Windows 98 SE?

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Ruahrc

Limp Gawd
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Mar 8, 2009
Messages
451
Blast from the past...

My dad has a project in mind that involves installing some very old hardware into a computer (ISA expansion cards) and needs windows 98 because anything newer won't support the hardware. He has a key for an upgrade edition and disk but it does not seem to install on a blank drive.

1) Is it possible to install a clean copy (onto a blank drive) of W98SE using an "upgrade version" disk?
2) Is it possible to download anywhere a "full version" W98SE... at least legally? Or does one need to search uh, "alternative sources"
3) Would an "upgrade version" key even work with a "full version" install disk?

Ruahrc
 
I think you can do a clean install, you just need to present a Windows 3.11, 95 or 98 (first edition) install disk.
 
If you have a CD of Win 95, or Win 98, you can use it to verify a windows "installation" during setup. Iirc, there is a specific file it looks for (I use to have just that file on a floppy disk, heh) for verification. I don't remember what it was though.
 
Get the image from any reliable source that is not illegal when you buy windows you are paying for legal rights of the key only. If you have a legal key then you are not breaking any rules or laws. MS even has OS images for dl for newer OS because they sell keys only same goes for office. if you like pm me i have all the ISO images for the OS's and can host it for you they are all from Microsoft as i use them for my business.
 
Windows 2000 Support my ISA hardware just fine. Maybe you meant the software would work only in 98(windows 9x)
 
Grazehell said:
Windows 2000 Support my ISA hardware just fine. Maybe you meant the software would work only in 98(windows 9x)
Click to expand...

That or only DOS / Win9x drivers exist for the hardware.

As already stated, the easiest way for the OP is to find a Win95 or Win 3.xx disc/floppies to present during install of the upgrade edition. Oh and once you get it up and running be sure to image the drive. Win98 can crap itself seemingly on a whim. It can work for a week and blow itself up, or go a year without issue, but it will eventually crap itself..
 
During the install tell the installation to "look" back into the cd drive letter:\win98 dir and the install will install correctly aka a full version.
 
Win98SE, oh the bliss. I remember those days of rebuilding my PC every few months to get the fresh new performance back.

But the best thing? The Custom Install part. Where I could choose the stuff I wanted and didn't want on my system. How great and forward thinking that was!
 
If you are concerned mostly about legality:

Win95 is available to be bought on Amazon: here

I'd end up installing Win95 then doing a clean upgrade to 98SE. Gets rid of some of the more frustrating parts of working with Windows upgrade discs..
 
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Here is an old trick I used to use when I needed to install Windows 95 OSR 2.5, and all I had was the upgrade CD. It might work for doing Windows 98 also.

Prep your hard disk; format, etc.. MS-DOS, etc...

Then create a directory: C:\WINDOWS
Inside of that directory, create two "fake" Windows files; they are the "gdi.exe" and the "win386.exe" files.

"Copy con gdi.exe"
then type a dozen or so random characters...
Ctrl+Z to save it
Then "Copy gdi.exe win386.exe"

Now you can run setup from the upgrade disc .. It will think you have a previous version of Windows installed
 
here is how i used to do it very simple and it works

create a file, i called mine setup95.txt to your harddrive contents of the text file are
[Setup]
ccp=0

copy that file to your harddrive and point windows 98 setup to that file e.g. setup c:\setup95.txt. works every time
 
peanuthead said:
During the install tell the installation to "look" back into the cd drive letter:\win98 dir and the install will install correctly aka a full version.
Click to expand...
okstatefan69 said:
here is how i used to do it very simple and it works

create a file, i called mine setup95.txt to your harddrive contents of the text file are
[Setup]
ccp=0

copy that file to your harddrive and point windows 98 setup to that file e.g. setup c:\setup95.txt. works every time
Click to expand...
jlbenedict said:
Here is an old trick I used to use when I needed to install Windows 95 OSR 2.5, and all I had was the upgrade CD. It might work for doing Windows 98 also.

Prep your hard disk; format, etc.. MS-DOS, etc...

Then create a directory: C:\WINDOWS
Inside of that directory, create two "fake" Windows files; they are the "gdi.exe" and the "win386.exe" files.

"Copy con gdi.exe"
then type a dozen or so random characters...
Ctrl+Z to save it
Then "Copy gdi.exe win386.exe"

Now you can run setup from the upgrade disc .. It will think you have a previous version of Windows installed
Click to expand...

I had a little extra spare time and wanted to see if those tricks worked with a 98SE Upgrade disc I've held on to for eons within a virtual machine.

Yeah, didn't work. Guess those methods either work with Windows 95 or 98 first edition. There was a web page that explained how to modify some key installation files with a hex editor, however it looks like it went down long ago.

OP, you're either gonna have to buy a full edition 98 disc on ebay or craigslist, or borrow/buy a Windows 95/3.1x install disk in order to install the copy you have (you can clean install but you'll need the install disks for the older Windows copies). I might have some 3.1 floppies lying around somewhere. If I can find them, I'll image them and pm you with a link.
 
My 1st pc was dell with w95 with upgrade key to w98, and like some here i'd re-install it every couple of months to get rid of the weeds.
 
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