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General discussion

Reinstalling

May 13, 2005 12:54PM PDT

I just completely reformatted my old 98 machine and am installing from the beginning. I have the original cd but none of the other stuff that comes in the box when you buy it. I managed to get the OS up and running, but of course it's still all sucky. I know I need drivers, but these aren't available on the cd I have, and when I transfer them from another machine(XP) on floppy it shows a whole lot of files missing on the disk and though it appears to install properly in actual fact nothing happens. I'm trying to get it to recognise USBs so then I can start doing stuff faster. I used a dodgy boot disk, but I had this same problem the first time I did this with a proper disk. It's not connected to the internet or any other computers.
Any help would be appreciated

Discussion is locked

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More information needed
May 13, 2005 9:06PM PDT

When you say that 'lots of files are missing' are you trying to use an extracted download (.zip or .exe) or the actual downloaded file for the drivers?

What drivers are you missing.....I would assume the motherboard ones that include the USB, sound, video, modem for starters so we need maker and model numbers for these items to get you to the right drivers.

Since you aren't on the net with it yet, the first ones you need are going to be the modem ones downloaded to the XP system, then you can get on the net and get the rest of them yourself and not have to transfer them.

On the XP system, get on the net, go to http://www.belarc.com and download the very small free program that you can run from a floppy disk or copy to your W98 desktop and run it from there. It will give you a complete list of all hardware inside the W98 system with maker and model numbers, including the motherboard. That's your fastest way to ID everything and report it here so we can help more.

TONI

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and again from the beginning
May 14, 2005 12:13PM PDT

I tried what you said and the comp wouldn't even run it, so I'm gonna reformatt and start again from the beginning. We'll see how it goes this time

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help!
May 24, 2005 7:43PM PDT

I'm trying to install win98 SE again, I've completely reformatted and I don't have any of the original software. Can I make a boot disk on Floppy Disk Manager? I tried downloading one and it didn't write onto the floppy properly.

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Re: boot disk
May 24, 2005 8:28PM PDT

I would say you can download a program to make a boot diskette from www.bootdisk.com. Put a diskette in the A-drive on the machine where you download it, then run the downloaded program to put the correct content on it.
Then use that diskette to run the Windows 98 setup and get a basically running system.
Then up to belarc and the install of the correct drivers. If it's a brand machine, you can download most if not all of the drivers from he manufacturers site. So tell more on that if you post again.

Hope this helps.


Kees

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all good
May 26, 2005 1:20PM PDT

Thanks, I finally got it working!

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(NT) (NT) Good to read that.
May 26, 2005 8:34PM PDT