Problems to install W98SE

[James8]

I completed building a new computer but cannot install Windows 98SE. The reason I want to install
Windows98SE is that I did it many times in the past whenever I formatted my harddrive.Later I will
upgrde to XP.Below is my procedure and the reults I got.


1) Start computer with W98SE boot floppy.
2) Start computer with CD-ROM support yes
3) PCI bus scan complete
4) Message :Diagnostic tools loaded to drive D
5) Message: Drive E = Driver MSCD001 unit0
6) Changes to A prompt.

7) C: type dir Result: Message Invalid media type reading drive c
d: type dir Result: Message Volume in drive D is MS-Ramdrive
e: type dir Result: Message Volume in drive E is Win98

8) From E prompt I type setup and hit Enter
Message pops up:

Please wait while Setup initializes
Scanning system registry
Windows Set up requires 734003

No further actions except a flashing bar under the messages...After waiting for 20 min
I turned the computer off.


9) At A prompt:
Type FDISK
A large message appears,beginning with "Your computer has a disk larger than 512MB etc etc
At the end:

Do you wish to enable large disk support ( y/n) I chose yes and got following message:
Choose:
1) Create DOD partition or Logical DOS Drive
2) Set active partition
3) Delete partition or Logical DOS Drive
4) Display partition info

As I am not sure what to do I selected 4)
Message appears:

Current fixed disk drive: 1
Partition Status Type VolumeLabel Mbyte System Usage
1 A PriDOS 18186 unknown 100 %

Does anybody have an idea what is wrong ?
Your help is appreciated.

[ktkendall]

Hi James:

Welcome to PCMECH forums:

The hard drive needs formatted, that it what the unknown is showing you there when you used fdisk and choose 4 to view the current partition status. Try booting with the win98 boot floppy again and try doing a format C: command. You may have problems though because I think the windows setup program should have formatted the disk for you, but give it a go and see what happens. How big is that harddrive? It may be too large of a partition for win98 to know what to do with.

[glc]

Install your XP upgrade on a blank hard drive and format it NTFS. When it looks for the version of Windows to upgrade from and can't find it, put your 98 CD in the drive and point to it - it will take a few seconds, then it will be happy. Eject the CD and put the XP CD back in. Don't even try to install 98 on a new build, there are just too many issues (hard drive size, memory restrictions, processor speed, filesystem - need I continue?).

[toomyg]

I completed building a new computer but cannot install Windows 98SE. The reason I want to install
Windows98SE is that I did it many times in the past whenever I formatted my harddrive.Later I will
upgrde to XP.Below is my procedure and the reults I got.


1) Start computer with W98SE boot floppy.
2) Start computer with CD-ROM support yes
3) PCI bus scan complete
4) Message :Diagnostic tools loaded to drive D
5) Message: Drive E = Driver MSCD001 unit0
6) Changes to A prompt.

7) C: type dir Result: Message Invalid media type reading drive c
d: type dir Result: Message Volume in drive D is MS-Ramdrive
e: type dir Result: Message Volume in drive E is Win98

8) From E prompt I type setup and hit Enter
Message pops up:

Please wait while Setup initializes
Scanning system registry
Windows Set up requires 734003

No further actions except a flashing bar under the messages...After waiting for 20 min
I turned the computer off.


9) At A prompt:
Type FDISK
A large message appears,beginning with "Your computer has a disk larger than 512MB etc etc
At the end:

Do you wish to enable large disk support ( y/n) I chose yes and got following message:
Choose:
1) Create DOD partition or Logical DOS Drive
2) Set active partition
3) Delete partition or Logical DOS Drive
4) Display partition info

As I am not sure what to do I selected 4)
Message appears:

Current fixed disk drive: 1
Partition Status Type VolumeLabel Mbyte System Usage
1 A PriDOS 18186 unknown 100 %

Does anybody have an idea what is wrong ?
Your help is appreciated.


I agree with glc but just wondering is the harddrive cables pluged in all the way? I have had that problem before.