Installing Windows 98 from an Upgrade CD

By brosta
in Microsoft (Windows)

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brosta

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I recently found an old computer, and would like to install windows 98 on it. I was looking through my CD's and found my Windows 98 Second Edition Upgrade CD but I remember that threw out my Windows 95 CD. So I do have a legit 98 upgrade CD and wondering if there is any way I can still install it?

Experienced

mujjuman

Posted
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yes, thats the only way. you just boot from the 98SE upgrade CD, and when it asks you for a previous installation of Windows, just insert a Windows 98 Gold disk or a Win95 disk. it will just check the disk, and then continue with the installation after you replace it with your upgrade disk. btw, there is no I386 dir for Win95/98

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Abraxas

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I recently found an old computer, and would like to install windows 98 on it. I was looking through my CD's and found my Windows 98 Second Edition Upgrade CD but I remember that threw out my Windows 95 CD. So I do have a legit 98 upgrade CD and wondering if there is any way I can still install it?

Unfortunately, the upgrade CD's for 98 did not contain the full installation as newer upgrades, such as XP, do. You will need to install an upgradeable version of Windows (95 or 98, if the upgrade is to 98SE) and then install the upgrade over that.

The CD has only the upgraded files and not a full installation.

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Abraxas

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you dont have to install a previous version of Windows for that. all you need to do is insert the disk when it asks you during the installation. then it will continue installing Windows98 as if it was a full version.

I don't believe this is true. My copy of the Win98 SE upgrade CD is only 200 mb, far too small to effect a full installation. But one way to find out---how much data is on the CD? The full installation CD is about 625 mb. If the upgrade is considerably smaller than that, then it does not contain a full installation.

Grand Master

Brian M. Veteran

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The only difference between upgrade and full windows 98 install is the check for old installation media (or an already installed system).

There was a legacy windows site which enabled you to download old versions of windows, but i cant remember it - i will have a look around.

Experienced

mujjuman

Posted
Posted

I don't believe this is true. My copy of the Win98 SE upgrade CD is only 200 mb, far too small to effect a full installation. But one way to find out---how much data is on the CD? The full installation CD is about 625 mb. If the upgrade is considerably smaller than that, then it does not contain a full installation.

my upgrade CD is 621MB..... are you sure you have a real copy? i have dont this type of installation several times

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Abraxas

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Posted

my upgrade CD is 621MB..... are you sure you have a real copy? i have dont this type of installation several times

It's definitely a real copy---it's still in the MS box. But I imagine there were different implementations of upgrades. If you've done it, then it must work. ;)

Grand Master

Brian M. Veteran

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  • Veteran
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yeah, the install size changes over time, because as they released updates, they would add them to the installation, which is why on the two 98 disks i have (both SE), one used to get about 100 more updates on initial windows update.

Had any luck finding it yet?

Or, what are the specs of the machine, because it might run another OS if you have it... Like windows 2000 or *cringe* windows Me, or even xp... Hey, i have a PII 400mhz (okay, ive upgraded the rest a little), that has "Designed for Windows 95", which is currently running on XP (im writing this from it :))

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