Install Operating System

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Installing Windows with a typical Windows 98 installation option will take between 30-60 minutes depending on the system you are installing Windows onto. You answer a few questions that Windows ask you and Windows will deliver all installation options that you have chosen.

We can sometimes run into several problems while installing Windows and it is our hope that this page will provide for you easy to understand and easy to follow instructions for installing Windows in your system.

You have two options when installing Windows. We are either installing from a blank Hard Drive or we are upgrading our current Windows Operating System. Which option you are performing is what will determine which route we take in installing Windows.

LETS BEGIN:

If you are upgrading your current Windows then skip FDISK and FORMAT section and after booting from START UP disk and choosing start with CD-ROM support go to section #7.

1 The first thing we will need for installing Windows is a START UP disk. If you have one available great, if not then you will need to have access to a computer that has the Windows that you will be installing onto your computer. Making a START UP disk is performed by going into Control Panel and going to Add/Remove Programs, then going to START UP Disk and making a disk for your installation. Once done creating your START UP disk place it in the floppy drive ( A:/ ).

2. Boot computer with START UP disk inside and allow disk to boot the computer. You will get a window asking if you want to start your computer with or without CD-ROM support, choose WITH CD-ROM support and allow all the temporary CD drives to be installed for the CD-ROM.

3. At the prompt type in FDISK then press enter. Answer yes to large drive support. After this you are ready to create your C: partition. FDISK menu will look as follows:

Microsoft Windows 98
Fixed Disk Setup Program
(c)Copyright Microsoft Corp. 1983-1998
FDISK Options

Current fixed disk drive:1

1. Create DOS partition or Logical DOS Drive
2. Set active partition
3. Delete partition or Logical DOS Drive
4. Display partition information
5. Change current fixed disk drive

4. Enter choice: #1. You will then get another windows which looks as follows:

Create DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive

Current fixed disk drive: 1

Choose one of the following:

1. Create Primary DOS Partition
2. Create Extended DOS Partition
3. Create Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition

5. Enter choice: #1 and return to main FDISK window and choose option #2 (Set active partition) and make your partition active. Once done exit FDISK

6. At the prompt type in FORMAT C: \S (The \S makes the C bootable). Hit enter and allow FORMAT to finish

7. Once FORMAT is complete, at prompt type in whatever drive letter your CD-ROM has been assigned (usually D:). Insert Windows CD into drive tray and type in SETUP.EXE and hit enter. If you are performing an upgrade from your current operating system then just place your Upgrade disk into the Cd-Rom tray and Windows should begin and continue with below instructions
****(PLEASE note that you cannot perform a Windows installation solely from a Windows 98 Upgrade disk without either original Disk 1 installation floppy disk for MS_DOS 50 or later, Windows 3.1 or later, or a floppy or CD for Windows 95...if you do use the Upgrade disk you will be asked to place one of the above mentioned items before Windows installation can and will proceed)****

8. Windows Setup begins the Windows Installation Wizard and will guide you through the installation process

9. Your first window will be Welcome to Windows 98 Setup....Click on Continue

10. Next will be License Agreement...Agree and click Next

11. Setup will then check to see if you have enough disk space to install Windows. If you do not clear up some space if you do then click Next

12. If you are upgrading Windows will ask if you want to save your old system files. If you choose to save your old system files, they will be compressed and use up 50MB of disk space. It is recommended that you do save....Click Next.
****(PLEASE note that if installing a clean installation this option will not appear)****

13. When choosing a installation option be aware of your specific needs and requirements. Generally a typical installation will work fine for most users:

Typical. Installs the components that most users will find useful: requires 186MB.
Potable. Option that is intended for laptop users: requires 175MB
Compact. Installs no optional components: require 159MB
Custom. Enables you to pick and choose which components you a: requires up to 285MB

14. Proceed with installation and allow Windows to detect all the hardware that is installed in your computer. Windows will ask you to create a Startup Disk. Proceed with creating a Startup Disk.

15. Once Windows has finished performing all its checks and your happy with all your options, click on Next and begin your Windows installation. Windows will keep you informed as to its progress and will reboot itself whenever necessary.

16. Once Windows is finished installing itself it will reboot and you will see a Welcome screen to give you a Windows 98 tour.

17. If once Windows finishes installing and reboots, Windows asks for drivers for certain devices that were not included in the Windows CD, simply place appropriate floppy or CD in its corresponding place and install needed drivers as required

If you run itno any problems while installing Windows please refer to the Windows Problems page for help in finding a solution for your particular prolem.