Install Win 98SE over Win 98

darol · 12-25-2006, 05:18 PM

I have win 98 and would like to upgrade to win 98se. When I click on the setup.exe file nothing happens. It does not open. Any ideas.

Thanks

ceri sheeran · 12-26-2006, 04:48 AM

Hi,

Backup all data you need to keep from the WIN 98 machine before tying to upgrade toi WIN 98SE.

Basic problem is that Windows 98 SE can see WIN 98 FE and soes not understand why you are trying to install it.

Solution is very easy.

Copy the file WIN.COM to a floppy disk.

Now rename "WIN.COM" to "WINCOM.OLD"

This would allow you to go back to WIN 98FE if necessary.

Setup should now work.

hth

Ceri

Jlp1928 · 12-26-2006, 07:41 AM

Hi Darol, That Setup file is on the 98SE CD? If that one doesn't run then there is something wrong with the CD. If your CD reader is setup to autoStart the Microsoft 98SE install CD will start itself and ask you if you want to run the install. Soon in the install it will ask you if you want to save the old OS in case you have to go back to it. If all goes well you can dump the saved OS in Control Panel ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS.

Luck, Jim

darol · 12-26-2006, 08:19 AM

it does ask me if i want to upgrade I click on yes. it comes to the first screen with all the options I go into browse this cd, That is where it hangs.
My son used this cd on another machine but he also reformatted first. I do not want to lose everything, so i am leery.Do i need to backup the whole computer, really do not know if I can do that. How does renaming that win file work. Will the cd not see win 98. It is just an upgrade disk.

Thanks

A little worried I will lose everything.

ceri sheeran · 12-26-2006, 08:33 AM

Hi,

When trying to use a full WIN 98SE installation disk on a computer with WIN98 FE.

The installation process still sees an original installation of WIN98 First Edition FE and hangs at this point.

The solution to this was to rename WIN.COM. to WINCOM.OLD and copy it to floppy disk. This stopped the installation process seeing the installation of 98 FE and allowed the install.

You can still find the pure Microsoft WIN98SE upgrade disk on ebay and other sites. It would be wiser IMHO to buy a full version of 98SE. Backup your data or another media and then clean install

You can use just the upgrade CD to install 98SE but may be asked to insert the 98FE CD at some point.

Ceri

darol · 12-26-2006, 08:45 AM

Do I do this in the registry?

ceri sheeran · 12-26-2006, 09:06 AM

Hi,

NO
Please stay well clear of the registry. It is the one of easiest ways to turn your computer into a door stop.

Copy the WIN.COM file to floppy disk

now rename it as advised.

RENAM WIN.COM WINCOM.OLD

You should then be able to run SETUP from the WIN98SE bootable CD

Download and create a WIN98SE bootable floppy disk from http;??www.bootdisk.com

Run the image file to create the bootable floppy.

Boot from it.

You will need to boot from the bootable floppy disk to get the drivers to run your CD drive. Not all WIN 98SE CD's were bootable.

You may need tochange your boot order in BIOS to do this.

If your optical drive is a DVD you may need to install a CD DISK drive to be able to use it from a WIN98SE bootable floppy disk.

CD tochange drive (CD) the Optical drive

Normally this is CD D: but could easily be E or D:

A simple DIR D: E: or F: will tell you this.

Once you are on the Optical drive

Type SETUP

Follow on screen wizard.

If you have backed up all your data it would be advisable to use FDISK to remove all previous partitioning DATA. Then create new FAT32 partitions as necessary

hth

Ceri

Jlp1928 · 12-26-2006, 12:16 PM

Hi again Darol, You don't want to BROWSE the CD! Just go ahead with the install. If that doesn't work run the SETUP.EXE file on the CD. Questions?

Luck, Jim

WebKing · 12-28-2006, 02:34 AM

Does you CD hang, while browsing it on other PC too? Then there might be problem in reading the disc. OR make sure if your drive is OK.
If the CD you have is just for the upgrade then backup will be the best option to restore back to 98. You will be more comfortable/free to experiment after that.

**OldGrayGary** · 12-28-2006, 04:20 PM

Hi all

Looks like lots of good help has been given already - so I hope all is well with the upgrade.

Just in case you'd still like a step-by-step, here's a guide (very similiar to some of the instructions already given, with some extra details) ---
"Over the top ReInstall of Win9x"
http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=70846

I put that one together a few years ago. One note relevant to running the procedure nowadays: it's still OK to visit Windows Update for a Windows 98/98se computer = you can still get all the updates up to a time around June 2006. Not too bad, really!

