Author Topic: Computer will not run Windows 98 disk (Read 16473 times)

Amats · « **on:** September 17, 2009, 01:41:02 PM »

I bought this computer used with XP on it and the hard drive crashed. I have replaced the hard drive but since I have no hard copy of the operating system I am forced to use the only version of windows I have that is not on another computer which is Windows 98 upgrade. The owner did not have the driver cd for the graphics card so I dont know the model of the graphics card since it will not come up on Device Manager. The DVD/CD drive for some reason will not run the Windows 98 disk at all. Works fine otherwise. I have limited specs for this computer
Processor: Athlon 1 gig
Motherboard: Gigabyte
Ram: 512 mb
Graphics Card: Nvidia
Make: Custom desktop

zonatedace · « **Reply #1 on:** September 17, 2009, 02:07:27 PM »

ok so im guessing you sucsessfully installed window 98 on the machine. im not quite sure what problem your trying to solve, the fact that it wont run the windows 98 cd, or if your trying to figure out how to get the graphic card drivers? also im guessing this is a desktop. if it is just open the case and check out what model the video card is. also most nvidia cards will tell you what model it is at startup just pay attention to it.

Amats · « **Reply #2 on:** September 17, 2009, 02:18:23 PM »

The disk drive will not run the Windows 98 cd so I cant install it. If I can get an operating system on it then I can go online and download drivers.

2x3i5x · « **Reply #3 on:** September 17, 2009, 02:24:53 PM »

you can try getting Linux if you want, something like Kubuntu or Fedora would be nice for starters. At least you will have an operating system on your computer to use while you get your windows up if you still want to get windows working.

zonatedace · « **Reply #4 on:** September 17, 2009, 03:21:21 PM »

ok thanks for the clarification, have you tried to check the boot priority in the BIOS?

Amats · « **Reply #5 on:** September 17, 2009, 03:40:25 PM »

Quote from: 2x3i5x on September 17, 2009, 02:24:53 PM

you can try getting Linux if you want, something like Kubuntu or Fedora would be nice for starters. At least you will have an operating system on your computer to use while you get your windows up if you still want to get windows working.

Oh, that is a good idea. A friend of mine gave me a copy of ubuntu last week.

Amats · « **Reply #6 on:** September 17, 2009, 03:42:43 PM »

Yeah Zon, I had the boot priority set to CD rom first

Amats · « **Reply #7 on:** September 18, 2009, 06:45:23 PM »

I am still not able to run the Windows 98 disk on my disk drive in the post window. It will run other disks but not the 98. any ideas?

Fed · « **Reply #8 on:** September 18, 2009, 07:12:09 PM »

You do know that win98 is not bootable and you will have to install it from DOS?

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000569.htm

Amats · « **Reply #9 on:** September 20, 2009, 12:57:46 AM »

No I didnt know that, but somehow I thought it would come to that. Thank you, that is the information I needed.

2x3i5x · « **Reply #10 on:** September 20, 2009, 03:44:40 PM »

but then again, I do have a old bootable floppy disk of Windows 98. That was provided in the dell box when I got my old dell desktop that my dad now uses 9 years ago.

BC_Programmer · « **Reply #11 on:** September 20, 2009, 03:50:09 PM »

Quote from: Fed on September 18, 2009, 07:12:09 PM

You do know that win98 is not bootable and you will have to install it from DOS?

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000569.htm

err.... my Win98 disc is bootable...

patio · « **Reply #12 on:** September 20, 2009, 05:02:17 PM »

Some were...some weren't.

quaxo · « **Reply #13 on:** September 21, 2009, 07:46:19 AM »

Quote from: patio on September 20, 2009, 05:02:17 PM

Some were...some weren't.

I think it was only the Windows 98SE discs. The original 98 discs and upgrade discs wouldn't.

BC_Programmer · « **Reply #14 on:** September 21, 2009, 08:03:15 AM »

ahhh, that explains it, mine is 98SE.

