HELP. can't install Windows 98

[Solodays]

I'm trying to re-installed Windows 98 on my infested, virus, error PC and evertime i re-install windows 98 on it, it does actually install on it but the thing is that it doesnt really completely remove all old files, instead every old files remains. any idea? i'm not really familiar on install Windows.

 

[PsharkJF]

Format the hdd first

do format [drive] /q

 

[Solodays]

you mean completly clear everthing on the HD first then install Windows 98? that's what i was thinking of doing.. how exactly do i do that? sorry, not too good with computers.

 

[MrChad]

1. First you'll need a bootable floppy disk. You can set one up from within Windows or download an image from Bootdisk.com.
2. Boot using the floppy drive. When you get to the A: prompt, type FDISK.
3. Using FDISK, you'll see the partition for your C: drive that contains your current windows install. Delete this partition, then create a new one in its place. Exit FDISK and reboot using the floppy disk. Be sure to choose the option "With CD-ROM support" when you reboot.
4. Type FDISK /MBR to make sure that no viruses are in the master boot record of your hard drive.
5. Format your fresh C: partition by typing FORMAT C: from the A: drive.
6. Once your format is complete, insert your Windows 98 CD. Type D: (or whatever drive letter your CD-ROM drive was assigned), then type SETUP. You should have a clean install of Windows now.
7. Before you connect your computer to the internet, be sure to download and install any Windows 98 updates. Download them on another computer, burn them to a CD, then install them on your Windows 98 box.

Good luck, let us know if you have any more questions.

 

[Solodays]

1. First you'll need a bootable floppy disk. You can set one up from within Windows or download an image from Bootdisk.com.

how can i set one up within windows or which one do i download from bootdisk.com?

4. Type FDISK /MBR to make sure that no viruses are in the master boot record of your hard drive.

what do u mean by making sure no virus are in the master boot record? i thought that when you format everything on the hd, everything sure be gone?



and lastly where'd you learn all these command prompts like D:, setup, d:/win98/setup, FDISK , etc... average computer users dont know all this commands, and i'm one of them. how would you go about formating a HD without knowing these commands without others helping?

 

[MrChad]

how can i set one up within windows or which one do i download from bootdisk.com?

Choose the one that fits your operating system. Anything from Windows 98 and up (OEM, not custom) will be fine.

what do u mean by making sure no virus are in the master boot record? i thought that when you format everything on the hd, everything sure be gone?

For the most part this is true, but there are some viruses that live in a special sector of the hard drive called the Master Boot Record. This sector contains information about how your PC can boot into your operating system. It's unlikely that you will have any viruses there, but we just want to be on the safe side.

how would you go about formating a HD without knowing these commands without others helping?

I've learned them through experience. You can find tutorials on reformatting online; many of these will include explanations of the commands. The truth is that reformatting is not for the "average computer user", and most users should not be expected to know these steps.

 

[Solodays]

everytime i tried to boot from the floppy disk.. this message comes up


Non-system disk or disk erro
replace and strike any key when ready

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: Solodays
everytime i tried to boot from the floppy disk.. this message comes up


Non-system disk or disk erro
replace and strike any key when ready

Have you tried other floppy disks? Have you verified that you can read the contents of the floppy on another computer?

 

[tyanni]

Did you double click on the file you downloaded from Bootdisk.com and follow the instructions (ie inserting a floppy to write to), or did you just copy the downloaded file to a floppy? Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I've seen it done before.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: Solodays
you mean completly clear everthing on the HD first then install Windows 98? that's what i was thinking of doing.. how exactly do i do that? sorry, not too good with computers.

Check with your HD manufacturer (website), some offer free proggies for reformatting etc. For example, Maxtor has Maxblast 3. It's much easier to use than fdisk. You d/l the proggie, then crate a floppy per the instructions and reboot to it. It has a nice GUI (graphical user interface) that makes LL reformating, partioning etc very easy.

