Question about installing OS using Win98 CD vs. boot disc

[Ray M]

Hello all,

I'm a newcomer here and I must say this site is great. It is the most informative and helpful place about computing I have seen. A big thanks to all involved. I am building a PC for the first time and this place has been very useful. However, I am still concerned about installing the OS.

I read in a thread here that you can use the XP full version CD to prepare and install Windows. I looked but didn't see any messages about what I want to do. I have an OEM Win98SE and restore CD that came with the computer I am using now. My question is can I boot to the Win98 CD and install the OS? Is what I have now considered "full" and the same as a retail version? I want to go to XP but would rather just buy the upgrade. Also, if I have to go the floppy route, should I just get the boot disc for XP and then install XP? I should say that I have zero experience using boot disc's just restore disc's.

Thanks,

Ray

[jamesrpm]

Ray , just get your XP upgrade and install it, somewhere along the line it will ask for proof of earlier OS. you just stick in your 98 cd and it rummages around for awhile then spits it out and continues with the install of XP. A cleaner installation than installing 98 then upgrading it compleatly. Let us know how your new setup works
James

[Ray M]

Thanks James, So it looks like I can just go ahead and buy the XP upgrade. But do I just use the Win98 boot disk to start and then run the XP setup? Please pardon my ignorance about this . I'm just not sure about the procedure

Thanks,

Ray

[Colb]

I would think that you could load XP with the 98 boot disk. Or just go into BIOS and change your boot sequence to boot to cd-rom first, don't know for sure but it might install that way.

[jamesrpm]

This should explain it better than I can . I'm not the best writer.
http://www.duxcw.com/faq/win/xp/clean.htm
hope it helps
James

[Ray M]

Ok, thanks guys. And yes, that article does help James. Thanks again.

Ray

[pchardwaretech]

Hi Ray,
Since you have Windows 98SE, I would suggest you install Windows 98SE before you upgrade.
First things first.
I take it you have finished with assembling your PC. If so, before you switch it on, check a few important things. Depending on the case you used and your Motherboard type, If it is an AT style case, Motherboard and PSU, check your power connector before you boot up your computer otherwise you may blow up your system.If it an AT style case and PSU, check that the black wires are together at the middle.If you place them the other way round, you will blow up your system.
If it is an ATX style case and PSU, they go in one way only. Chances of connecting them wrongly are very minimal.
Back to the Operating System issue.
1. Boot up the computer with a Windows 98 startup disk. If you don't have one, insert your Windows 98 SE CD into the CD ROM of a working machine and do the following:
- start - control panel-add remove programs- windows setup- startup disk
2. Choose option to start computer with CD ROM support
3. At the A:\, type fdisk.
This command helps you create a partition on your HDD and a File Allocation Table.
-Enable large disk support.
- Select option 1- create DOS partition or logical DOS drive
- select Y to make partition active. when prompted to restart computer, choose yes
4. Format HDD.
At the A:\, type Format C:
A warning will appear that all data will be lost, choose Y and press Enter. This will format your HDD
5. Next, perform scandisk.
At the A:\, type Scandisk C:and press Enter. Do a surface scan. If you are using a new HDD, surface scan will enable you check your HDD. It should not have any bad sectors. If your New HDD has bad sectors, remove it and take it back to the place you bought it. A new HDD should not contain any bad sectors.
6. At the A:\, type Sys C:
This command copies system files to your HDD and makes it bootable.
Restart Computer with Floppy Disk still in the Drive.
7. At the A:\, insert Win 98 SE CD.
-change directory to E: I assume you have a CD ROM connected.
- At the E:\, type setup and follow the prompts.
This will install Windows 98 SE on your HDD.
* Later you can then upgrade to XP, if you badly want it.
Hope this helps

Martin
6. A

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[Alfie]

With system built and boot established,go into bios and change the boot sequence to cdrom as first boot device(usually under advanced chipset).
Put the xp cd in.Reboot.
The system will boot off of cd.
XP will load drivers(takes awhile)after that's complete,click on install.
XP will format the drive and will ask for verifying OS.
Open the cdrom and put in your Win98 cd and show XP where it is,XP verifies and once this is done,put the XP cd back in and XP will install.
As the OS installs it will ask for the key,make sure you have the numeric sequence on hand.
XP will also tell you,you must activate the OS,this is done on line,sometimes the auto verification doesn't work,but you can activate after the fact,if it fails.
You may see XP connect on line during install for dynamic updates,this is normal and nothing to worry about.
XP may or may not work as an upgrade to a previous OS,as a result,I can't reccommend installing it over a previous OS,the best way is a clean install (outlined above)and to use the ntfs file system.
HTH

[Ray M]

Just a note to say thanks again for the help and advice. I got all the hardware together and hoped for the best ( boy was I nervous even though I opted to get a tested MB combo) and it booted up. I got a floppy error but I remember reading somwhere to turn the ribbon around and it worked. Success. I then preped the hard drive, booted to the XP disk, put in my 98SE OEM disk and it went on without a hitch. Everything seems to be going fine now. I only have to see if my CDRW works. Now I'm enjoying my gaming on a P4, Asus p4b266, and a GeForce3 ti200 and all is well.

Thanks again.

Ray