I'm stuck.
 
I have an old WIN98  IBM laptop that I'm going to dispose of so I used a Kill Disk 
floppy to write zeros over everything.

 
Then I decided to re-install just for fun.  I did fdisk to create the primary DOS 
partition then formatted it.   Now I can't manage to install WIn98 from the disk. 
 
 
I went into BIOS to change the boot to CD ROM, but it didn't stick....I think.
 
Could it possibly be due to the original Win98 being an OEM version and I have a 
regular Win98 disk?  I bought it used so I don't have the original disk, but do have 
the key code.
 
Any ideas out there in guru land?

http://www.killdisk.com/

Tip: Run a free scan for common Windows errors ad

re: Clean install dilema Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 8:42 am Posted by gewg_ (4444 messages posted) |[...]formatted[...]Now I can't manage to install WIn98 from the disk. |Could it possibly be due to the original Win98 being an OEM version |and I have a regular Win98 disk? | Helen~ Hi, old timer. Unless it's an update disk, I don't see a sticking point there. Can you boot to this CD in another box? (i.e. Is the media actually bootable?) It sounds like you're saying no floppy drive is available in this unit. You haven't mentioned any error messages. |I went into BIOS to change the boot to CD ROM, but it didn't stick....I think. | Got a bootable copy of Knoppix or EBCD to try? Perhaps the CMOS battery picked this time to quit. http://www.liverepair.com/encyclopedia/articles/cmosreplace.asp Again, you haven't mentioned any error messages ...nor what appears on the screen...nor any sounds you hear. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Clean install dilema Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 8:46 am Posted by Steve (23811 messages posted) Boot from you Boot Floppy with your 98 Cd in the rom, and at the prompt Type D:\SETUP and hit ENTER, assuming the CD rom is D [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Clean install dilema Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 9:10 am Posted by Helen~ (2626 messages posted) Hi Steve, When I do that ( D:\ SETUP) I get a message that says "bad command or file name." [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Clean install dilema Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 9:15 am Posted by Helen~ (2626 messages posted) Hi Gewg, The CMOS battery is fairly new otherwise I'd get all sorts of beeps and error messages. I do have a floppy drive and that's what I used for kill disk, fdisk and format. The only error message I get is after A:\ D:\SETUP. It says bad command or file name. I don't have a knoppix disk and certainly don't want to risk either of my XP systems trying to boot with the CD. Thanks for the input. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Clean install dilema Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 9:16 am Posted by Steve (23811 messages posted) D:\ SETUP or D:\SETUP [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Clean install dilema Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 9:21 am Posted by Helen~ (2626 messages posted) I tried both D:\SETUP and D:\ SETUP (with the space) I have a hunch that the Win98 CD isn't any good. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Clean install dilema Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 9:24 am Posted by Steve (23811 messages posted) Put the CD in your XP computer when at the XP Desktop. It should just autorun to the 98 setup Screen to see if the CD is good. Another way is to copy the 98 folder to your Laptop Hard Drive first, and type at the prompt.C:\WIN98\SETUP [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Clean install dilemma Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 9:49 am Posted by Helen~ (2626 messages posted) According to XP the WIN98 CD is ok. It seems to have all the drivers and other stuff that I don't understand.lol. I think I'll give it a rest for awhile since it's destined for the recycling place anyway. It's sad though because that old used IBM laptop is responsible for my computer obsession. Thanks again, Steve, for all your help. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Clean install dilemma Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 10:17 am Posted by Steve (23811 messages posted) Link has a good tutorial. http://home.ptd.net/~don5408/win98/install/hdinstall.html [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Clean install dilema Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 11:11 am Posted by bob wells (1636 messages posted) Helen, Have you tried Format C: /S with Boot Floppy Or Sys C: from boot floppy. Probably too simple, Just a thought. BW There's nothing to learn from someone who already agrees with you. _________________________________________________________ On Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 7:25 am, Helen~ wrote: >I'm stuck. > >I have an old WIN98 IBM laptop that I'm going to dispose of so I used a Kill Disk >floppy to write zeros over everything. > > >Then I decided to re-install just for fun. I did fdisk to create the primary DOS >partition then formatted it. Now I can't manage to install WIn98 from the disk. > > >I went into BIOS to change the boot to CD ROM, but it didn't stick....I think. > >Could it possibly be due to the original Win98 being an OEM version and I have a >regular Win98 disk? I bought it used so I don't have the original disk, but do have >the key code. > >Any ideas out there in guru land? > >http://www.killdisk.com/ > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Clean install dilema Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 2:33 pm Posted by Helen~ (2626 messages posted) The format worked, but SYS C: gave the error: required parameters missing. I think it's a lost cause, but thanks for your help Bob. