Hello, I'm having a particularly annoying error trying to re-install win98se. I formatted the HD, popped in my startup floppy and Win 98 CD just like I have installed on many other computers, but this time I can't get anywhere. After ScanDisk is done checking, right when you start the installation, it says "Setup is preparing the Windows 98 setup wizard". The bar loads through to 100%, but then the hourglass pops up, my system beeps once, and a black rectangle pops up and everything freezes. I'm having a hard time figuring this out b/c Windows has always installed fine for me. I just formatted the HD before I installed, everything was working fine in Win 98 but I wanted to re-install to clean up. I tried a different CD-ROM drive that I know works, and the same thing happened, tried a new floppy startup disk, same thing. I'm going to try a different Win 98 CD once I get one. My only other thought is to try removing the HD, putting it in another CPU, and trying to install it there. I don't think my HD could be bad, it's a 3.2 GB that was perfect when I formatted, and still has 3.2 GB free. ScanDisk checks everything out fine before I get to the install program. Maybe something to do with the registry? I also checked my Motherboard manual, but it doesn't list what a single beep error would mean. Any ideas would be a great help. Thanks in advance. -Dustin

I'm having the same problem But I get the BSOD and a OE-0028 error If you figure it out please let me know. Thanks

Hi Dustin It may well be that the old memory stick might have said enough is enough, try a bit more than 32 mb mate. Either that or the battery may be going Wolfey

Just put in 64 MB PC-133 RAM, still the same thing. HD has been ScanDisk'd about 8 times now w/o errors. Here is what I found on C: autoexec.bat autoexec.win config.win setuplog.txt setuplog "!" winboot.ini wininsto 400 (DIR) I know that autoexec and some of those stay on the HD when you format, but I'm guessing the "setuplog" and "wininsto" are from the installation. I know pretty much nil about DOS, how do I open a text file in Dos? I'd like to see if that "setuplog" could lead me in the right direction. Should I try re-formatting the HD again? I read somewhere that you shouldn't format if you just did and it's a blank HD, but I'm running out of ideas. Another thing, I have never partitioned a HD before format, but would this cause a problem? I've never had a problem before when not partitioning. Maybe something with the registry is goofed? Anyone have any ideas? -Dustin

hey Posted somthing similar about someone having a bad Windows2K install problem. Try disabling any Virus Scanner built in, in the bios. By pressing DEL at Start-up. This may be a cause of the problem. Let me know if it works out. Good Luck Ross

Thanks a million! Something I never would have thought of either. Well I must say that you just saved me a LOT of hassle. Fired it up, disabled virus protection, works perfectly! -Dustin