOS back to "plug-n-pray".

also make sure if you have antivirus protection in your BIOS settings to disable that while installing windows