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Clean install dilema Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 3:01 pm Posted by bob wells (1636 messages posted) Helen, Run fdisk again, select option 4. Does fdisk show C: as active Partition? Have you tried a different Boot Floppy? BW There's nothing to learn from someone who already agrees with you. _________________________________________________________ On Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 2:33 pm, Helen~ wrote: >The format worked, but SYS C: gave the error: required parameters missing. > >I think it's a lost cause, but thanks for your help Bob. > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Clean install dilema Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 3:56 pm Posted by James (782 messages posted) Edit the Autoexec.bat of the Win98 Boot Floppy. Find this text string, LH %ramd%:\MSCDEX.EXE /D:mscd001 /L:%CDROM% Then add /L:R at the end of it. See example below: LH %ramd%:\MSCDEX.EXE /D:mscd001 /L:%CDROM% /L:R Next, save the change. The Cd-rom drive will always be listed as Drive R Since becoming legally blind from an accident, I always install all Versions of Windows, except Vista, unattended. I can email you a few edited files along with the Win98 MSBatch.Inf that can be added to the Win98 Boot Floppy that will allow the Win98 install to run unattended. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Clean install dilemma Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 5:17 pm Posted by Helen~ (2626 messages posted) Hi James, I'm afraid that's way beyond me, and since this old laptop is destined for recycling I don't want to spend more time on it. Fdisk and Format went very well, but the installation didn't at all. I have a couple ideas of why it failed. Enough time spent....back to XP for me. Thanks again, and I still like you signature very much. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Clean install dilemma Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 5:53 pm Posted by James (782 messages posted) It's good to see a long time friend posting on the Win98 Forum. I always enjoy trying to figure out why a Computer doesn't do what it is setup to do. Remembering the start of your posting, since the beginning of you entering the annoyances org Forums. I cannot believe any computer matter is beyond the scope of your ability, but, I do believe time can be a factor. I suppose, one always has to consider how much time they can spend on a project. Thanks for the nice comment about my signature [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Clean install dilema Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 12:37 am Posted by Lee (172 messages posted) I'm very surprised nobody got the brass ring here. Especially on older laptops but also some compaqs, dells and most laptops, the BIOS is partially contained on a hidden partition on the hard drive. Mostly for guaranteed incompatibilities is my guess but "they" also tend to have the entire CDROM driver hosted on this hidden partition as well. So along comes the typical desktop user and destroys the hidden partition by wiping or fdisk and with it the CDROM driver and suddenly, the CD won't work which is the ususal complaint and problem. In Helen's case it appears that the CD still works well enough to not draw undue attention to itself as the prime problem somehow. It doesn't matter as the real problem remains that the hard drive is missing it's much needed hidden partition with required BIOS data and program. Typically the purpose of the Restore CD which comes with these types of computers is to create the hidden partition and write the data to it so that the laptop, compaq, dell, etc., will now be able to even work properly let alone reinstall Windows. Typically also the Windows version is drastically different from that found on a generic Windows install CD such that even the flavor of Windows needs to be "special" in order to work with the Laptop proper. Bottom line - without the Restore CD and the Windows installation CD from the laptop's manufacturer, you can't get there from here... Can I interest anybody in a good sized doorstop? [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Clean install dilema Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 1:51 am Posted by gewg_ (4444 messages posted) Lee wrote: |I'm very surprised nobody got the brass ring here. |Especially on older laptops but also some compaqs, dells and most laptops, | Pretty sure this is only an issue on Compaqs. |the BIOS is partially contained on a hidden partition on the hard drive. | On Compaqs: Yes. |Mostly for guaranteed incompatibilities is my guess | Well, in a roundabout way. You have to go way back in time to when there was no such thing as an "IBM-compatible". Compaq made the first one. http://www.google.com/search?q=site:en.wikipedia.org+Compaq+BIOS They tried to do it in a way so that IBM wouldn't sue them. Back then, everybody was tap-dancing around the issue very carefully. cache of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_Computer |but "they" also tend to have the entire CDROM driver |hosted on this hidden partition as well. | I don't see how that is correct. To *install* Windoze, the (DOS) driver only needs to be on the bootable floppy (with CONFIG.SYS tweaked). *After* Windoze is installed, the W98 CD driver is on C: with all the other drivers. |So along comes the typical desktop user |and destroys the hidden partition by wiping or fdisk and[...] | Yes--but this is brand-specific to Compaq. The bootloader is in ROM; the Compaq BIOS is on the HDD. (It's actually a carry-over from CP/M.) |It doesn't matter as the real problem remains |that the hard drive is missing [its] much needed hidden partition |with required BIOS data and program. | I remember doing this on a Compaq that was wiped before I got it second-hand. |[...]Typically also the Windows version is drastically different |from that found on a generic Windows install CD |such that even the flavor of Windows needs to be "special" |in order to work with the Laptop proper. | I've heard an urban rumor about this vendor-specific-Windoze stuff (W98 update from W95 on Dells) but when I went looking for corroboration, it wasn't to be found. |Bottom line - without the Restore CD and the Windows installation CD |from the laptop's manufacturer, you can't get there from here... | From Compaq's site, I got an executable that fit on a floppy and restored the on-HDD BIOS, then used a regular OEM W98SE CD to install. No sweat. I don't ever remember hearing about a true IBM having this kind of hangup --and really, why would it? IT'S IBM. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Clean install dilemma Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 5:53 am Posted by Helen~ (2626 messages posted) Lee, I've had several days to ponder this dilemma, and I think you're absolutely correct in your assessment. Why would anyone think an OS could be installed with an ersatz Win98 CD when it was an IMB OEM laptop....me apparently. In addition I used KillDisk prior to using fdisk and format. I've come a long way since the day I bought the used IBM laptop on impulse. I didn't even know at the time that a Win98 copy CD was definitely not ok. There isn't any loss here because the laptop was destined for the local recycling place having been replaced with two XP computers. Both my desktop and laptop are Sony Vaios. Still, it would have been fun to have been able to re-install the OS before it's final trip to the recycling location. I don't regret buying the used IBM because it began a long hobby, in fact obsession, with computers. Thanks for you're input Lee. You hit the nail on the head. http://www.killdisk.com/ [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Clean install dilemma Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 4:56 pm Posted by James (782 messages posted) Helen it depends on what nail head you and Lee trying to hit? The files I offered to email you would do the trick, even if it is IBM. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Clean install dilemma Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 5:15 pm Posted by Helen~ (2626 messages posted) Really??? I'd love to try it. I think you have my email address. Thanks again James. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Clean install dilema Saturday, April 19, 2008 at 4:27 am Posted by Lee (172 messages posted) On Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 1:51 am, gewg_ wrote: > >I don't ever remember hearing about a true IBM having this kind of hangup >--and really, why would it? IT'S IBM. :) Well, we can agree on some Compaqs at least. I've seen a lot of "lost the CDROM" on my laptop messages at Windows clean install time and they also didn't have the Restore CD for it, so I've always assumed the worst by default. These threads also don't have a good resolution for the most part... I went looking to verify this "rumor" myself years ago, I couldn't find very much at all, but what I did find pointed to mostly laptops for this one off behavior, Compaq desktops came in as an also ran 2nd. I would stongly suspect all computers that were sold with a Restore CD as being quilty here, but how to find that out bends the mind some. Manufacturer websites aren't always easy to navigate, especially if what one wants isn't the latest model offered. 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