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Installing Windows9X

Here are a few suggestions if you need to Install or Re-install Windows9X
They are by no means the only methods but are ones I've used.

Also no method is the best. It all depends on your situation and requirements.

Before using any method...Backup...Backup...Backup
There is nothing like losing data.
If you haven't yet, you will.

Overview
FDISK and/or FORMAT
First Time Install
Simple Re-Install - (Over Existing Installation)
Clean Installation or Upgrade - (Keeping Windows & Program Files Directories)
New Installation - (Removing Original Files without a Format)

Overview
1.

If you need to partition or format the hard drive first then you can boot with a Win98 disk and do whatever is required. If this is a brand new drive you will likely need to run FDISK to create a new partition. Then reboot and format the C: drive ( format c: ). Details are in the next section
2. Also, as you will see later on, if you are wanting a clean install or upgrade, and have an operating system already on the computer, you do not need to format in order to safely do either one. There are many benefits as noted in that section.
3. Given the size of hard drives these days, I recommend copying the source files to a directory from the hard drive. Then install from that directory. The main reason is that should the operating system need files at a later date (e.g. print drivers etc.), you won't be prompted to insert the CD. It will take it right from that directory. This happens often and can save a lot of hassles. Also, if there is a defect in the CD itself, you will find out about it a lot sooner than part way through the install process.
4.

If you are doing an reinstall or upgrade, you can boot to the current version of Windows and copy the source files to a directory on your hard drive from within Windows. It is usually faster that way.

Otherwise, boot from a DOS boot disk that will let you access your CD ROM. You can download a Win98 floppy with many extras that are not normally included.

 FDISK and/or FORMAT

The following steps to partition a hard drive will assume it has not already been partitioned and that you want to create a single, FAT32 partition on the drive and format it.
1.

Boot with the Win98 boot disk
2. Run FDISK
3. Select Y (the default) to enable large hard disk support. This is for FAT32.
4. Select 1. Create DOS partition or Logical DOS Drive
5. Select 1. Create Primary DOS Partition
6. Select Y (the default) to use the maximum available size for a Primary DOS Partition and to make the partition active.
7. Reboot the computer with the disk still in the floppy drive
8. You can Format the hard drive by running  format c:

Enter Y to Proceed with Format

Note: You don't need to include the /s switch after the format since Win9x will overwrite any files with it's own version anyway.
9. If you want to, you can then give it a Volume Label
10. If there were any partitions on the drive, you can also use FDISK to first delete them and then recreate a single primary partition.
11. I also have another page with details and scenarios to Use FDISK

First Time Install
1. For a new install, I would recommend copying the source files to a directory on the hard drive and then installing from that directory. This way when Windows will need additional files like print drivers, you won't always be prompted to insert the CD.
2.

Make a directory on the hard drive . I like to use one that reflects the name of the operating system

( e.g. md c:\win98se ).

3. XCOPY the source files on the CD to that directory

( e.g. xcopy  x:\win98  c:\win98se  /s )

where x: would be replaced by the drive letter assigned to the CD ROM and win98 would be the actual location of the source files on the CD.
4. From that directory on the hard drive, run the setup.exe program.

( e.g. cd\win98se, then run setup )
5.

If the hard drive is not large enough, then you can always install from the CD ROM. In this case, change to the directory where the source files are located and run the setup.exe program from that directory. Instructions for creating or downloading a boot floppy can be found at Creating Boot Floppies
6. Note: You cannot run the setup.exe program that is on the root on the CD from DOS.

A Simple Re-Install
(Over Existing Installation)
1.

This is an option you might want to use if you suspect a corrupted Registry, Windows9x or Application files. It would be the first re-install suggestion since it involves the least risk and is the quick method to try.
2. I would recommend copying the source files to a directory on the hard drive (like c:\win98se) and then installing from that directory. This way when Windows will need additional files like print drivers, you won't always be prompted to insert the CD.
3.

For a Re-Install, I would first try running SETUP.EXE from the source files from within Windows9x if you can boot to it.
4. Otherwise boot with a floppy that can access the CD ROM, copy the source files to your hard drive and re-install from that directory.

Clean Installation or Upgrade
(Keeping Windows
& Program Files Directories)

There are many times where formatting is not the best method for doing a clean install. For  example, if you have a lot of data files, drivers and source code on the computer, all these would be lost when you format.

For example, in addition to data files such as e-mail, documents etc, many vendors keep critical hardware drivers in the \windows\options\cab or \drivers directories. Formatting would remove these important files. Also things like favorites, fonts, and desktop items will be retained.

You can get all the benefits of a clean install or upgrade without formatting your hard drive.

This involves simply renaming your existing Windows and Program Files directories, and re-installing Windows9x.
1.

Make a note of everything that makes your current installation unique. Items such as printers, dial-up and networking configuration, additional drivers that you have that were not included with Windows9x (mouse, video, sound etc.), installed applications (you can see the 32-bit ones from Control Panel / Add Remove Programs, should all be noted.
2.

Boot to DOS.

3.

Rename the current c:\windows  and c:\progra~1 (c:\program files) directories .
4.

Install a new version of Windows9x into the \WINDOWS directory
5.

Since your old files are still on the hard drive, you can easily retrieve your old Desktop, Fonts, Icons etc.
6.

Your 32-bit apps will likely need to be re-installed but this would have been the case with a format anyway. Your 16-bit apps may work depending on whether they installed DLL's to the Windows directory. If you do get a warning about a missing file, you can go to your old installation and copy the files you need.
7.

You can drag your old DESKTOP directory to your new one and the desktop icons and folders should now be there. You can do the same for the FONTS directory.
8. Once you are satisfied that everything is working the way you want, you can delete the old directories.

New Installation
(Removing Original Files without a Format)
1.

Note everything that makes your current installation unique. Items such as printers, dial-up and networking configuration, additional drivers that you had and were not a part of Windows9x (mouse, video, sound etc.), installed applications (you can see the 32-bit ones from Control Panel / Add Remove Programs, should all be noted.
2.

You can copy certain directories that can be used after the re-install. I usually backup the DESKTOP, FONTS, MAIL, COOKIES, and CURSORS directories.

Also look for files in the \WINDOWS directory that are close to the current date. See if any are data or configuration files you may want to keep. For example, Outlook can keep its files in subdirectories.
3.

Boot to DOS. Make sure you have your CD ROM drivers loading if you are going to re-install from a CD.
4.

Once you are sure there are no files you would need, delete current c:\windows  and c:\progra~1 (c:\program files) directories ((e.g. deltree /y c:\windows)
5.

If you suspect a corrupted registry, you might remove the SYSTEM.1ST file on the root of your boot drive. This has your original registry information. It is a hidden file so you will need to change it's attributes with ATTRIB (ATTRIB C:\SYSTEM.1ST -r -s -h)
6.

Install a new version of Windows9x into the \WINDOWS directory
7.

Your 32-bit apps will likely need to be re-installed. Your 16-bit apps may work depending on whether they installed DLL's to the Windows directory.

Note: If you have a FAT32 partition, the same basic steps can be used for
Windows2000 or WindowsXP.

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