Have fun with your project.
. . . Gary

12-25-2006, 05:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
darol Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5 OS: win 98	Install Win 98SE over Win 98 I have win 98 and would like to upgrade to win 98se. When I click on the setup.exe file nothing happens. It does not open. Any ideas. Thanks

12-26-2006, 08:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
darol Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5 OS: win 98	win98se it does ask me if i want to upgrade I click on yes. it comes to the first screen with all the options I go into browse this cd, That is where it hangs. My son used this cd on another machine but he also reformatted first. I do not want to lose everything, so i am leery.Do i need to backup the whole computer, really do not know if I can do that. How does renaming that win file work. Will the cd not see win 98. It is just an upgrade disk. Thanks A little worried I will lose everything.

12-26-2006, 08:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
darol Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5 OS: win 98	upgrade Do I do this in the registry?

12-28-2006, 02:34 AM	#9 (permalink)
WebKing Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 33 OS: XP and 2003	Does you CD hang, while browsing it on other PC too? Then there might be problem in reading the disc. OR make sure if your drive is OK. If the CD you have is just for the upgrade then backup will be the best option to restore back to 98. You will be more comfortable/free to experiment after that. __________________ Worry is like a rocking chair; it keeps you busy, but gets you nowhere. So...

12-28-2006, 04:20 PM	#10 (permalink)
OldGrayGary Mentor, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 2,240 OS: Windows 98se/2000/XP/Vista	Hi all Looks like lots of good help has been given already - so I hope all is well with the upgrade. Just in case you'd still like a step-by-step, here's a guide (very similiar to some of the instructions already given, with some extra details) --- "Over the top ReInstall of Win9x" http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=70846 I put that one together a few years ago. One note relevant to running the procedure nowadays: it's still OK to visit Windows Update for a Windows 98/98se computer = you can still get all the updates up to a time around June 2006. Not too bad, really! Have fun with your project. . . . Gary __________________

12-26-2006, 04:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
ceri sheeran Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 285 OS: WINXP	Hi, Backup all data you need to keep from the WIN 98 machine before tying to upgrade toi WIN 98SE. Basic problem is that Windows 98 SE can see WIN 98 FE and soes not understand why you are trying to install it. Solution is very easy. Copy the file WIN.COM to a floppy disk. Now rename "WIN.COM" to "WINCOM.OLD" This would allow you to go back to WIN 98FE if necessary. Setup should now work. hth Ceri

12-26-2006, 07:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jlp1928 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 440 OS: Win98, XP, 2000	Hi Darol, That Setup file is on the 98SE CD? If that one doesn't run then there is something wrong with the CD. If your CD reader is setup to autoStart the Microsoft 98SE install CD will start itself and ask you if you want to run the install. Soon in the install it will ask you if you want to save the old OS in case you have to go back to it. If all goes well you can dump the saved OS in Control Panel ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS. Luck, Jim

12-26-2006, 08:33 AM	#5 (permalink)
ceri sheeran Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 285 OS: WINXP	Hi, When trying to use a full WIN 98SE installation disk on a computer with WIN98 FE. The installation process still sees an original installation of WIN98 First Edition FE and hangs at this point. The solution to this was to rename WIN.COM. to WINCOM.OLD and copy it to floppy disk. This stopped the installation process seeing the installation of 98 FE and allowed the install. You can still find the pure Microsoft WIN98SE upgrade disk on ebay and other sites. It would be wiser IMHO to buy a full version of 98SE. Backup your data or another media and then clean install You can use just the upgrade CD to install 98SE but may be asked to insert the 98FE CD at some point. Ceri

12-26-2006, 09:06 AM	#7 (permalink)
ceri sheeran Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 285 OS: WINXP	Hi, NO Please stay well clear of the registry. It is the one of easiest ways to turn your computer into a door stop. Copy the WIN.COM file to floppy disk now rename it as advised. RENAM WIN.COM WINCOM.OLD You should then be able to run SETUP from the WIN98SE bootable CD Download and create a WIN98SE bootable floppy disk from http;??www.bootdisk.com Run the image file to create the bootable floppy. Boot from it. You will need to boot from the bootable floppy disk to get the drivers to run your CD drive. Not all WIN 98SE CD's were bootable. You may need tochange your boot order in BIOS to do this. If your optical drive is a DVD you may need to install a CD DISK drive to be able to use it from a WIN98SE bootable floppy disk. CD tochange drive (CD) the Optical drive Normally this is CD D: but could easily be E or D: A simple DIR D: E: or F: will tell you this. Once you are on the Optical drive Type SETUP Follow on screen wizard. If you have backed up all your data it would be advisable to use FDISK to remove all previous partitioning DATA. Then create new FAT32 partitions as necessary hth Ceri

12-26-2006, 12:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
Jlp1928 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 440 OS: Win98, XP, 2000	Hi again Darol, You don't want to BROWSE the CD! Just go ahead with the install. If that doesn't work run the SETUP.EXE file on the CD. Questions? Luck, Jim