Can't Install Windows

You will need a bootable floppy with fdisk and Format on it to create a partition and format the active partition before you can install the operating system.

Windows 98 CD's are not bootable unless you have created your own. If your CD is bootable you need to check the boot order in the CMOS and change the boot order so it will look at the CD-ROM.

If your CD is not bootable, boot from a bootable floppy that has the CD-ROM drivers on it. You can then run win98\setup.exe from the CD.

As janzenshaun stated, the W98 CD is not a bootable CD.

Bootable CDs started with Windows 2000 and Me.

You need a Windows 98 'startup' disk.

You can create a startup disk from the Add/Remove Programs menu on any running W98 PC.

After youboot from the floppy, I recommend that you do the following:

Run fdisk /mbr
to clear the master boot record.

Run fdisk, and verify, or setup partitions as desired.

Re-boot from the floppy, and format the C: drive.
Use format C: /s
Windows 98 will not install unless the target drive has been formatted.

If you do not have access to a running Windows 98 PC, you can download a startup disk image from the links at www.bootdisk.com

Chas

Hi

You can also go to bootdisk.com and download the files required for Win98SE bootdisk, then use that. You should then be able to run setup from the CD.

A comment:
Windows98 second edition, original CD is bootable.
A suggestion:
-Change the CD-ROM drive or clean it with a CD lens cleaner.
Or like others said, use a boot diskette:

If the usual partition and format of the Hard Drive do not work from a Win98SE floppy, (Remember to use both switches. /u /s )
you may have to zero fill the drive, if a certain drive data scrambling program was used. (Very, very, rare problem.)
Regards, Chris