[SOLVED] Starting Windows from DOS prompt

LUFINI · 06-12-2009, 11:00 AM

Can anyone tell me how I load Windows 98 to my hard drive from the A: prompt in DOS? I have the 98 startup floppy disk but no boot disk. I have Windows 98 on CD.

**manic** · 06-12-2009, 12:32 PM

This site seems real good,,go here
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/inde...STALL%20GUIDES
If you get stuck post back here,,it can be tricky, to much for me to
explain, this site says it all, I reckon...

Jlp1928 · 06-12-2009, 01:00 PM

Hi Lufini,

The correct WIn98 Startup Disk is a boot disk. In addition it sets up your CD reader to work and has some useful diagnostics. It gets you to DOS (A:>). The last thing it tells you is the current Letter for the CD. Go to that CD (E: enter) or whatever the letter is and type SETUP enter. That gets the install going. Just follow the directions.

Good Luck, JIm

**blah789** · 06-12-2009, 08:21 PM

One slight correction to Jlp's post.
When you boot into the floppy, you'll probably end up in A: and yes it'll also tell you the letter of the CD-ROM drive (usually E:). To get to the E: drive, type
E:
(as mentioned above). Usually the setup program is in the WIN98 folder. If you're unsure, type
dir /p
If you see setup.exe amongst the files (unlikely), then type
setup
If not, then type
cd win98
(or whatever you see - it might be win98se for second edition, not sure)
THEN type
setup /p j
I like to add the /p j (forward slash /, not backslash \) because it detects ACPI systems and you don't get the dumb "it is now safe to turn off your computer" when shutting down.

All the above assumes the C: drive is already partitioned and formatted. If not, you'll have to run fdisk and format c: before you can install anything.

**manic** · 06-12-2009, 08:38 PM

Way to complicated. After its fdisked, reboot, load cdrom drivers, yes
to allow bigger harddrives. At blinking a: type in setup. Hit enter and
away you go. I really liked win98, but it was a pain to install.

Jlp1928 · 06-13-2009, 06:12 AM

Hi Blah,

The setup.exe is usually in the CD Root directory as well as in the Win98 folder.

Jim

LUFINI · 06-13-2009, 07:19 AM

Thanks all. This worked. It's easy if you know what to do!

**manic** · 06-13-2009, 08:41 AM

Great! glad it worked,,You can mark this thread as solved using the
thread tools, up top...

Jlp1928 · 06-14-2009, 12:28 PM

Hi again Lufini,

Thanks for letting the guys know that all is well and thanks for the thanks.

Jim

06-12-2009, 11:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
LUFINI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 16 OS: win xp	[SOLVED] Starting Windows from DOS prompt Can anyone tell me how I load Windows 98 to my hard drive from the A: prompt in DOS? I have the 98 startup floppy disk but no boot disk. I have Windows 98 on CD.

06-12-2009, 12:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,251 OS: xp	Re: Starting Windows from DOS prompt This site seems real good,,go here http://www.windowsreinstall.com/inde...STALL%20GUIDES If you get stuck post back here,,it can be tricky, to much for me to explain, this site says it all, I reckon... __________________

06-12-2009, 01:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jlp1928 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 441 OS: Win98, XP, 2000	Re: Starting Windows from DOS prompt Hi Lufini, The correct WIn98 Startup Disk is a boot disk. In addition it sets up your CD reader to work and has some useful diagnostics. It gets you to DOS (A:>). The last thing it tells you is the current Letter for the CD. Go to that CD (E: enter) or whatever the letter is and type SETUP enter. That gets the install going. Just follow the directions. Good Luck, JIm

06-12-2009, 08:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
blah789 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,332 OS: Windows 2000 SP4 and Windows XP SP3	Re: Starting Windows from DOS prompt One slight correction to Jlp's post. When you boot into the floppy, you'll probably end up in A: and yes it'll also tell you the letter of the CD-ROM drive (usually E:). To get to the E: drive, type E: (as mentioned above). Usually the setup program is in the WIN98 folder. If you're unsure, type dir /p If you see setup.exe amongst the files (unlikely), then type setup If not, then type cd win98 (or whatever you see - it might be win98se for second edition, not sure) THEN type setup /p j I like to add the /p j (forward slash /, not backslash \) because it detects ACPI systems and you don't get the dumb "it is now safe to turn off your computer" when shutting down. All the above assumes the C: drive is already partitioned and formatted. If not, you'll have to run fdisk and format c: before you can install anything.

06-12-2009, 08:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,251 OS: xp	Re: Starting Windows from DOS prompt Way to complicated. After its fdisked, reboot, load cdrom drivers, yes to allow bigger harddrives. At blinking a: type in setup. Hit enter and away you go. I really liked win98, but it was a pain to install. __________________

06-13-2009, 06:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
Jlp1928 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 441 OS: Win98, XP, 2000	Re: Starting Windows from DOS prompt Hi Blah, The setup.exe is usually in the CD Root directory as well as in the Win98 folder. Jim

06-13-2009, 07:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
LUFINI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 16 OS: win xp	Re: Starting Windows from DOS prompt Thanks all. This worked. It's easy if you know what to do!

06-13-2009, 08:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,251 OS: xp	Re: Starting Windows from DOS prompt Great! glad it worked,,You can mark this thread as solved using the thread tools, up top... __________________

06-14-2009, 12:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
Jlp1928 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 441 OS: Win98, XP, 2000	Re: [SOLVED] Starting Windows from DOS prompt Hi again Lufini, Thanks for letting the guys know that all is well and thanks for the thanks. Jim