Unistalling XP & reinstalling 98SE

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kandi
  • Start date Start date
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Kandi

Hello. Im hoping that someone can help me. I was given a computer that has
a copy of XP on it that will not register so I have a legiminate copy of 98SE
to put on it. How do I go about this? When inserting the disk it doesnt ask
me to boot from the disc drive! Im not sure how to go about it.
 
Kandi said:
Hello. Im hoping that someone can help me. I was given a computer
that has a copy of XP on it that will not register so I have a
legiminate copy of 98SE to put on it. How do I go about this?
When inserting the disk it doesnt ask me to boot from the disc
drive! Im not sure how to go about it.
Click to expand...

Use a Windows 98 Boot Diskette.. Boot with it, use fdisk to get rid of all
previous partitions and create a new FAT32 partition to install Windows 98SE
onto. Install Windows 98SE.

http://www.bootdisk.com/

(The Windows 98SE CD is not bootable. Windows 98SE is a DOS based OS.)
 
Kandi said:
Hello. Im hoping that someone can help me. I was given a computer that has
a copy of XP on it that will not register so I have a legiminate copy of 98SE
to put on it. How do I go about this? When inserting the disk it doesnt ask
me to boot from the disc drive! Im not sure how to go about it.
Click to expand...

Hit the Del key to get into your BIOS.
Or at least its usually the del key. Its sometimes written on the
initial boot screen.
Be cautious, as changing the bios can cause problems. There is a
section in the bios that lets you determine the boot order of devices.
Like Floppy then hard drive.
But what you want is the CD Drive then the hard drive.
That will allow you to boot then from the CD. And if the CD is not
there it will boot from the Hard Drive as you normally do.
 
Big_Al said:
Hit the Del key to get into your BIOS.
Or at least its usually the del key. Its sometimes written on the
initial boot screen.
Be cautious, as changing the bios can cause problems. There is a
section in the bios that lets you determine the boot order of
devices. Like Floppy then hard drive.
But what you want is the CD Drive then the hard drive.
That will allow you to boot then from the CD. And if the CD is not
there it will boot from the Hard Drive as you normally do.
Click to expand...

AFAIK - the Windows 98SE CD is not bootable.
 
Kandi said:
Hello. Im hoping that someone can help me. I was given a computer that has
a copy of XP on it that will not register so I have a legiminate copy of 98SE
to put on it. How do I go about this? When inserting the disk it doesnt ask
me to boot from the disc drive! Im not sure how to go about it.
Click to expand...

1. You do not need to "uninstal" any unwanted operating
system. FDISK software allows you to wipe a drive blank
and restart from scratch (#1 create a Primary DOS partition,
#2 = format that partition.)
2. If the donated PC has a floppy drive, get a Win98SE
floppy boot disk from www.bootdisk.com. You select the
exact flavour of Win98SE, download a single EXE file,
run that EXE file on any PC with a floppy drive, and it
creates a DOS floppy with instal routines for Win98SE.
3. Expert advice on installing Win98 can be reviewed
at http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/w98_restore.html
which reminds you of what you need beforehand e.g.
the key number for your Win98 CD.

If the donated PC has no floppy drive, you can instal
Win98SE only from a bootable CD -- and this does
not include FDISK in EXEcutable form.
A. Your simplest route would be to add a floppy drive
to the donated PC. They cost only about $12, more
for its special cable (with a twist) but installation is
usually straightforward.
B. For expert advice on Win98 installation go to the NG
microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion.
 
Shenan said:
AFAIK - the Windows 98SE CD is not bootable.
Click to expand...

You know, its been so long, I think you are right. Those dang boot
disks. And I still have one too. Wow. The old days. :-)
 
This is an Emachine and it doesnt have a floppy disc drive. Also, if it
matters any at all, this computer has never had 98SE on it before.
 
Bob said:
Humm, this would indicate that there were some CD produced that did
boot.
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Downright_pages/Boot_Disks_and_Boot_CDs.htm
Click to expand...

Anyone can make a bootable CD with the right tools - including a Windows 98
CD that not only boots, but installs Windows 98, updates, applications,
etc - with or without human interaction.

Microsoft, however - AFAIK - never put out a bootable Windows 98 CD that
booted and installed from said media.
 
<snipped>
This is an Emachine and it doesnt have a floppy disc drive. Also,
if it matters any at all, this computer has never had 98SE on it
before.
Click to expand...

That does suck. You can use another computer and create a bootable CD with
the Windows 98 installation files on it and then boot from that CD and start
the installation that way...

Otherwise - you might be better off finding a generic Windows XP CD (OEM
version) and using the product key sticker that should be on that eMachine
someplace - install Windows XP in that way.
 
Ok. I have a xp disc that came with my computer from Dell. It is an OEM.
The product key in this computer does not match the oem key from the xp disc
that I tried using as well. It still wouldnt register. Does that make sense?
 
Kandi said:
This is an Emachine and it doesnt have a floppy disc drive. Also, if it
matters any at all, this computer has never had 98SE on it before.

:
Click to expand...
If this machine is that recent that it doesn't have a floppy drive,
there is a possibility that there may not be Win 98 drivers for it.
If it that's the case, and WinMe drivers are available, they may
work.
 
Kandi said:
Ok. I have a xp disc that came with my computer from Dell. It is
an OEM. The product key in this computer does not match the oem key
from the xp disc that I tried using as well. It still wouldnt
register. Does that make sense?
Click to expand...


Is it the same version (Windows XP Home, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP
Media Center, etc) that is mentioned on the product sticker for the machine?

If the version mentioned on the eMachine's product key sticker is the same
as the version mentioned on the Dell OEM Windows XP CD (Home, Professional,
Media Center, etc) - then there may be an option.

1) Install with the Dell CD and the Dell product key (found on a sticker on
the Dell.)
2) Use a tool provided by Microsoft freely to change the product key on the
installed Windows XP (on the eMachine) to the product key on the sticker on
the eMachine.

Tool:
The Genuine Advantage Product Key Update Tool is only valid for
users attempting to change their current non-genuine Product Key
to a genuine COA sticker or genuine Product Key - all without a
reinstall!
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=50346&clcid=0x409

That completely relies on having the product key sticker on both machines,
the product key having not been revoked and the CD version matching the
version of Windows XP on both machines.
 
Shenan Stanley said:
AFAIK - the Windows 98SE CD is not bootable.
Click to expand...

OEM Win98SE CDs are bootable. I just tried one, and it started
with a menu to boot from the HD or CD. I chose CD and it came
up with the same DOS start menu choices as a Win98 boot floppy.
I chose "Start with CD support" and it brought up the Win98
installation screen. I pressed F3 to abort the installation it defaulted
to the DOS prompt.

Win98 upgrade CDs are not bootable.
 
Shenan Stanley said:
Anyone can make a bootable CD with the right tools - including a Windows
98 CD that not only boots, but installs Windows 98, updates, applications,
etc - with or without human interaction.

Microsoft, however - AFAIK - never put out a bootable Windows 98 CD that
booted and installed from said media.
Click to expand...

I don't know where you get your information from but I just tried my Windows
98 CD and it is in fact bootable.
 
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