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Updating Windows 98



 
 
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  #21  
Old March 3rd 06, 08:21 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.setup
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Default Updating Windows 98

On 03.03.2006 06:37 UK Time, Gary S. Terhune wrote:
OK, sorry I'm late.


Only about 1 hour, but then again you said you might be :-)


If you have no interest in saving any of the data on the drive now, or have
backed it up to removable media, the instructions are simple. If you wish to
do anything more complicated, then some lessons in BootIt NG would be
required. The only other gotcha I forgot to touch upon this morning is to
ask what brand machine this is. From the sounds of it, it's nice and
generic, but if you really want to be safe post back with make & model
before proceeding. In this post I'll assume you're proceeding to reformat
the entire disk and then clean install the OEM CD.


Yes, you are right, I have all the data and software installation
files/disks available elsewhere and can do a clean install.

I bought the laptop from novatech.co.uk and it has a Novatech sticker,
but it is in fact a Mitac model no. 6133

Is it safe to proceed?


1. If you don't already have one, make a Windows Startup floppy disk. IIRC,
you have one and couldn't find FORMAT.COM on it. That's because that program
is contained within the RAM drive that is used in this type of startup disk.
Most of the Startup floppy's files are contained within the RAM drive. A RAM
drive is an image that is loaded into RAM and which behaves as an operating
system. It takes the next letter after the hard disks and thus your
removable drives, CD, DVD, etc., get bumped up a letter.


Yes, I already have a boot floppy. Thanks for the RAM explanation.


2. Insert the Startup floppy, then reboot. Presumably the machine will boot
to the floppy disk. If not, come on back for suggestions. At the first menu,


I did a trial run yesterday, and it ignored the floppy, so I changed the
boot sequence in the BIOS so that it does boot from the floppy now.

However, I was a bit unsure about which option to choose, and perhaps I
better go back into the BIOS and tell you what options the machine
offers so that you can recommend one?

choose "...with CDROM support..." Take note at the end of the messages where


Thanks - I had wondered about which option to chose during earlier attempts.

it tells you the letter(s) of the CD drive(s). In the simplest systems, that
letter is E:\ so that's what I'll use, but it may not be the same in your
case.

2. At the A:\ prompt, run the following commands:

format c:
e: (or whatever your CD drive letter is)
setup

It's that simple, usually. Note the colons at the ends of the first two
commands.


OK, thanks.


3. I always choose Custom setup and uncheck everything. After installation


At what stage do you get this "Custom setup" choice?


is complete, I use Add/Remove Programs to add those components I'm actually
going to use.


Are you talking about Windows components or external software?


Any questions?


See above - thanks for all your help and your time!

Regards

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk
  #22  
Old March 3rd 06, 09:27 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.setup
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Updating Windows 98

On 03.03.2006 06:37 UK Time, Gary S. Terhune wrote:

2. Insert the Startup floppy, then reboot. Presumably the machine will boot
to the floppy disk. If not, come on back for suggestions. At the first menu,
choose "...with CDROM support..." Take note at the end of the messages where
it tells you the letter(s) of the CD drive(s). In the simplest systems, that
letter is E:\ so that's what I'll use, but it may not be the same in your
case.


D: in my case.


2. At the A:\ prompt, run the following commands:

format c:


It doesn't like that, i.e. it says "Bad command or file name" :-(

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk
  #23  
Old March 3rd 06, 02:59 PM posted to microsoft.public.win98.setup
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Updating Windows 98

On 03.03.2006 08:27 UK Time, Herb wrote:
On 03.03.2006 06:37 UK Time, Gary S. Terhune wrote:

2. Insert the Startup floppy, then reboot. Presumably the machine will
boot
to the floppy disk. If not, come on back for suggestions. At the first
menu,
choose "...with CDROM support..." Take note at the end of the messages
where
it tells you the letter(s) of the CD drive(s). In the simplest
systems, that
letter is E:\ so that's what I'll use, but it may not be the same in your
case.


D: in my case.


2. At the A:\ prompt, run the following commands:

format c:


It doesn't like that, i.e. it says "Bad command or file name" :-(


Gary is obviously a little preoccupied at present.

In his temporary absence, perhaps someone else might be able to help me
overcome this (hopefully minor?) initial obstacle?

