Installing Windows 98SE Without A Floppy Drive?

[Jeremy]

Is there a way for me to install Windows 98SE without using a FDD?

[Jeremy]

You may ask, "Google?" lol

Linky

Without a windows 98 boot floppy:

1. If you are planning to now install from the hard drive, simply restart your computer in dos mode. At the c:\windows prompt you will want to type rename win.com win.old

1. Now go to the c: prompt by typing cd\

2. Now at the c:\ prompt you want to go to the win98ins folder by typing cd win98ins

3. Now at the c:\win98ins\ prompt type setup and this will start the install procedure

4. Next you will probably be prompted as to which directory to save the windows program since it will also detect the windows folder already exists. In this case it usually prompts you to install to c:\windows.000 you want to CHANGE this to c:\windows so that it installs the new version of windows over top of the old.. replacing the important system files, etc.. Also, this will allow you to still run the other programs on your computer without having to re-install them. NOTE: if you do not do this, you will end up with windows 98 installing to c:\windows.000 and you will not be able to run other programs because the c:\window\system folder will not be recognized since your new windows is now c:\windows.000\system.. Trust me, you don’t want to make this mistake.. If you do make this mistake, cancel your installation.. and email me for help

2. If you are installing from the cd-rom then you will want to re-start your computer in dos mode and then go to the c:\windows folder and rename the win.com file to win.old by using the same method as in (1)

1. Now you will want to go to the D drive by typing d: (based on D being your cd rom drive)

2. Now at the d:\ drive you will want to type setup and the procedure will begin. NOTE: at this point you will also get prompted about the windows folder already existing. Follow the procedures from (1d.)

[kartel]

just boot from the cd and select install with cd rom support.

[sam13484]

Does restarting in DOS mode create a RAM Disk, where the DOS files are placed? I'm asking this because I seem to remember working on a notebook without a Floppy or a CD drive many years ago. I did it this way:

1. Used a cable to transfer Partition Magic from my computer to the notebook.

2. Then created a D partition, with that application, on the notebook, and formatted it.

3. Used the cable again to transfer the Windows 98 setup files to a folder on D drive.

4. Rebooted the notebook in DOS mode, and using: format c: wiped the C drive.

5. Then, still in DOS mode, typed in: d:\win98\setup.exe, and the installation began.

Am I just recalling this wrong, or does this appear to be a workable solution?

[Jeremy]

just boot from the cd and select install with cd rom support.

Wow... is't that easy? lol, just kidding

I must have had a blond moment.. despite my hair naturally being dark brown.

[os2fan2]

You could also use something like bootpart.exe to create a boot-sector file, then fab the required DOS (ie add IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, command.com, config.sys, and autoexec.bat. This will create a win9x boot disk on c:, and then you just use that as the floppy.

Another alternative is to look for a proggie hight VFLOPPY (at v 1.5). This is in chinese, but not too hard to figure out. It allows you to add bootable images (eg floppy diskettes) to the NT boot.ini.

W

[prx984]

I had a laptop that didn't have the Floppy or CD-Rom in at the same time, the bay was modular, and I use to install 98 on it all the time without a floppy.

The only problem I had though, was right after it does that first progress bar thing, it would kinda "lock" up, but it was really searching for the floppy. It would actually sit there for a good 2 minutes, then it would go through and be fine. I got around it by just copying the Win98 directory to the HDD and installing it from there, but it wasn't a major problem.

lol @ blond moment (some people at my school are stuck on a permanent one )

Edited December 19, 2006 by Cygnus

[oscardog]

In the past I have made a bootable cd using a win98 setup floppy as an image, the other part of the cd had a barebones win98 os i.e one that had not been allowed to detect hardware on a previous system. After formating via the cd and renaming setupx.dll etc, whilst copying an inf folder collected over the years to it. The enum filled quite nicely and the setup completed even on difficult latter day (to me) hardware very very quickly (less than probably a mindows setup). Have not attempted it since my xp3200 machine though

Edited December 19, 2006 by oscardog

[pmshah]

Does restarting in DOS mode create a RAM Disk, where the DOS files are placed? I'm asking this because I seem to remember working on a notebook without a Floppy or a CD drive many years ago. I did it this way:

1. Used a cable to transfer Partition Magic from my computer to the notebook.

2. Then created a D partition, with that application, on the notebook, and formatted it.

3. Used the cable again to transfer the Windows 98 setup files to a folder on D drive.

4. Rebooted the notebook in DOS mode, and using: format c: wiped the C drive.

5. Then, still in DOS mode, typed in: d:\win98\setup.exe, and the installation began.

Am I just recalling this wrong, or does this appear to be a workable solution?

I don't know whose leg you are pulling. If you boot to dos from c: it will not allow you to format your boot drive - c:. Unless you boot with a special spftware that boots entirely from ramdisk there is no way.