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Windows 98 Installation

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9 replies

by computab

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I have installed Windows 98 many times by formatting the hard disk, copying the setup files from the WIN98 folder in the CDROM, and the msbatch.inf file from a floppy, and running SETUP.EXE. This time it gives error messages about missing files in the PRECOPY1.CAB file. The CDROM is new, I tried a different CDROM, but still the same. The missing files are: accessbtn.gif, apmcp.cnt, etc. this is part of the 'File Copy ' stage of Windows Setup. The system is a IBM Thinkpad 600E, 64MB, 4GB. It previously had Windows NT before I ran FDISK.EXE and FORMAT.EXE. Please help!

9 replies

by ann777

Are you sure the floppy is a Win98 floppy (and not as I suspect a Win95 floppy)?

I recommend that you create another boot/setup floppy on another Win98 system (with the files and the format on the floppy from the Win98 system) and try again.

by computab

You prompted me to check the date stamps on the system files and that was the problem. Typical Microsoft, you never get a sensible error message! The dates in Win98SE should all be 04-23-99, except for autoexec, msconfig, etc. I keep copies of all system startup files on the one system, so I can create a startup disk for any system, and some system files had crept into the wrong folder.

by sgt_shultz

i have never had to use the msbatch.inf file, what is that? i always just boot from floppy (win98 would be good, but don't see how it matters which os you are using, long as you can boot up and read the hard drive...setup is gonna clobber the boot record etc anyway.
i would just use occams razor on this one: the least complex (simplest) solution has the highest probability of being the right one. try another installation cd?

by computab

i tried 3 CDs, but the problem was the startup disk. msbatch.inf allows you to install Windows without any prompts as all the preferences including the Customer's name and licence code are written in the msbatch.inf file.

by maheshbisht_35

The best thing is after formating the hdd first you copy the win98 folder to your hdd then run the setup . This will solve your problem .

by yiplk74

I think some pc components are faulty e.g. motherboard internal errors. I suggest you replace the notebook.

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