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Installing Windows9X
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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.
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Overview
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| 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
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| 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)
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| 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)
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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.
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| 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)
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| 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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without my written permission.
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