Thank you.

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk
  #24  
Old March 3rd 06, 04:49 PM posted to microsoft.public.win98.setup
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Updating Windows 98

Gary apologizes. He fell asleep.

If you load a Windows Startup floppy bootdisk and FORMAT C: doesn't work,
I'd have to think that a new Windows Startup floppy is called for. Use the
appropriate tab in Add/Remove Programs, or download one from
www.bootdisk.com

Note that a boot floppy made using Windows XP is not good enough.

If you have a standard Windows Startup floppy, and assuming you only have
the one C:\ hard drive partition, the RAM drive becomes D:\ and the CD drive
becomes E:\. Look at the final messages from the boot sequence. It should
tell you what the new CD drive letter is.

When you have booted to the Startup floppy, you should be able to see the
contents of each drive by using the DIR command:

c:
dir
d:
dir
e:
dir

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User

"Herb" HE@UK wrote in message
...
On 03.03.2006 08:27 UK Time, Herb wrote:
On 03.03.2006 06:37 UK Time, Gary S. Terhune wrote:

2. Insert the Startup floppy, then reboot. Presumably the machine will
boot
to the floppy disk. If not, come on back for suggestions. At the first
menu,
choose "...with CDROM support..." Take note at the end of the messages
where
it tells you the letter(s) of the CD drive(s). In the simplest
systems, that
letter is E:\ so that's what I'll use, but it may not be the same in

your
case.


D: in my case.


2. At the A:\ prompt, run the following commands:

format c:


It doesn't like that, i.e. it says "Bad command or file name" :-(


Gary is obviously a little preoccupied at present.

In his temporary absence, perhaps someone else might be able to help me
overcome this (hopefully minor?) initial obstacle?

Thank you.

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk



  #25  
Old March 3rd 06, 05:04 PM posted to microsoft.public.win98.setup
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Updating Windows 98

The other logical conclusion that can be drawn from your results is that
there is no C:\ hard drive partition available. That would make the RAM
drive C:\ and it would be unformattable.

Run FDISK and see what it says you have for hard drive partitions. If you
find a hard drive listed in FDISK, remove all partitions on it and then
create a new one. Once the procedure is done and you've restarted, then run
FORMAT C:

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User

"Herb" HE@UK wrote in message
...
On 03.03.2006 08:27 UK Time, Herb wrote:
On 03.03.2006 06:37 UK Time, Gary S. Terhune wrote:

2. Insert the Startup floppy, then reboot. Presumably the machine will
boot
to the floppy disk. If not, come on back for suggestions. At the first
menu,
choose "...with CDROM support..." Take note at the end of the messages
where
it tells you the letter(s) of the CD drive(s). In the simplest
systems, that
letter is E:\ so that's what I'll use, but it may not be the same in

your
case.


D: in my case.


2. At the A:\ prompt, run the following commands:

format c:


It doesn't like that, i.e. it says "Bad command or file name" :-(


Gary is obviously a little preoccupied at present.

In his temporary absence, perhaps someone else might be able to help me
overcome this (hopefully minor?) initial obstacle?

Thank you.

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk



  #26  
Old March 3rd 06, 05:37 PM posted to microsoft.public.win98.setup
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Updating Windows 98

I should clarify that you can create a proper boot disk on a WinXP system by
downloading an ISO or other format of Bootdisk from Bootdisk.com. But the
"boot disk" option offered during the format of a floppy on Windows XP will
not work for your purposes.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote in message
...
Gary apologizes. He fell asleep.

If you load a Windows Startup floppy bootdisk and FORMAT C: doesn't work,
I'd have to think that a new Windows Startup floppy is called for. Use the
appropriate tab in Add/Remove Programs, or download one from
www.bootdisk.com

Note that a boot floppy made using Windows XP is not good enough.

If you have a standard Windows Startup floppy, and assuming you only have
the one C:\ hard drive partition, the RAM drive becomes D:\ and the CD

drive
becomes E:\. Look at the final messages from the boot sequence. It should
tell you what the new CD drive letter is.

