Cant install Windows 98!

[Kruppa]

Hi, I would really need some help because I've been searching the net for days and cant find anything usefull to help me.
I bought a Western Digital hard drive 60 GB. I partioned, formatted and started the installation with my Windows 98 cd. After checking my partitions and saying there are no errors it takes me to a black screen saying the usual, checking the registry and copying installation files.

But in the process of copying the installation files it just stops and gives me back a command prompt. It stops there and doesn't install. Why?

Any ideas?

I also tried copying my Win98 folder to a directory I created on my c drive also called Win98. It does the same thing except it gives me a C: prompt instead of the G: prompt (partitions)

[Murf]

Hi! Welcome to CTH

How did you partition the drive?

"C: prompt instead of the G: prompt (partitions)"

Are you trying to install Windows on a drive other then C:?

Is this a upgrade or a full version install? What does the CD say on it?

[Kruppa]

Hi!

It's a full install cd of Windows 98 SE. I've used it many times on many different hard drives.

I tried different partitions schemes with fdisk and after that with the EZ install thing that comes with the hard drive disk on the off chance that my partition scheme gave Windows some issues. It odesent matter wich scheme I use.

I'm trying to install on c drive. To be honest I've done several Windows 98 installs on my computer, did some in computer class and on friends computer. All th obvious stuff was checked. The virus protection in the BIOS for example is disabled, the drive is plugged properly. ect...

The problem is so weird. I search on the web and it's like I'm the first person this ever happened to. I cant find any information about it.

Wether I install from the hard drive, from my start up disk or booting from the cd it does the same thing, it simply stops when it says it's copying installation files and gives back the command prompt.

[GretaP]

Hi Kruppa,
Check to make sure that the RAM is seated properly.

[Kruppa]

It's recognised at boot up and I checked to make sure in the BIOS screen, all 256 MB are there.

It just wont use the installation files to start me on the Windows 98 installation screen, it stops just before it usually gets there. Grrrr!!! lol. :)

[GretaP]

Try unseating and then reseating the RAM even though it's recognized at bootup.
A friend of mine had a similar problem, WIN98 would just quit the install process early in the game, and he couldn't figure it out........RAM was recognized in BIOS, etc. .........when he unseated then reseated the RAM, he got thru the install.

[Kruppa]

GretaP I owe you like you wouldn't believe!!! :rock:

When you said to unseat them I remembered that when I first tried the installation days ago on my computer that had been sitting there for a month waiting for a new hard drive the memory was going wonky. It settled back to 256 MB after the second try and forgot about it, thought it was just a one time glitch.

It must of been that all along. Got to go install now. :D

Thanks again you're great! :)

[Murf]

I've used it many times on many different hard drives.

Try cleaning the CD really good.

[watts320]

The drive you bought could be either NTMP (well something like that anyway) or an Fat16 or Fat32, if its either of the Fat's then it should install no problem.

[GretaP]

You're very welcome, Kruppa. Hope you're having smooth installing now!:D