Computer Hope

Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows 3.x/9x/ME => Topic started by: leemaree on September 13, 2015, 07:28:03 AM

Title: Win 98 computer
Post by: leemaree on September 13, 2015, 07:28:03 AM
My uncle gave me his old computer to practise taking it apart. He told me to wipe it clean, so I did, using format c: . But now, I can't get it back up running again. I have an old win98 boot floppy disk which I made myself. That doesn't work. I have an old Ghost Ver. 6 floppy disk that runs and comes up on the screen saying 'Starting Microsoft Windows 98'  Microsoft(R) Windows 98 Copyright Microsoft Corp 1981-1998. Then it has A:\> . By this point I typed in fdisk and went through the procedure. I the rebooted (control +alt + Del) put in the 98 floppy boot disk and 'Betriebssystem fehlt' comes up. I tried everything to make this work and nothing happening. PLEASE HELP!!!!
Title: Re: Win 98 computer
Post by: Salmon Trout on September 13, 2015, 09:23:58 AM
Have you installed Windows 98 on the hard disk? Do you actually have a licensed Windows 98 install CD? So far, it sounds like it is doing what it should. What are you expecting to happen?

Title: Re: Win 98 computer
Post by: DaveLembke on September 13, 2015, 10:29:56 AM
Question I have is... what is make model of this computer so we can see what specs your working with. For example just because a floppy disk will boot on the system showing Windows 98 DOS environment, this doesnt mean that the system its booting on will support 98.

You will need the Windows 98 CD and a key to go along with this floppy to boot and install Windows 98 if the system isnt capable of booting off the CD. Some 486 computers fall into this category where they do not have bootable CD Rom support, and so you need to boot from Floppy which then mounts the CD ROM driver, which then allows for setup.exe to run to install Windows 98 to the hard drive. Once Windows 98 is installed to the hard drive most of the time the CD ROM driver is installed automatically from the Windows installation with MSCDEX installed etc.

Biggest concern for Windows 98 support is what CPU the system has, how much RAM, and size of the hard drive.
Title: Re: Win 98 computer
Post by: Geek-9pm on September 13, 2015, 11:17:33 AM
For what its worth.  :)
An old computer should first be tested with a floppy disk.
A free DOS version is available:
Free DOS Download (http://www.freedos.org/download/)
The floppy can boot from the old PC. The it can format and put the system onto the Hard drive. Next, you can boot DOS from the hard drive. If you get that far, the computer may be usable with Windows 98. But if you don't get that far, it is broke.
Windows 98 is not free software. 
Otherwise, it would not be for sale.  Just $60 at Amazon.


Title: Re: Win 98 computer
Post by: BC_Programmer on September 13, 2015, 02:00:49 PM
It sounds like you only have the Windows 98 Boot disk. To install Windows 98 after wiping the HDD you need the Windows 98 Install Media (CD).
Title: Re: Win 98 computer
Post by: Geek-9pm on September 13, 2015, 02:09:27 PM
Fromm CH archives:
How to install Microsoft Windows 98 (http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000569.htm)
 :)
Title: Re: Win 98 computer
Post by: leemaree on September 16, 2015, 08:55:39 AM
For what its worth.  :)
An old computer should first be tested with a floppy disk.
A free DOS version is available:
Free DOS Download (http://www.freedos.org/download/)
The floppy can boot from the old PC. The it can format and put the system onto the Hard drive. Next, you can boot DOS from the hard drive. If you get that far, the computer may be usable with Windows 98. But if you don't get that far, it is broke.
Windows 98 is not free software. 
Otherwise, it would not be for sale.  Just $60 at Amazon.

The make of the computer is Compaq Presario 5060. I tried every floppy and also have a copy of win98. I've tried other alternatives, but none work :(
Title: Re: Win 98 computer
Post by: patio on September 16, 2015, 09:00:20 AM
See Here... (http://www.computerhope.com/syshlp.htm)

You need floppy #1 of Dos...then the PC is ready for the Win98 install...
Title: Re: Win 98 computer
Post by: leemaree on September 16, 2015, 11:42:19 AM
@ Patio   Could u possibly give me a link to the #1 floppy dos disk
Title: Re: Win 98 computer
Post by: patio on September 16, 2015, 02:06:00 PM
Here Ya Go... (http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm)
Title: Re: Win 98 computer
Post by: leemaree on September 17, 2015, 09:48:21 AM
Thanks @ patio, but I've tried that before and nothing :(
Title: Re: Win 98 computer
Post by: patio on September 17, 2015, 07:06:31 PM
Nothing what ? ? i dont understand...
Title: Re: Win 98 computer
Post by: leemaree on September 18, 2015, 06:40:36 AM
I tried the floppy disk before and nothing happed
Title: Re: Win 98 computer
Post by: Geek-9pm on September 18, 2015, 10:15:05 AM
I tried the floppy disk before and nothing ...
In order for the forum to help you, you need to be specific. What did you think it would do? Were you able to boot the floppy? Did the floppy have any welcome message? Was some kind of error reported? On the floppy there should be a file named:
autoexec.bat
That file is specific to the Windows 98 install method.
Is it there? What are the contents of that file?
Details please.

Title: Re: Win 98 computer
Post by: leemaree on September 28, 2015, 05:37:03 AM
Right, I have everything on the floppy except 'config.sys'. It won't let me download it. I put in the floppy disk and it says on the screen Remove disks or other media. Press any key to Restart, although I have the floppy disk in
Title: Re: Win 98 computer
Post by: Salmon Trout on September 28, 2015, 05:56:33 AM
Have you read this?

http://novaonline.nvcc.edu/eli/ist216mb/summer/installing_windows_95.htm
Title: Re: Win 98 computer
Post by: Geek-9pm on September 29, 2015, 06:23:04 PM
This may be of some help.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/187632
It provides details about hold to make startup up floppies for older Windows version.

When you have a single floppy, you have to insert another floppy in the same drive, wait, then put in the first floppy, wait , repeat until done.
Title: Re: Win 98 computer
Post by: OldTimeCoder on January 12, 2016, 03:05:12 PM
Just for information I have used Hiren's Boot CD and then install whatever Windows you need.

http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/