Why in the world wont win98 install?

[HomerSimpson]

Guys I have a pc with 98 on it and another pc that has XP on it, but the MB is going bad. I am going to change the XP over to 98 and install it into the 98 pc. Here is the situation step by step. I put my win98 cd into the xp pc and it boots up and has these three options.1-restore win98 format HD 2-restore win98 will not format HD 3-Boot to DOS. I choose 3 and use fdisk to change from NTSF to FAT32. I go through all the steps and reboot and reformat HD. I go back to fdisk and go and display partion information, and it does say FAT32. So it has changed from NTSF to FAT32. I reboot the pc and put back in my win98 restore disk and once again have 1-restore win98 format HD 2-restore win98 will not format HD 3-Boot to DOS as options. I choose either 1 or 2 and it comes up with "verifying system info..pc not responding...Incorrect System type restore cancelled" I cant understand why, the file partion is saying FAT32. Could it just be saying FAT32, but its still NTSF?

[pcdoc4christ]

I suspect the problem lies with your using a Windows 98 CD to reformat the hard drive.  Windows 98 was prior to the NTFS used by Windows XP.  You can use the Windows XP CD to reformat the hard drive or use a Windows Me boot floppy disk.  You can download one here:

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

[HomerSimpson]

Thanks for the info, I will try the XP cd because my floppy drive is bad.

[HomerSimpson]

Tried the XP cd and used the fdisk/format off of it, but still win98 wont install. Any suggestions?

[2k_dummy]

Does fdisk show the partion active? Did you format after running fdisk?

[pcdoc4christ]

Follow 2KD's advice and let us know if you run into any snags.  Also, when you format, choose FAT (not NTFS) as the file system.

[HomerSimpson]

Yeah, I did all of the above, partion is active and showing Fat32. Someone suggested I use something called delpart and remove the NTSF. I used delpart, and completely removed the ntsf partion. Went again through all the stages again and checked partion information, and it is set as primary and active and says Fat32, but still win98 will not load. I pretty much give up so what will happen if I do this.
Have win98 as my primary HD, and use XP and my slave drive. I know if I boot into win98 I will not see the xp drive, but if I boot into xp and choose to use xp it will show the win98 drive wont it? In other words if I am in the xp OS will I be able to drag files from my 98 drive on to the xp drive. I know I cant do this if I am in the 98 OS, but can I do it if I am in the xp OS. Also, when I boot the pc it will give me the option for which OS I want to use at that time want it. I thought I read as long as win98 is the primary drive it will, but I could be wrong.

[fffreak]

Yeah, I did all of the above, partion is active and showing Fat32. Someone suggested I use something called delpart and remove the NTSF. I used delpart, and completely removed the ntsf partion. Went again through all the stages again and checked partion information, and it is set as primary and active and says Fat32, but still win98 will not load. I pretty much give up so what will happen if I do this.
Have win98 as my primary HD, and use XP and my slave drive. I know if I boot into win98 I will not see the xp drive, but if I boot into xp and choose to use xp it will show the win98 drive wont it? In other words if I am in the xp OS will I be able to drag files from my 98 drive on to the xp drive. I know I cant do this if I am in the 98 OS, but can I do it if I am in the xp OS. Also, [highlight]when I boot the pc it will give me the option for which OS I want to use at that time want it[/highlight]. I thought I read as long as win98 is the primary drive it will, but I could be wrong.

It should allow you to. Just check your "Startup and Recovery" options to be sure. Right click my computer and go to properties, then click advanced tab, finally click Settings under Startup and Recovery. Hope that helps.

[pcdoc4christ]

...I know if I boot into win98 I will not see the xp drive, but if I boot into xp and choose to use xp it will show the win98 drive wont it? In other words if I am in the xp OS will I be able to drag files from my 98 drive on to the xp drive. I know I cant do this if I am in the 98 OS, but can I do it if I am in the xp OS. Also, when I boot the pc it will give me the option for which OS I want to use at that time want it. I thought I read as long as win98 is the primary drive it will, but I could be wrong.

In order to have the option of booting to Windows 98 or XP, you should boot to Windows 98 and install Windows XP.  Since you are unable to boot to Windows 98, try installing Windows XP to the hard drive that does not have Windows 98, then see if you are able to access your files on the drive that has Windows 98 on it.