Win98SE setup hangs

My old Win98 system was so full of rubbish that I decided to format the hard
drive and install Windows 98 SE. I used my Win98 startup disk and ran fdisk,
successfully creating two FAT32 partitions of approx 10,000 MB each. I then
restarted with CD-ROM support and changed to my CD-ROM drive (did DIR just to
make sure I was on the right drive). Then I typed setup. Setup ran scandisk
ok. But as soon as the Windows98 setup screen appeared, setup froze either
before or immediately after hitting enter on the "Continue" button (I had to
hit enter because the keyboard had already stopped responding).

I tried this several times, but always with the same result. Then I read
something about typing format c: /s at the A: prompt to make the disk
usable, so I tried that and then tried running setup again, but still no joy!

If I have set the jumper on the hard drive incorrectly, surely the computer
would not even recognise the hard drive, would it? Or might the PC recognise
the hard drive and run fdisk etc ok - even if the jumper was incorrectly set?

The PC sounded like some old tugboat before I formatted it. But now it
sounds even worse! So I don't know if the problem is due to the jumper being
set slightly wrong? The hard disk has completely given up the ghost? Or there
is something wrong with the procedure I have followed? EG: Can I not install
Win98SE directly onto a FAT32 formatted hard drive? Or must I install Win98
first and then install an ugrade version of Win98se?

The PC has a Chaintech 6LTM2 BIOS and as far as I can tell, the Trend Virus
protection is disabled.

I am getting really upset about this, as I have promised my daughter the PC
for Xmas - Xmas 2004 that is! So if anyone can help, I'd be ever so grateful!
Thanx.


--
Why is it always so hard to find the information you need on the Microsoft
site?!!

Since this disk sounded bad before you formatted it, it was probably failing
then and may have been the cause of some of your problems. I suggest that
you get a new drive and try the installation on that drive or test this
drive on another computer to see if it works there and does not continue to
make the loud noises that you mention.

If the jumper is set incorrectly, the drive will generally not be recognized
where you intended it to be - for instance, it may show up as secondary or
slave drive rather than master. If you plug it into the wrong place on the
motherboard, then it will show up as on the secondary IDE channel rather
than primary.

These articles might be helpful for your installation. When installing a
new drive, the jumper will generally be set to be the master when received
from the manufacturer.

How to Use the Fdisk Tool and the Format Tool to Partition or Repartition a
Hard Disk
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=255867

How to Install Windows 98 on a Computer with No Operating System
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=221829

PattyL


"Essexbiker" wrote in message
...
My old Win98 system was so full of rubbish that I decided to format the
hard
drive and install Windows 98 SE. I used my Win98 startup disk and ran
fdisk,
successfully creating two FAT32 partitions of approx 10,000 MB each. I
then
restarted with CD-ROM support and changed to my CD-ROM drive (did DIR just
to
make sure I was on the right drive). Then I typed setup. Setup ran
scandisk
ok. But as soon as the Windows98 setup screen appeared, setup froze either
before or immediately after hitting enter on the "Continue" button (I had
to
hit enter because the keyboard had already stopped responding).

I tried this several times, but always with the same result. Then I read
something about typing format c: /s at the A: prompt to make the disk
usable, so I tried that and then tried running setup again, but still no
joy!

If I have set the jumper on the hard drive incorrectly, surely the
computer
would not even recognise the hard drive, would it? Or might the PC
recognise
the hard drive and run fdisk etc ok - even if the jumper was incorrectly
set?

The PC sounded like some old tugboat before I formatted it. But now it
sounds even worse! So I don't know if the problem is due to the jumper
being
set slightly wrong? The hard disk has completely given up the ghost? Or
there
is something wrong with the procedure I have followed? EG: Can I not
install
Win98SE directly onto a FAT32 formatted hard drive? Or must I install
Win98
first and then install an ugrade version of Win98se?

The PC has a Chaintech 6LTM2 BIOS and as far as I can tell, the Trend
Virus
protection is disabled.

I am getting really upset about this, as I have promised my daughter the
PC
for Xmas - Xmas 2004 that is! So if anyone can help, I'd be ever so
grateful!
Thanx.


--
Why is it always so hard to find the information you need on the Microsoft
site?!!