Thinkpads Forum

Does anyone know how many floppy disks does it take to put Windows 98SE Full, and in what order the files go on the disks, to install Windows 98 SE on a HD (using Floppy disks)

I assume you're trying to install Win98 on a machine that doesn't have a CD drive.

I recall it was a lot, 13? 16?. On the floppy-based install, the floppies were compressed. As I recall the CAB files on the Win98 install CD are too big to fit on a floppy, so if you're thinking of trying to create a floppy install set from an install CD, I don't think you'll be able to do it.

You can copy the install CD to the hard drive (actually, I think you only need the Win98 folder on the CD, can anyone confirm?) and install from the HD. If your problem is that you don't have a CD drive, you could try using winzip or winrar to zip the Win98 folder, spanning the archive across floppies as a self-extracting file. Then extract the zip to the hard drive and run setup from the HD. (I'm assuming your HD is bootable already)

Alternatively, you could transfer the Win98 CD to the laptop from another computer using the dos version of LapLink or a similar file transfer progam vial the parallel or serial ports (you also would need the right kind of cable).

that's what I think I am going to have to. No I have a CD rom on my laptop, but it does not read DR or CDRW, it is a thinkpad 760E, and my problem is that I only have three versions of windows, A copy of XP home, XP Pro, and a windows ME upgrade. well, when I instal windows Me it goes fine until it asks me for a qualifying program. Then I am stuck, so I thought if I install Windows 98 it would be better, I like 98 anyways. ME is lazy and slow.

and I know it is slower doing this from Floppies, but I am tired of messin around with this dern laptop, I need to get it up and running so I can go on with life

Windows 98 SE is about 125 Mb (so good luck putting it on floppies). It is better than ME, but that's not saying much. Each .cab file (1,760Kb) is bigger than a floppy and there are about 70 of those. ... JD Hurst

WOW ok Thanx But I am open for any other suggestions

jdhurst wrote:Windows 98 SE is about 125 Mb (so good luck putting it on floppies). It is better than ME, but that's not saying much. Each .cab file (1,760Kb) is bigger than a floppy and there are about 70 of those. ... JD Hurst

You know, I think I had Win95 in mind when I said 13 or 17 floppies, sorry

As to the drive not reading burned CDs, some older drives will read some but not others. I had an older drive that would read silver color CDR media ok, but not blue colored CDRs. (It sounds like you may have a Win98 CDR that the drive won't read, if so, try copying to a different colored CDR)

Otherwise, it looks like you'll either have to do a computer to computer transfer or borrow a PC Card CD drive and a boot disk with the CD drive drivers on it so you can transfer the Win98 disk to the Hard drive and install from there.

Thanx guys for your answers, I am experimenting with something I will let you know how it turns out and if it is positive I will leave all the details, I promise !!!

i don't think that's possible to put win98 install files in floppy disks

It IS possible to put them on, you only need http://www.herne.com/mdisk1.htm

It WON'T run on NT/2000/XP, you need 9x/ME, there format every disk in DMF, so you have 1.7 MB Disk Space, copy each cab file to your floppy, it's wise to make a folder named Win98 on the HD so you needn't ~80 Floppies.

You need also good quality floppies, from what I've used, only old floppies are compatible, newer ones can't be read or written past 1.6, and use good drives, in both the source and target PCs.

I don't know if it works, but give it a try.

WinImage would work, as well... (and, for that matter, so would a Linux distro)

But, as someone else suggested, take the HDD out, slap a 44pin to 40 pin IDE converter, throw it in a desktop, and copy the win98 directory from the CD.

also not bad that idea.

I guess nobody else suggested taking it out and putting it in a desktop, FWIW, just the copying the Win98 folder to it part...

If I bothered to keep my Toshiba going, that's what I'd do (and I looked at the HDD connector on it, and even though it's a 44-pin connector, the 4 power pins don't actually connect to the laptop! That means I don't need an adaptor)...

That aren't powerpins, that are Jumpers, and by the way, how should a HD work without power?

Signalling power over the IDE bus is enough to run the drive (or so I thought)?

I didn't count pins, though...

I don't have the laptop right now, so I can't check...

bhtooefr wrote:Signalling power over the IDE bus is enough to run the drive (or so I thought)?

You need a 3.5" HD to 2.5" HD adapter.

Widely available for a few $$.

Regards,

James

OK, so I DO need the adaptor, then...

*retreats back into corner, smacks self repeatedly with Model M (IBM knew how to make keyboards. It did no damage to the keyboard )*

You can try to find a description and make your own adaptor, it's not very difficult, I think Pin 0 and 1 are Power, ther rest is somewhere on the IDE.

Probably nobody cares at this point, but I have WIN95B on floppies... and there are 29 of them.

Yes and 98 has 70 of them...

Well as promised here is my posting. I did it, it took me awhile but I did it! First I just want to say it took me 128 [censored] Floppy disks. And with the help of HJSPLIT for DOS and I got it done, and I must say I learned a few things about DOS as well, Now I am running WINDOWS 98 SE on my laptop. Yes it was a very frustrating task but it's done.
Now I would like to know how do I get Windows to start up without asking me for CD Support when I turn on my computer, it starts up as if I had the Win98 Bootdisk in the drive. And then it runs through all the drivers and what not and tells me that line 15 in CONFIG.sys is corrupt or missing OAKCDROM.SYS and then Windows 98 starts and runs normally. Any help on this?

Open C:\config.sys with a text editor (Notepad, for instance).

Scroll to line 15 (the one that mentions OAKCDROM.SYS). Delete it, or put "REM" (w/o the quotes) in front of it (make sure to put a space).

That should take care of your problems...

Don't know if anyone cares at this point, but I have an external enclosure that runs through the serial port with Win98SE on it. I've used this to transfer the files to the HDD on older thinkpads and then install from there. It works well and has it's own boot disc to make the serial drive recognized. Would be willing to send it to someone if they will send it back after the installation. Just a thought.