When you have booted to the Startup floppy, you should be able to see the
contents of each drive by using the DIR command:

c:
dir
d:
dir
e:
dir

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User



  #27  
Old March 3rd 06, 05:37 PM posted to microsoft.public.win98.setup
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Updating Windows 98

When you run FDISK, say "Yes" to the "Large Drive Support" question. Then
choose option 4., the partition information utility. The rest of the
commands should be self-explanatory.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote in message
...
The other logical conclusion that can be drawn from your results is that
there is no C:\ hard drive partition available. That would make the RAM
drive C:\ and it would be unformattable.

Run FDISK and see what it says you have for hard drive partitions. If you
find a hard drive listed in FDISK, remove all partitions on it and then
create a new one. Once the procedure is done and you've restarted, then

run
FORMAT C:

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User

"Herb" HE@UK wrote in message
...
On 03.03.2006 08:27 UK Time, Herb wrote:
On 03.03.2006 06:37 UK Time, Gary S. Terhune wrote:

2. Insert the Startup floppy, then reboot. Presumably the machine

will
boot
to the floppy disk. If not, come on back for suggestions. At the

first
menu,
choose "...with CDROM support..." Take note at the end of the

messages
where
it tells you the letter(s) of the CD drive(s). In the simplest
systems, that
letter is E:\ so that's what I'll use, but it may not be the same in

your
case.

D: in my case.


2. At the A:\ prompt, run the following commands:

format c:

It doesn't like that, i.e. it says "Bad command or file name" :-(


Gary is obviously a little preoccupied at present.

In his temporary absence, perhaps someone else might be able to help me
overcome this (hopefully minor?) initial obstacle?

Thank you.

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk





  #28  
Old March 3rd 06, 05:43 PM posted to microsoft.public.win98.setup
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Updating Windows 98

On 03.03.2006 16:04 UK Time, Gary S. Terhune wrote:
The other logical conclusion that can be drawn from your results is that
there is no C:\ hard drive partition available. That would make the RAM
drive C:\ and it would be unformattable.


Hi Gary,

I am somewhat confused now.

I definitely have a C: drive, and I am using an official MS Windows 98
boot floppy.

When I boot from floppy, I get the result indicated earlier, i.e. the CD
drive is reported as D:

I can see the contents of the A, C, and D drives via

A:
dir
C:
dir
D:
dir

But the command "format C:" results in a "Bad command or file name" error.


Run FDISK and see what it says you have for hard drive partitions. If you
find a hard drive listed in FDISK, remove all partitions on it and then
create a new one. Once the procedure is done and you've restarted, then run
FORMAT C:


As expected, FDISK reports the C: drive as a single partition (FAT32)
with a capacity of 6194 MB.

It also says Status "A" and Type "PRI DOS" - not sure what this means.

What next?

Thanks

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk
  #29  
Old March 3rd 06, 06:26 PM posted to microsoft.public.win98.setup
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Updating Windows 98

"Herb" HE@UK wrote in message
...

Hi Gary,

I am somewhat confused now.

I definitely have a C: drive, and I am using an official MS Windows 98
boot floppy.

When I boot from floppy, I get the result indicated earlier, i.e. the CD
drive is reported as D:

I can see the contents of the A, C, and D drives via

A:
dir
C:
dir
D:
dir

But the command "format C:" results in a "Bad command or file name" error.

Run FDISK and see what it says you have for hard drive partitions. If

you
find a hard drive listed in FDISK, remove all partitions on it and then
create a new one. Once the procedure is done and you've restarted, then

run
FORMAT C:


As expected, FDISK reports the C: drive as a single partition (FAT32)
with a capacity of 6194 MB.

It also says Status "A" and Type "PRI DOS" - not sure what this means.

What next?


I'd try creating and using a different Boot disk using an ISO from
http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm.

This system ran OK before this, right? Just that you want to upgrade to
Second Edition? Man, you've got *me* perplexed.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User



  #30  
Old March 3rd 06, 06:37 PM posted to microsoft.public.win98.setup
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Updating Windows 98

On 03.03.2006 17:26 UK Time, Gary S. Terhune wrote:

I'd try creating and using a different Boot disk using an ISO from
http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm.

This system ran OK before this, right? Just that you want to upgrade to
Second Edition? Man, you've got *me* perplexed.


Thanks - I'll have to resume this tomorrow - bye for now.

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk
 




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