Why is Win98SE disc needed for building drivers database?

When I install drivers for a new hardware device under Win98SE, Windows
requires that I put the Win98SE disc in which apparently has something to do
with its building a drivers database. What does it need that disc for, when
I'm installing the drivers from another source? Later versions of Windows
don't require this, and it's a little annoying because I have a tendency to
misplace the Win98SE disc, so then I have to spend time looking for it.

Is there something I can put on my hard drive from the Win98SE disc so I
won't need to use the disc itself every time? Could I just copy the whole
disc to another partition and somehow direct Windows to that when it asks me
to insert the disc?

Yes, you can copy the entire contents of the WIN98 folder from the CD to
your hard drive (sub-folders of WIN98 folder aren't needed.) Where you put
them, what you name the folder, isn't important. When requested for the
Windows Setup Files, point the dialogue to that folder. Somtimes Windows
even remembers this location, s.

When I do this, I also go through the Registry searching for any references
to [cd-drive]:\WIN98\ and change the path appropriately.

--

Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

"Neil Harrington" wrote in message
...
When I install drivers for a new hardware device under Win98SE, Windows
requires that I put the Win98SE disc in which apparently has something to
do with its building a drivers database. What does it need that disc for,
when I'm installing the drivers from another source? Later versions of
Windows don't require this, and it's a little annoying because I have a
tendency to misplace the Win98SE disc, so then I have to spend time
looking for it.

Is there something I can put on my hard drive from the Win98SE disc so I
won't need to use the disc itself every time? Could I just copy the whole
disc to another partition and somehow direct Windows to that when it asks
me to insert the disc?

Thanks for the very fast reply, Gary!

I'm still curious though, what does Windows need the Win98SE installation
disc (or its files) for in the first place, when I'm installing drivers from
some other source? Apparently the installed Win98SE doesn't have the ability
to build a drivers database on its own, but must use something from the
installation disc to do it? Isn't that a little strange?

Neil


"Gary S. Terhune" wrote in message
...
Yes, you can copy the entire contents of the WIN98 folder from the CD to
your hard drive (sub-folders of WIN98 folder aren't needed.) Where you put
them, what you name the folder, isn't important. When requested for the
Windows Setup Files, point the dialogue to that folder. Somtimes Windows
even remembers this location, s.

When I do this, I also go through the Registry searching for any
references to [cd-drive]:\WIN98\ and change the path appropriately.

--

Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

"Neil Harrington" wrote in message
...
When I install drivers for a new hardware device under Win98SE, Windows
requires that I put the Win98SE disc in which apparently has something to
do with its building a drivers database. What does it need that disc for,
when I'm installing the drivers from another source? Later versions of
Windows don't require this, and it's a little annoying because I have a
tendency to misplace the Win98SE disc, so then I have to spend time
looking for it.

Is there something I can put on my hard drive from the Win98SE disc so I
won't need to use the disc itself every time? Could I just copy the whole
disc to another partition and somehow direct Windows to that when it asks
me to insert the disc?

Drivers from some other location often aren't drivers at all. All you get
are INF files, which are instructions for installing/configuring the drivers
supplied by Windows, not the drivers themselves. Or a device may depend on
basic Windows subsystems that need to be installed and/or
configured/reconfigured. In many cases this reinstallation is redundant, the
stuff is already there and configured correctly, but drivers installers want
to make sure, so they start from scratch.

--

Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

"Neil Harrington" wrote in message
. ..
Thanks for the very fast reply, Gary!

I'm still curious though, what does Windows need the Win98SE installation
disc (or its files) for in the first place, when I'm installing drivers
from some other source? Apparently the installed Win98SE doesn't have the
ability to build a drivers database on its own, but must use something
from the installation disc to do it? Isn't that a little strange?

Neil


"Gary S. Terhune" wrote in message
...
Yes, you can copy the entire contents of the WIN98 folder from the CD to
your hard drive (sub-folders of WIN98 folder aren't needed.) Where you
put them, what you name the folder, isn't important. When requested for
the Windows Setup Files, point the dialogue to that folder. Somtimes
Windows even remembers this location, s.

When I do this, I also go through the Registry searching for any
references to [cd-drive]:\WIN98\ and change the path appropriately.

