Installing Windows 98

[Reprobate]

I have a Dell notebook (Inspiron 2500) which used to run Windows ME.

I wish to install Windows 98 on it.

I've formatted the HDD. but none of the bootdisks I've downloaded from bootdisks.com seem to work.

They won't load any drivers for the CD-ROM.

Will i have to create my own bootdisk? I'm not completely inept when it comes to PC's, but i'm no uber leet geek either. is there a driver i must download and include on the bootdisk or should i add something to the config.sys or autoexec.bat to get the CD-ROM working so i can use the Win98 CD?

i've tried a few times, but it won't work. i've even at one stage removed the HDD and using a USB thingy moved the whole of Win98 over to it. but it would get to one stage and the installation would fail. something about a missing CAB file.

i'm trying a different copy of Win98 now. but i don't wish to do remove the HDD again.

installing Windows XP is fine. after using the 6 boot floppies the installation of the XP Pro CD worked. However I don't wish to install XP on it (makes the Dell run like a dog, and i NEED Win98 on this particular computer).

any suggestions, feedback, advice and slaps to the forehead are welcome. rep+ to helpful advice.

[repeat]

Can the laptop boot from cd? If it can make a bootable cd in Nero or similar and stick the win98 cabs on it.

[Scumbag]

stick the CD into another computer and there should be a MAKEDISK or MAKEBOOT or some shit on the CD itself which will create the boot disks for ya.

[Reprobate]

Can the laptop boot from cd? If it can make a bootable cd in Nero or similar and stick the win98 cabs on it.

it can't see the cd rom at all.

i changed the start up when i started the PC by hitting F2. but it didn't work.

i've been searching google for anything to do with Inspiron 2500 and boot disks... cd rom... install win 98. still nothing.

i neeeeeeeeed win98 on the notebook. so i can play a networked game of Red Alert 2 :D

RA2 won't do multiplayer XP to XP. but if you set up the game on the Win98 box the other players can join.

[Reprobate]

i went to http://www.startdisk.com/Web1/ubd/ubd.htm (http://www.startdisk.com/Web1/ubd/ubd.htm) and downloaded UBD (the Ultimate Boot Disk).

i've used it to make a boot disk and Nortons caught it extracting a VIRUS to the floppy in the A drive.

naughty naughty.

i thought i'd mention it.

still trying to find a boot disk that'll get my CD rom up and running.

[kré]

www.bootdisk.com might help you, but i'd strongly suggest installing win2k instead of win98

[H34D STR0NG]

if worse comes to worse take the hdd out of the laptop hook it up to a normal comp and do an install that way

[Moses]

probably not a virus - these things are often detected by Norton as such because they modify the boot sector of the disk..

[Moses]

there are a bunch of generic dos cdrom drivers - I'll have a look tomorrow when I get home as I used to have a bootdisk I made that tried 7 or 8 drivers sequentially then installed w98 from cabs automatically for you..
red alert 2 rocks, but I can't get my flatmates to play :( they think it's too old, bastards

[repeat]

Here is a cd driver site that may help. http://digilander.libero.it/pnavato/drivers/

[wolfpac181]

does bios have ability to boot from USB?
get hands on a USB CD drive.

Also..... take a look at the model of the cd drive, I bet its the "japanese" version. There are drivers on the dell site, boot from FDD, insert the cd FDD, load it up...... wheeeeeeeee.

[dozer]

bootable w2k cd should fix it, or use the xp floppies and boot w2k off cd

[Reprobate]

bootable w2k cd should fix it, or use the xp floppies and boot w2k off cd

would XP floppies then work with Win98?

www.bootdisk.com might help you, but i'd strongly suggest installing win2k instead of win98

i know that Win98 will allow me to host a RA2 game and then the other machines no matter what they are can join in the melee.

i'm wondering if it's just a Dell thing. because the normal win98SE bootdisk got the HP Pavillion up and running. well at least until i got to the bit where it shat itself because of missing CAB files because it thought the disk was scratched. and then the bootdisk got stuck in the floppy drive, so i haven't tried since (but i checked this morning before coming to work and i got it out).

so i'll try and get the HP Pavillion up and running tonight, with the new Win98 CD.

which brings me back to the Dell notebook... it won't use the same generic bootdisk that the HP did. i would have thought that the CD rom drive itself was farked, but the XP floppies get it up and running.

on a less technical note, having Win98 on the Dell notebook means i can easily take it anywhere and get some major RA2 carnage happening.

does bios have ability to boot from USB?
get hands on a USB CD drive.

