Community archive

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Difficulty Installing W95 and W98

0 helpful
3 replies

by jafco2000

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

Greetings!
I am attempting to re-install Windows 98 on a system that continually boots up in "Safe Mode" without obvious cause. I figured reformatting the hard drive and starting from scratch would do the job. However, the system continually freezes when Windows attempts to boot up, leaving "Safe Mode" as the only option once again. I installed a new hard drive, thinking the original hard drive might have a physical problem, but still no luck.
The system is a Gateway G6-300, manufatured in 1997, and I believe Windows 98 was originally installed on the system, although the owner of the computer is unsure.
Am I missing something? Could there be a problem in the BIOS? Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Thanks and have a great day!
Very truly yours,
John

3 replies

by lordinfidel

Definetly upgrade the bios, if one is available.

Find out what drivers are avaliable also for it. Don't try to load up 95 drivers for it. If there are no 98 drivers for that laptop then you are hosed.

Also it may have a problem with 98SE. SE if i'm not mistaken did not come out unitl late 98 or early 99.

by brainb

First, ask the question: What has been added or removed recently?

The easiest thing to do to verify it's NOT the drivers is simple remove them.

Since you are in safe mode, go to Hardware Manager and remove the drivers. Restart Windows. Before the Windows Startup screen comes up make sure you press F8 and select Normal from the startup list. When Windows comes up it will automatically "reinstall" the drivers from the original INF files and usually finds the currupted one.

Make sure you have any needed CD or diskettes handy, just in case.

by thechas

The number 1 source of W98 problems is video cards and their drivers.

Next is memory incompatabilities.

In Safe Mode, set video resolution to 16 color 640 * 480 mode.
This should allow you to boot into normal mode.

If not, you need to lookfor device conflicts.
Strip the system to bare minimum.
HDD, CD, Video card, and 1 memory module.
If it now boots, add hardware back in 1 device per boot until the problem reappears.

Then, after you take care of the hardware issue, you can deal with the chipset, DirectX, video drivers, and other device drivers.
(in that order)

Chas

This discussion is closed to new replies.