Overwriting corrupted Windows 98 with another copy (from another Windows 98 CD)

[Al D]

I have acquired a PC from a friend. It has windows 98 installed, but
it is corrupt (I guess) because it won't boot. BIOS keeps telling me
to insert a floppy (presumably it means a boot disc).

The original Windows 98 CD used for the installation has been lost.

I have my own copy of Windows 98 installation CD. And I also have a
bootable floppy disc which I crated from it.

Is it a simple matter to install my own copy of Windows 98 onto the PC
so that it overwrites the original Windows 98 installation?

Many thanks,

Al D

 

[Peter]

I have acquired a PC from a friend. It has windows 98 installed, but
it is corrupt (I guess) because it won't boot. BIOS keeps telling me
to insert a floppy (presumably it means a boot disc).

The original Windows 98 CD used for the installation has been lost.

I have my own copy of Windows 98 installation CD. And I also have a
bootable floppy disc which I crated from it.

Is it a simple matter to install my own copy of Windows 98 onto the PC
so that it overwrites the original Windows 98 installation?

Normally you can install win98 over the top of itself and it will retain
all its original settings. Obviously, in your case, we are not too sure
why the current install is corrupted and how bad that corruption is
(whether the HD is seriously damaged), so that perhaps it has not just
affected the O/S and your ability to install over the top, but also
other programs that were installed previously.

 

[David Maynard]

I have acquired a PC from a friend. It has windows 98 installed, but
it is corrupt (I guess) because it won't boot. BIOS keeps telling me
to insert a floppy (presumably it means a boot disc).

The original Windows 98 CD used for the installation has been lost.

I have my own copy of Windows 98 installation CD. And I also have a
bootable floppy disc which I crated from it.

Is it a simple matter to install my own copy of Windows 98 onto the PC
so that it overwrites the original Windows 98 installation?

Many thanks,

Al D

Format it first so the disk is clean and then install fresh.

 

[JAD]

I would check to see if the boot order includes the hardrive
and reset the CMOS, if its old enough the battery could be dead and frazzled
the bios.
Don't install over a damaged install unless its temporary and your going to
install fresh after retrieving data.

 

[DaveW]

No. you need to reformat the harddrive and do a fresh install of the OS to
avoid nasty ongoing problems with your computer.

 

[sbb78247]

I have acquired a PC from a friend. It has windows 98 installed, but
it is corrupt (I guess) because it won't boot. BIOS keeps telling me
to insert a floppy (presumably it means a boot disc).

The original Windows 98 CD used for the installation has been lost.

I have my own copy of Windows 98 installation CD. And I also have a
bootable floppy disc which I crated from it.

Is it a simple matter to install my own copy of Windows 98 onto the PC
so that it overwrites the original Windows 98 installation?

Many thanks,

Al D

use your disc and do a clean install from a bare hd. it would be advisable
to run your hd mfgs utilities before the install to be sure there are no bad
sectors. if the hd is ****ed, then what would be the point of all that
work? if it is ok and after you have a clean working install, image the
drive with acronis, ghost or what ever so you can restore it in a matter of
minutes instead of hours.

 

[Cymbal Man Freq.]

Can't he install to a second Windows folder with a slightly different name? If
he has documents and things on the drive he wants to save, installing to an
alternate Windows folder could be the answer.

Overwriting? he could try that; but if it fails, I'd try the alternate Windows
folder trick.

 

[Bill's Dead]

Can't he install to a second Windows folder with a slightly different
name? If
he has documents and things on the drive he wants to save, installing to
an
alternate Windows folder could be the answer.

Overwriting? he could try that; but if it fails, I'd try the alternate
Windows
folder trick.

I've done an "inplace" reinstall of 98. Worked fine, all docs and files
still there. Just reload the OS over the top of itself.

 

[Al D]

Many thanks for all the replies. If I do decide to format the hard
drive, can someone remind me how to do that? Is it a case of getting
to a dos prompt and typing "format c:/"?

What disc do I need to format the hard drive? Is it one of the DOS
floppies, or will the WIndows 98 CD do it?

Thank you,

Al D

 

[JAD]

Many thanks for all the replies. If I do decide to format the hard
drive, can someone remind me how to do that? Is it a case of getting
to a dos prompt and typing "format c:/"?

Thats all it is

What disc do I need to format the hard drive? Is it one of the DOS
floppies, or will the WIndows 98 CD do it?

If you can boot from the 98 Cd then that will work or use a windows ME or 98
boot floppy...

www.bootdisk.com if you don't have one

 

[Al D]

Thanks!

Al D