Amats · « **Reply #15 on:** September 21, 2009, 10:09:36 AM »

yep mine is 98 upgrade not se

patio · « **Reply #16 on:** September 21, 2009, 10:24:10 AM »

Do you have a floppy drive ? ?
If so travel to bootdisk.com and DLoad and extract the Win98SE file to a clean floppy...
Boot to the floppy with your Win CD in and at the A: prompt type setup and hit Enter...
The install will start.

Amats · « **Reply #17 on:** September 21, 2009, 07:10:46 PM »

Quote from: patio on September 21, 2009, 10:24:10 AM

Do you have a floppy drive ? ?
If so travel to bootdisk.com and DLoad and extract the Win98SE file to a clean floppy...
Boot to the floppy with your Win CD in and at the A: prompt type setup and hit Enter...
The install will start.

That was a slick idea and it worked perfectly!

The only flaw was my strategy to use the full version of XP prof for verification that I had a full version of windows which did not work at all.

I suppose there is no way to get around buying a full version of 98?

Fed · « **Reply #18 on:** September 21, 2009, 08:32:45 PM »

If you're going to pay money for it you should get Windows 2000, it's better than 98 & XP and it doesn't have any Msoft validation hoops to jump through.
You probably know someone who has an unused copy for free, ask around.

Amats · « **Reply #19 on:** September 21, 2009, 08:51:09 PM »

Ya I was kind of shocked when I shopped around online and saw 98 going for $60

Fed · « **Reply #20 on:** September 21, 2009, 08:57:55 PM »

$60 is crazy IMO 98 has no worth at all now.

Before you install the Windows 2000 Professional desktop operating system, make sure that your computer meets the following minimum system requirements:
133 MHz or more Pentium microprocessor (or equivalent). Windows 2000 Professional supports up to two processors on a single computer.
64 megabytes (MB) of RAM recommended minimum. 32 MB of RAM is the minimum supported. 4 gigabytes (GB) of RAM is the maximum.
A 2 GB hard disk that has 650 MB of free space. If you are installing over a network, more free hard disk space is required.
VGA or higher-resolution monitor.
Keyboard.
Mouse or compatible pointing device (optional)

Straight from the Mothership.

Cityscape · « **Reply #21 on:** September 24, 2009, 04:39:29 PM »

Quote from: Fed on September 21, 2009, 08:32:45 PM

If you're going to pay money for it you should get Windows 2000, it's better than 98 & XP and it doesn't have any Msoft validation hoops to jump through.
You probably know someone who has an unused copy for free, ask around.

Yes definitely use 2000 or Linux (I prefer Ubuntu). Windows 2000 costs about $1000 new which is a bit less then XP. So getting it used would be smartest.

patio · « **Reply #22 on:** September 24, 2009, 11:55:41 PM »

Excuse me ? ? ?
Win2K = $1000 dollars ? ? ? ?

BC_Programmer · « **Reply #23 on:** September 25, 2009, 08:44:36 AM »

heh, he probably means 100 dollars... otherwise it wouldn't be less then XP

Either that, or he really sucks at math...

Fed · « **Reply #24 on:** September 25, 2009, 02:57:42 PM »

Quote

Excuse me ? ? ?
Win2K = $1000 dollars ? ? ? ?

I told you it was good.

Cityscape · « **Reply #25 on:** September 26, 2009, 12:00:46 AM »

Quote from: patio on September 24, 2009, 11:55:41 PM

Excuse me ? ? ?
Win2K = $1000 dollars ? ? ? ?

Typo, I meant $100 dollars. And XP normally sells for $20 more than 2K.

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Author Topic: Computer will not run Windows 98 disk (Read 16473 times)

Amats

zonatedace

Amats

2x3i5x

zonatedace

Amats

Amats

Amats

Fed

Amats

2x3i5x

BC_Programmer

patio

quaxo

BC_Programmer

Amats

patio

Amats

Fed

Amats

Fed

Cityscape

patio

BC_Programmer

Fed

Cityscape