Trying to load 98 from scratch

[chuss01]

I have problem loading 98SE. My PC is older from the 1997-98 timeframe. Windows 95 has been removed and am starting from scratch to try and load 98SE. I have a boot disk that I made from bootdisk.com and a CD for 98SE. The PC doesn't recognize the CD drive. I tried changing the sequence in the BIOS setup to every combination but still doesn't work. I've got the original CD Driver floppy but when I start the PC with it in the drive, I get a message that says "can't find MSCDEX.EXE in the DOS path" What do I do next.
Thanks,

[EzyStvy]

It'll be a little slower but boot off the floppy with cd support.

Watch the screen to see what drice the cd is. Then type:


D: (and enter)
Then type:
CD win98
Then type:
Setup

This "should" launch the installation.

Actually, you'd be better off coping the Win98 folder off the cd and onto the hard drive and then start the install.

[GaryRouth]

chuss01 - everything OK now?

If you still weren't able to get the cd recognized by the bootdisk.com disk, you'd need to copy the driver from that DOS driver disk to your startup floppy to get it to work.

It might be easier trying EzyStvy's suggestion: copying the Win98 installation files onto the hard drive. You can use another computer to help with this.

If you haven't created a partition to hold Win98 yet, you'll first want to make sure you've prepared the hard drive. Use the bootdisk.com floppy to start the system you wish to install Win98 on. From the A: prompt, type fdisk. Look for any exisiting partitions with option 4. If you see partitions listed and are sure you no longer need them, use fdisk to delete them. [If you see a non-DOS partition, this can be a proprietary partition used by your system builder = unless you're sure you don't need it, leave that one alone --> you can post that info here if you want to check with us first]. Then create a Primary DOS partition and mark it active. Then use the format command, and format the drive. If asked "Enable Large Disk Support?" say Yes, that will let format use the FAT32 file system = Win98's native file system.

Now you're ready to slave the drive in another computer & copy the installation files from there. Shutdown & power off/ remove the hard drive / change the jumper on the back to "Slave" if it was previously "Master" - if on "Cable Select", then leave the jumper there. In the "Helper PC": Shutdown & power off / check jumper on the Primary IDE master cable - if set to "Cable Select", then if your hard drive is also set to "Cable Select", you can add it to the middle connector on the cable. If you can't use "Cable Select", then the Helper PC's hard drive will need to be set to "Master" and your soon-to-be-installed drive must be set to "Slave.

Then pop your Win98 installation CD into an optical drive, create a folder on the hard drive (might avoid using Windows - since the installation will want to use that name), and copy the files over. Put your hard drive back in it's original home (change it's jumper back from Slave to Master if it was changed), boot from your bootdisk.com diskette, switch from the A drive to your C drive (and to the folder you put the files in = for example C: cd\My98Installation) and type the Setup command.

Hopefully, you've got it running already & I'm just getting my typing practice.
. . . Gary

[Gizmo]

In the "Helper PC": Shutdown & power off / check jumper on the Primary IDE master cable - if set to "Cable Select",

I'm not interfering here but Gary, what do you mean by this? IDE ribbon drive cables have jumper settings? That doesn't make sense to me.

[GaryRouth]

Sorry about the typo - that line would be clearer more like this: "check the jumper on the hard drive that's connected to the Primary IDE connector on the motherboard"

[chuss01]

Thanks for the help. I loaded 98 over the weekend from the CD. Had very few problems. PC Knowledge is a wonderful thing.

Thanks again,

Cliff

[Gizmo]

Nice job! Glad you got everything up and running :D