Install Windows 98 after Windows XP

by Daniel Petri - January 8, 2009
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This procedure assumes that Windows XP is installed on drive C:

Drive C: must be FAT16 or FAT32 to be able to install Windows 98 after XP is already installed. The 98/Me installation routine cannot write to an NTFS partition.

You must have a second hard disk or partition formatted for FAT16/32 in order to be able to install Windows 98/Me.

As always, installing 98/Me to the same partition as Windows XP is Not recommended!

I recommend the use of a Windows 98 Startup disk for this procedure. You should ensure that DEBUG.EXE is on your Startup disk. On a 98 Startup disk, created from Add/Remove Programs, its in the EBD.CAB file on the Startup disk. For a 98 Startup disk created from FAT32EBD.EXE its on the floppy

Installing Windows 98

1. Use a Win98 Startup disk (with CD support) to boot your computer.
2. Insert your Win98 CD into the CD Rom drive.
3. At the A: prompt type X:\Win98\Setup.exe where X: is your CD-ROM drive.
4. Proceed with the install. When prompted for the install location, you'll see C:\Windows.000. Choose Other directory and change this to the drive you wish to install 98 to and name the folder Windows (or something else if you prefer).
5. Complete the Win98 install. Allow the computer to boot into Win98.

Repairing the Windows XP Boot Loader

1. Create a Win98 Startup Disk
2. Create a Notepad file with the following entries, exactly as shown:

L 100 2 0 1 N C:\BOOTSECT.DOS R BX 0 R CX 200 W Q

1. Save the file to the Win98 Startup Disk as READ.SCR
2. Boot the computer with the Win98 Startup Disk and at the A: prompt type

DEBUG <READ.SCR

Steps 1 - 4 create the BOOTSECT.DOS file needed to boot Win98. You may need to use the ATTRIB C:\BOOTSECT.DOS -S -H -R command if BOOTSECT.DOS already exists and you get an error when trying to recreate it.

1. Configure your computer to boot from the CD drive. This is done in the BIOS, or your computer may offer the option at startup if it detects a bootable CD. If your computer does not support booting from CD-Rom, you should also be able to boot with a 98 Startup disk, and run WINNT.EXE from the I386 folder of your XP CD.
2. Insert your XP CD and boot from it.
3. You'll see some files being copied, then you'll be presented with a choice of installing or repairing an existing installation. Choose Repair.
4. You'll be asked which XP installation you want to log into. Enter 1. There is usually only one installation.
5. You'll be prompted for the Administrator password. For Home, the default password is blank, so just hit Enter. For Pro, enter the same password you did during setup for the Administrator account (this is not the same as the password for an Admin level account. It must be the Administrator account password).
6. At the C:\Windows prompt, type FIXBOOT. You'll be prompted to confirm. Do so.
7. When FIXBOOT is finished, remove the XP CD and type EXIT and the machine will reboot.
8. Reconfigure your computer to boot from the hard drive if necessary.

You will now get the XP Boot loader with your choice of operating system.

	How to Install Windows 98 Posted by Govindaraj Sep 20th Category: Govindaraj Tech News Tags: Windows 98 Installation
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Microsoft's Windows 98 SE - CD Install on Blank Hard Drive

INTRODUCTION What you will require to do this walkthrough is  A Windows 98 CD A Computer with CD-ROM access To start this Windows install. First check that the first boot device in your system BIOS is set to the  CD-ROM Drive. ( To find out how to access the BIOS please refer to your motherboard manual or the manufacturer of your computer. (The system bios can usually be entered on boot, usually by pressing the F1, F2, F8, F10 or DEL key. Make sure you save the settings before exiting))   If you are unsure or don't want to enter the BIOS then just test the computer by putting the CD-ROM in the drive and rebooting the computer. This is the recommended way to install windows. You will know that your computer will/has booted of CD-ROM when the following screen appears.    PART 1   To begin the Windows 98 install select Option 2 (Boot from CD-Rom) The following screen will appear next. Select Option 1. (Start Windows 98 Setup from CD-ROM) Your CD-ROM driver will now install, be patient this may take a few moments. Now press Enter to continue, or F3 to exit. Setup will now perform checks on your system, press Enter to continue. Next Scandisk will run, let this complete or setup. Now setup will copy important files for the install.   PART 2   Setup has now begun, the mouse should now be active, press Continue to proceed. If you have a change of mind then press Exit Setup. If the mouse is not active press "ENTER" on the keyboard. The wizard will now start. Be patient this may take a few moments. Now select the directory you wish to install Windows into. By default C:\Windows will be selected. You can change this, but it is not advised. Click on Next to Continue. Setup will now prepare the directory, be patient this may take a moment. Setup now checks disk space.  What do you wish to install. We recommend Typical, which is the default. So click Next to continue. Windows Components to be installed will now be listed. Leave at default and press Next. If a Network card has been detected the following will appear. Fill in the details and click Next. Now your country settings, select as needed and then press Next. Windows will now copy files, this will take sometime. Be patient   PART 3   After sometime you will be prompted to restart, Windows will do it itself, you can click on Restart Now to quicken the process. The CD-ROM boot menu will appear. Select option 1 (Boot from Hard Disk) Booting for first time screen will appear. Now enter your name, company is optional. Click on Next to continue. Now the License Agreement. Read and if you agree click on "I accept the Agreement" and click next. If you select ""I don't accept the Agreement" then setup will end.  Now input your product key or certificate authenticity code. This is 16 digits and is located on the back of your CD case or on the Windows 98 Book. If you have an OEM computer then it could be on the side or back of your computer. Click next to continue.  Next click on Finish.   PART 4   Setup will now finalize the hardware and install settings. Plug and Play Devices..... Your computer will prompt to restart.... The CD boot menu will appear. Select option 1 (Boot from Hard Disk) and press enter. Windows is booting. and continuing the install of devices.    PART 5   Now select your date/time settings, using the down arrow beside GMT -0800. Once selected click on apply and then OK. Windows will continue to setup Windows items. The computer will now need restarted again.   PART 6   The CD-ROM boot menu will appear. Select Option 1 (Boot from Hard Disk) and press enter. Windows will continue to load. and update System Settings. At long last you have arrived at the desktop.  If you are lucky you will have no drivers to install, but chances are the next step will be to install them. Check out device manager for unknown devices, likely items are Network Cards, Sound Cards, Printers, Scanners, Graphics Cards, Digital Cameras, plus  any other item you have.