Reinstalling Win98SE?

[jacatone]

Want to help a friend reinstall Win98SE on her old Gateway. Need the procedure instructions. I assume I have to adjust the BIOS to boot from my install disk but need the step by step instructions.

Does Win98SE allow for a nondestructive reinstall or is it like WinXP where it doesn't really fix anything? Thanks.

[GaryRouth]

It sounds like an "over-the-top" reinstall is what you're looking for. You'll need either a Win98se installation CD, or the installation .cab files on the hard drive [they are sometimes in C:/Windows/Options/Cabs]

Here's a link http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=70846

Don't forget to go to Windows Update as soon as possible after the reinstall, for any patches that might need reinstalling as well.
. . . Gary

[ITlover]

Hello

Well it is always recommended that before reinstalling windows98,you should first copy the installation files of windows from the CD to your computer drive(except C drive)so that in the future you dont have to depend on the CDs for installation.When ever you have any kind of problem while operating your windows,just go to the drive where you copied the windows installation files and click the setup icon to reinstall the entire windows or boot your system from a bootable floppy disk which will take you to a DOS environment where you should go to the same drive containing windows installation files and run the setup.

I hope it helps,

Regards,

[jacatone]

So rather than adjust the BIOS to boot from the CD, I could use a boot floppy and get a DOS prompt. Then type in the command to reinstall from the CD?

Where would I get a boot disk and what commands would I type in? Thanks.

[glc]

Just boot with the CD, it's a lot easier. Read Gary's procedure, except you won't have to rename win.com if you use the original Gateway CD.

[ITlover]

Originally Posted by jacatone So rather than adjust the BIOS to boot from the CD, I could use a boot floppy and get a DOS prompt. Then type in the command to reinstall from the CD? Where would I get a boot disk and what commands would I type in? Thanks.

you can create a bootable floppy disk from your own computer system by going to my computer--->control Panel----> add/remove program--->startup disk, insert any empty floppy disk into your floppy drive before
clicking on the create disk button.This way the system files of windows will be transferred to your floppy disk,then labbel that floppy drive as a bootable disk.

A bootable floppy is very useful in the cases of installation especially when you dont have the Installation CD and the backup of windows installation files is available in your drive.

I hope it helps


Regards

[ITlover]

Let me correct you ,

you said:
So rather than adjust the BIOS to boot from the CD, I could use a boot floppy and get a DOS prompt. Then type in the command to reinstall from the CD?

comment:

not reinstall from the CD but from the windows backup files which are available in your drive(except C drive).People think that by changing the boot sequence from C drive to CD-DRIVE in a BIOS setup, you could easily boot from a CD and start installation ,well this doesnot happen all the time, sometimes you face many problems during installation that it becomes pretty difficult to install windows like sometimes you dont get the BIOS setup display on your screen, then how will you adjust your BIOS setup? In these cases , bootable floppy disks are always helpful .

I hope it helps

Regards