Installing O/S on new computer.

pooroldjoe · 16-03-2005, 15:59

I have a genuine copy of Windows 98SE which is marked ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Â¦ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œFor Distribution with a new PC onlyÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€š Ã‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â

The machine with which it was supplied is broke, bust, not working!

I would like to put the O/S onto a new PC.
Is it possible?
I do have a Boot Floppy, and have formatted and re-installed on the original machine several times, but am not sure about doing a clean install from scratch.

Thanks in advance.
Joe.

Paul K · 16-03-2005, 16:07

Sounds like an OEM version so you should be ok to install it on the PC. You may need to download drivers for any hardware that Windows 98 doesn't know. Hope you have the serial number too

pooroldjoe · 16-03-2005, 16:19

Thanks Paul. It is a genuine copy with Serial Number, and I have driver discs also,

Paul K · 16-03-2005, 16:25

Shouldn't be a problem to install it then. It should install exactly the same on the new pc as the old one but it will just find different hardware and require drivers for them

Have fun

SMHarman · 16-03-2005, 16:39

New clean installs are pretty easy provided drivers for the hardware can be found. Put the CD in follow the on screen prompts and wait...

You should also try to remove the W98 sticker off the old PC and stick it on the new case. If you want a better OS you can buy genuine copies of W2KPro with serial number stickers on ebay for about ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£40.

ian@huth · 16-03-2005, 16:41

I would copy the win98 folder from the CD onto the new PC first and then do the install from the hard disk rather than from the CD. It will be quicker and you can leave the folder on the PC so you will never have to hunt around for the CD when the system needs it in the future.

Aragorn · 16-03-2005, 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian@huth

I would copy the win98 folder from the CD onto the new PC first and then do the install from the hard disk rather than from the CD. It will be quicker and you can leave the folder on the PC so you will never have to hunt around for the CD when the system needs it in the future.

Sorry to be picky, but as this is a new PC with no OS, how is he going to copy the CD on to the HD?

Paul K · 16-03-2005, 17:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian@huth

I would copy the win98 folder from the CD onto the new PC first and then do the install from the hard disk rather than from the CD. It will be quicker and you can leave the folder on the PC so you will never have to hunt around for the CD when the system needs it in the future.

Sorry to be picky, but as this is a new PC with no OS, how is he going to copy the CD on to the HD?

DOS I would expect since he has a boot up floppy that will contain certain basic functions?
Since he wants an easy to follow installation I would suggest just leaving him to install it as normal for now

Stuart · 16-03-2005, 17:23

DOS I would expect since he has a boot up floppy that will contain certain basic functions?
Since he wants an easy to follow installation I would suggest just leaving him to install it as normal for now

[/QUOTE]

And I've always found http://www.bootdisk.com to be a good source of bootdisks.

16-03-2005, 17:28

I would check the bios and see if you can boot from your CD-ROM. If you can, then you will not need the boot disk, as 98 is a bootable CD anyway.

ian@huth · 16-03-2005, 17:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn

Sorry to be picky, but as this is a new PC with no OS, how is he going to copy the CD on to the HD?

The windows98SE bootdisk that I have has basic MSDos commands to allow you to fdisk and format the drive and also has CD drivers to allow the use of the CD. So insert bootdisk, fdisk and format with large disk support and /S switch, copy win98 folder from CD to HD and away you go.

pooroldjoe · 16-03-2005, 19:01

Thanks to all for your input. Useful tips there.

Aragorn · 16-03-2005, 22:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian@huth

The windows98SE bootdisk that I have has basic MSDos commands to allow you to fdisk and format the drive and also has CD drivers to allow the use of the CD. So insert bootdisk, fdisk and format with large disk support and /S switch, copy win98 folder from CD to HD and away you go.

Good point - along time since I installed W98

goldchip · 17-03-2005, 12:39

It is possible, but you would actually be breaking the Windows license agreement by doing so.
Microsoft's stand on an OEM license is "the OEM license lives and dies with the machine, it is NOT transferrable" - MS have been bombarding IT departments recently with a blue oblong "postcard from the edge" - with licensing details, to try to clarify situations like this.
But who's going to worry about it?