--

Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

"Neil Harrington" wrote in message
...
When I install drivers for a new hardware device under Win98SE, Windows
requires that I put the Win98SE disc in which apparently has something
to do with its building a drivers database. What does it need that disc
for, when I'm installing the drivers from another source? Later versions
of Windows don't require this, and it's a little annoying because I have
a tendency to misplace the Win98SE disc, so then I have to spend time
looking for it.

Is there something I can put on my hard drive from the Win98SE disc so I
won't need to use the disc itself every time? Could I just copy the
whole disc to another partition and somehow direct Windows to that when
it asks me to insert the disc?

Ah, I see. Thanks, Gary.

Neil


"Gary S. Terhune" wrote in message
...
Drivers from some other location often aren't drivers at all. All you get
are INF files, which are instructions for installing/configuring the
drivers supplied by Windows, not the drivers themselves. Or a device may
depend on basic Windows subsystems that need to be installed and/or
configured/reconfigured. In many cases this reinstallation is redundant,
the stuff is already there and configured correctly, but drivers
installers want to make sure, so they start from scratch.

--

Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

"Neil Harrington" wrote in message
. ..
Thanks for the very fast reply, Gary!

I'm still curious though, what does Windows need the Win98SE installation
disc (or its files) for in the first place, when I'm installing drivers
from some other source? Apparently the installed Win98SE doesn't have the
ability to build a drivers database on its own, but must use something
from the installation disc to do it? Isn't that a little strange?

Neil


"Gary S. Terhune" wrote in message
...
Yes, you can copy the entire contents of the WIN98 folder from the CD to
your hard drive (sub-folders of WIN98 folder aren't needed.) Where you
put them, what you name the folder, isn't important. When requested for
the Windows Setup Files, point the dialogue to that folder. Somtimes
Windows even remembers this location, s.

When I do this, I also go through the Registry searching for any
references to [cd-drive]:\WIN98\ and change the path appropriately.

--

Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

"Neil Harrington" wrote in message
...
When I install drivers for a new hardware device under Win98SE, Windows
requires that I put the Win98SE disc in which apparently has something
to do with its building a drivers database. What does it need that disc
for, when I'm installing the drivers from another source? Later
versions of Windows don't require this, and it's a little annoying
because I have a tendency to misplace the Win98SE disc, so then I have
to spend time looking for it.

Is there something I can put on my hard drive from the Win98SE disc so
I won't need to use the disc itself every time? Could I just copy the
whole disc to another partition and somehow direct Windows to that when
it asks me to insert the disc?

Glad to be of service.

--

Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

"Neil Harrington" wrote in message
. ..
Ah, I see. Thanks, Gary.

Neil


"Gary S. Terhune" wrote in message
...
Drivers from some other location often aren't drivers at all. All you get
are INF files, which are instructions for installing/configuring the
drivers supplied by Windows, not the drivers themselves. Or a device may
depend on basic Windows subsystems that need to be installed and/or
configured/reconfigured. In many cases this reinstallation is redundant,
the stuff is already there and configured correctly, but drivers
installers want to make sure, so they start from scratch.

--

Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

"Neil Harrington" wrote in message
. ..
Thanks for the very fast reply, Gary!

I'm still curious though, what does Windows need the Win98SE
installation disc (or its files) for in the first place, when I'm
installing drivers from some other source? Apparently the installed
Win98SE doesn't have the ability to build a drivers database on its own,
but must use something from the installation disc to do it? Isn't that a
little strange?

Neil


"Gary S. Terhune" wrote in message
...
Yes, you can copy the entire contents of the WIN98 folder from the CD
to your hard drive (sub-folders of WIN98 folder aren't needed.) Where
you put them, what you name the folder, isn't important. When requested
for the Windows Setup Files, point the dialogue to that folder.
Somtimes Windows even remembers this location, s.

When I do this, I also go through the Registry searching for any
references to [cd-drive]:\WIN98\ and change the path appropriately.

--

Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

"Neil Harrington" wrote in message
...
When I install drivers for a new hardware device under Win98SE,
Windows requires that I put the Win98SE disc in which apparently has
something to do with its building a drivers database. What does it
need that disc for, when I'm installing the drivers from another
source? Later versions of Windows don't require this, and it's a
little annoying because I have a tendency to misplace the Win98SE
disc, so then I have to spend time looking for it.

Is there something I can put on my hard drive from the Win98SE disc so
I won't need to use the disc itself every time? Could I just copy the
whole disc to another partition and somehow direct Windows to that
when it asks me to insert the disc?