Windows 98SE install question

[lobe]

I had windows 95 loaded on my machine, then loaded windows 98 (first edition) upgrade on top of that. Ran that for a couple of years. I want to use an sb live value with my machine now, and the drivers won't load unless it is windows 98se. I had a windows 98se complete (not upgrade). I tried to load it on my machine and it won't let me because I already have an os on my computer, and tells me to use a 98se UPGRADE instead--which I don't have. I could uninstall windows 98 that I have on, but then it tells me I would likely lose all my programs that are installed, and have to re-load them all, which I don't want to do.

Any advice? Any simple way to just back up my hard drive, do the uninstall, then install windows 98se, and load my backed up info right on? I've never done anything like that before. I do have a cd-rw if that would make it easier.

I appreciate your consideration.

 

[DaiShan]

that doesn't make any sense why you paid more for the full version and now microsoft tells you to go spend more money and buy the upgrade so you can use it. gl to you, hopefully someone on this board knows how to fix it.

 

[Pretty Cool]

1. Create a boot disc and leave disc in drive.
2. Rename win.com
3. Reboot
4. Navigate to your cd-rom and run setup.exe
5. When asked, load the new version onto your current Windows directory.
6. Done. Your system is now upgraded. Reloading apps is not needed.

 

[compudog]

Pretty Cool has it. I forgot about win.com.

 

[lobe]

Thanks for the responses.

Pretty Cool, are you talking about the windows 98 "start-up" disk they ask you to make when you load windows? I already have that on floppy from windows 98 first edition. Can I use that one? Because I can't get the 98se version to get to the point of making a boot disc from it.

Secondly, I am sorry but I don't know how to rename win.com. How specifically do I do that?

After that, I have handled loading from the setup.exe point. Will I know how to load it to the current windows directory?

Thanks again so much, people, for the answers.

 

[lobe]

Oops. Double post.

 

[Pretty Cool]

1. Your old boot disc should work fine.
2. Rename win.com by running Windows Explorer. Find your Windows directory such as c:\windows. Remember this path for your system upgrade. Find win.com. Highlight it. Right click it and choose rename. Change the file to backupwin.com(or whatever your wish).
3. When your run setup.exe, Windows will ask you what directory you wish to put the system files. Since you already have a windows folder, the default will probably be c:\windows.000. During this stage, you will be given the option of changing the directory. Choose your old directory since you wish to upgrade the previous version.


The reason you have to rename win.com is that Windows wants to install the operating system on a clean harddrive. Thus, Windows will look for win.com. If it finds that file, you will get an error message. Once you rename the file, installation should proceed smoothly.

 

[lobe]

Thanks so much. I think I have it now. I'll give it a try.

 

[lobe]

Success! I tried explore but couldn't find win.com anywhere. I went ahead and tried "find" and typed in win.com and searched c:/windows and it came up with some icon followed by win, so I renamed it hoping that was correct. I then used the boot disk, ran setup.exe from the cd-rom prompt and got to the windows directory question. Entered c:\windows instead of the default, gave it a try, and it loaded right up. All programs survived and seem to be completely intact. PRETTY COOL!!

I think it was pretty cool of you to help. Maybe that's how you got the name--Pretty Cool! I actually think it was VERY COOL of you to help, so you might want to consider changing to Very Cool!!

Seriously, thanks a lot, bud. I had no idea how to approach this, but with you walking me through it everything went fine.