 

[The Green Bean]

Try booting with CDs. If you dont have a CD burner then im sure bootable CDs are easily availabe cheaply.

 

[Solodays]

Did you double click on the file you downloaded from Bootdisk.com and follow the instructions (ie inserting a floppy to write to), or did you just copy the downloaded file to a floppy? Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I've seen it done before.

ahh..thank you!

 

[Solodays]

4. Type FDISK /MBR to make sure that no viruses are in the master boot record of your hard drive.

what do you mean type FDISK/MBR and make sure no virus? how does it detect the virus?


anyways, i 've just deleted the partitions, not sure which to delete, there aare primary, extented, etc.. i just deleted the primary one, hope it's the right one.

 

[PsharkJF]

Delete all partitions, until fdisk says there are no partitions defined.

MBR viruses are [very old] viruses that stay in a certain physical location on the hard disk. doing fdisk /mbr resets this physical location to what it should be, sans virii.

 

[Solodays]

cool. i've finally did a clean re-installation. now i cant get my computer to network, my network card just doesnt show up in the network configuration, i think maybe because that my WIN98 is a bit out of date, XP i believe should auto recognize your network card if you have it install on your pc.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: Solodays
cool. i've finally did a clean re-installation. now i cant get my computer to network, my network card just doesnt show up in the network configuration, i think maybe because that my WIN98 is a bit out of date, XP i believe should auto recognize your network card if you have it install on your pc.

Is this win98se or the original 98?

Go into your device manager and see if the card is working properly (or has the yellow exclamation mark next to it).

Did you install the drivers for the NIC?

 

[Solodays]

it's the original 98 i'm pretty sure. yeah, i think i need to install something inorder for the network card to show up. so all i need to install is the drivers? where do i get that from?

 

[spanky]

Originally posted by: Solodays
it's the original 98 i'm pretty sure. yeah, i think i need to install something inorder for the network card to show up. so all i need to install is the drivers? where do i get that from?

do u know the model number of the network card? if so, just google the model name and the word drivers.

 

[Solodays]

no, i dont know the model number. doesnt it come with an floppy disk with the drivers? wait..i think the network card already included with my pc.

 

[newhemidude]

did you get the network card working?

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: Solodays
no, i dont know the model number. doesnt it come with an floppy disk with the drivers? wait..i think the network card already included with my pc.

If it came with your pc they s/h included a driver disk. If you can't find it, use aida 32 to tell you info on the NIC. You get aida32 HERE.

When you get the info on your card, you may be able to find the driver HERE at driverguide.com. I think that you'll have to sign up, but it's free.

Fern

 

[Solodays]

oh i think i've found the driver disk. but how exactly do you install it? i went into 3 1/2 floppy and there is nothing to setup.

 

[spanky]

right click on my computer, go to properties. then go to your device manager and look for the pci device with a yellow circle with an exclamation point. from there, you should be able to locate an "update driver" button. click on that, and when it asks u to locate whatever file, browse to ur floppy disk. sorry i can't be more detailed... this is all from memory (i dont have a win98 machine in front of me).

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: Solodays
oh i think i've found the driver disk. but how exactly do you install it? i went into 3 1/2 floppy and there is nothing to setup.

If that's the NIC driver disk, look for a readme file on it. With win98se I found those instructions can make all the difference.

Fern

 

[Solodays]

now comes the video card, the resolution can only aloud me to set it at 800x600 and i can't go any higher than that, the pictures looks so bad and fuzzy. i need an driver update again,i think there werent any floppy disk that came with it. it's a really bad video card, i think it's build in with the mobo, not sure, it's only 4mb.

the reason that this new WIN 98 installation aren't detecting my network card and video card is that i installed an older version of win 98 on it. i tried to reinstall win98 SE that came with the pc in the first place but it wont let me, dont know why, when i type in command D:\ it saids something like NEEDS WINDOW PROGRAM or somein.