Also..... take a look at the model of the cd drive, I bet its the "japanese" version. There are drivers on the dell site, boot from FDD, insert the cd FDD, load it up...... wheeeeeeeee.

no it doesn't. and finding anything on Dell requires a degree in IT or maybe a TAFE course in private investigation techniques.

there are a bunch of generic dos cdrom drivers - I'll have a look tomorrow when I get home as I used to have a bootdisk I made that tried 7 or 8 drivers sequentially then installed w98 from cabs automatically for you..
red alert 2 rocks, but I can't get my flatmates to play :( they think it's too old, bastards

that would be sweet... the bootdisk i mean. zip the sucker up and email it to me.

as for your flatmates... a blow to the head with a large rock while they're sleeping. it'll either knock some sense into them OR if they end up dead then you can get new replacement flatmates. but this time make sure they're up for some RA2 action.

once i've sorted out the Win98 on the Dell notebook and the HP Pavillion i'll be persuading the very non-games playing wife to join me and the 12 year old son in playing RA2. she should like Agent Tanya's abilities. she can use her Compaq notebook so we'll have three on the network. a Netgear 5 port hub that hasn't seen action in almost 2 years. then by February i'll have a new desktop PC. and then the 8 year old daughter can join in. she loves RA2. but i think it's because of the dolphins.

[dozer]

yes, you cant really call 98/2k/xp with bootable disks, i think your problem is mscdex(?) or whatever cd drivers. sounds like you have them with the xp disks, id recommend w2k over 98 and can get you a (evaluation) copy if need be, of course you have a license

[legion]

in the case of installing win98 just don't ;) w2k is a much stabler OS, some older games may be a problem though

[Reprobate]

i still haven't had luck with getting Windows 98 onto the Dell notebook.

I'll consider Win2K but I have a question... has anyone here played a LAN game of Red Alert 2 with Win2K on the network? (and no Win98 at all).

if it'll work with it, then i'll give it a shot.

otherwise i managed to install Win98 onto the HP Pavilion 8506(with 500mHz CPU).

though after doing a clean install it's only allowing me to have 16 colours for the monitor (i've had to use an 'evaluation' copy of Win98, because we lost the serial number for the original cd that came with the system). i'm at the moment downloading the Intel i810 Driver Update (http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?lc=en&cc=us&os=54&tool=softwareCategory&dlc=en&product=60475&softwareitem=pv533en) in the hope that it will be the remedy to the problem.

having the HP with Win98 means that here at my place i have a machine that can set up the RA2 games, so it won't matter what is on the Dell notebook. However it limits me from easily taking the notebook elsewhere to host the games. thankfully i have friends that enjoy a bit of RA2 carnage. though it's been a while. but that would mean they hunger for it.

[Reprobate]

for the interests of information sharing and geek education, HP Pavilion 8506 (with 500mHz CPU) + Win98 also needs the Intel i810 Driver Update (http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?lc=en&cc=us&os=54&tool=softwareCategory&dlc=en&product=60475&softwareitem=pv533en)

now i have more options than just a 600x400 screen and 16 colours.

next step... getting the NetGear 5 port hub to work with it and the HP compaq nx9010 for a bit of RA2 action.

[Moses]

I found the old w98 installation bootdisk and multiple cd drivers if you still want it..

[Reprobate]

I found the old w98 installation bootdisk and multiple cd drivers if you still want it..

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Moses again.

I owe ya. :D