Win95/98 compression driver error on fresh install?

[vwthink]

I've just aquired a ThinkPad 760EL (P133, 32MB, 1.08GB) and am trying to get either Win95 or Win98 to install. I have original copies of both. Due to the ultrabay only accepting the floppy or the cd at any one time, I installed DOS 6.22 with a CD driver to be able to install windows. All goes smoothly until rebooting for the first time into windows (either version), and then I get the following: "The compression driver cannot be set up correctly. Get a version from your vendor that is compatible with this version of windows".

I've tried installing DOS 6.20, 6.22, Win95, Win95OSR2, Win98 and variations of the above, and whatever I do I cannot make it accept windows. Any clues?

BIOS Data:
Power management version 1.06
BIOS version 1.07
Vido version 1.00
Setup version 1.13
Slave controller version 1.08

[leoblob]

I think Microsoft OSs are very picky about having versions match. I think using DOS 6.22 is the problem.

Easiest solution is to make your CD drive bootable (in the BIOS), and then your computer should boot right from the install CD.

But I know many computers cannot be made to have the CD drive bootable, and if that's true for you, here's what I would try: Get or make a WIN98 boot floppy (I know you may have to create this on another computer.) I must be the SAME exact version that you're going to install... whether it's WIN95B, WIN98, or WIN98SE. Check the boot floppy, and if FORMAT is not on there, manually copy it onto the floppy.

Then, boot your Thinkpad from the floppy. Format your hard drive like this: format c: /s

Then copy ALL the files from the boot floppy onto your hard drive.

Now turn power off, take out floppy drive, put in CD drive. Re-boot. The installation should now take place starting from your hard drive. Since the WIN98 boot floppy (which you copied to your hard drive) has CD drivers built in, I think this should work.