Windows 98 Getting Started Guide

The Windows 98 Setup wizard makes changing operating systems easier than ever. You can install Windows 98 in two ways. The method you use depends on your current computer setup.

Before You Begin

Before you install Windows 98, make sure your computer meets the following minimum system requirements:

• 486DX, 66 MHz or higher processor. 

• 16 MB of RAM. (More memory improves performance.) 

• Adequate space available on your hard disk. The amount of space required varies with your installation method and the options you select during Setup.

  Installation method	Hard disk space required
  Upgrade from Windows 95 or 3.1	120–295 MB (typically 195 MB)
  New installation, FAT16 file system	165–355 MB (typically 225 MB)
  New installation, FAT32 file system	140–255 MB (typically 175 MB)

• VGA or higher-resolution monitor. 

• CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. (If you prefer to use floppy disks instead of a CD, the Windows 98 box contains a coupon for obtaining Windows 98 on 3.5-inch, high-density disks. The CD-ROM version contains items not included on the 3.5-inch disks.) 

• Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device. 

Certain features have additional requirements:

• For Internet access, 14,400 modem or fax modem and a service provider, such as MSN. (The service provider may charge a fee.) 

• For sound, a sound card and speakers; or headphones; or USB speakers (requires a computer with USB support). 

• For DVD Video, a DVD-ROM drive and compatible DVD decoder card (or DVD decoder software). 

• For broadcast reception, a Pentium® processor and compatible TV tuner card. (Reception depends on availability of broadcast sources within your area.) 

If you have access to the World Wide Web, you can view the Hardware Compatibility List for Windows 98. The list is located at the following Web address:

http://www.microsoft.com/hwdq/hwtest/ 

To run Setup, you need to have the Windows 98 CD (or floppy disks) or network access to Windows 98 files. You also need a blank 3.5-inch, high-density disk ready for formatting as your Startup Disk. It's recommended that you read the Setup.txt file on your Windows 98 disc for any late-breaking information. It's also recommended that you back up the existing files on your computer. For more information, see "Backing Up Your Files" in Chapter 5, "Advanced Issues."

Running Windows 98 Setup

You can install Windows 98 in two ways. If you're currently using Windows 95 or Windows 3.1, you can upgrade to Windows 98 and retain your system settings. Or you can perform a new installation, which will set up an entirely new copy of Windows 98 on your hard disk—with no old system settings.

These sections describe how to install Windows 98. Chapter 5, "Advanced Topics," provides more detailed information about using the FAT32 file system, installing specific components after Windows is already set up, and creating Startup Disks.

Installing from Windows 95

When you upgrade from Windows 95, Setup automatically transfers your previous system settings and installed programs.

Note During Setup, the Windows 98 Setup wizard automatically restarts your computer several times.

To upgrade to Windows 98

If you don't have enough hard disk space to install Windows 98, try emptying your Recycle Bin.

1. Start Windows 95. 

2. Close all programs, including any anti-virus programs. 

   For information about closing an anti-virus program, see the program documentation and the Setup.txt file on your Windows 98 CD. 

3. Insert the Windows 98 CD into your CD-ROM drive (or Setup Disk 1 into your floppy disk drive). 

4. If a message appears asking if you want to upgrade, click Yes. The Windows 98 Setup wizard starts. You're finished with this procedure. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen. 

   If a message doesn't appear, click the Start button, click Run, and then proceed to Step 5. 

   The Run dialog box appears. 

5. In the Open box, enter the location of the Windows 98 CD. Type the drive letter, followed by a colon (:), a backslash (\), and the word setup 

   For example: 

   d:\setup 

    

6. Click OK. 

   The Windows 98 Setup wizard starts. 

7. Follow the instructions that appear. 

For information about specific screens and the information they request, see "Selecting Setup Options," later in this chapter.

Installing from Windows 3.1

When you upgrade from Windows 3.1, Setup automatically transfers your current system settings and installed programs.

Note During Setup, the Windows 98 Setup wizard automatically restarts your computer several times.

To upgrade to Windows 98

1. Start Windows 3.1. 

2. Close all programs, including any anti-virus programs. 

   For information about closing an anti-virus program, see the program documentation and the file Setup.txt on your Windows 98 CD. 

3. Insert the Windows 98 CD into your CD-ROM drive (or Setup Disk 1 into your floppy disk drive). 

4. Open Program Manager. 

5. On the File menu, click Run. 

   The Run dialog box appears. 

6. In the Open box, enter the path and filename of the setup file. That is, type the drive letter, followed by a colon (:), a backslash (\), and the word setup 

   For example: 

   \setup 

7. Click OK. 

   The Windows 98 Setup wizard starts. 

8. Follow the instructions that appear. 

For information about specific screens and the information they request, see "Selecting Setup Options," later in this chapter.

Performing a New Installation

If you perform a new installation, Setup installs Windows 98 in a new folder and doesn't transfer any existing system settings. Windows 98 becomes your default operating system and uses standard system settings. Because this is an entirely new installation of Windows, you'll need to reinstall any existing programs you want to use.

Note During Setup, the Windows 98 Setup wizard automatically restarts your computer several times.

To perform a new installation using the CD-ROM version of Windows 98

1. Insert a Windows 98 Startup Disk in the floppy disk drive. 

   Note For information about creating a Startup Disk, see Chapter 5, "Advanced Topics." 

2. Restart your computer. 

   The Microsoft Windows 98 Startup menu appears. 

3. Insert the Windows 98 CD into your CD-ROM drive. 

4. Type the number 1 and press ENTER. 

   A series of scans is performed, and then the MS-DOS prompt appears.

5. At the MS-DOS prompt, type the word setup and press ENTER. 

   A message informs you that Setup is going to perform a check.

   If this message doesn't appear, then your computer can't locate your CD-ROM drive. For information about installing the correct CD-ROM driver, consult your drive's documentation or contact your hardware manufacturer. 

6. Press ENTER. 

   Microsoft ScanDisk checks your disk drives for errors. 

7. When ScanDisk finishes, press the X key. 

   After Setup initializes, Windows 98 Setup begins. 

8. Follow the instructions that appear. 

   Note If you're using the upgrade version of Windows 98, Setup may ask you to insert your original Windows 95 or Windows 3.1 disks. 

To perform a new installation using the floppy disk version of Windows 98

1. Insert Setup Disk 1 into your floppy disk drive. 

2. Restart your computer. 

3. At the MS-DOS prompt, type the word setup and press ENTER. 

   The Windows 98 Setup wizard starts. 

4. Follow the instructions that appear. 

For information about specific screens and the information they request, see "Selecting Setup Options," later in this chapter.

Selecting Setup Options

During Windows 98 installation, the Setup wizard may ask you to make some selections and provide certain information. The following sections describe some of the wizard screens and the information they request from you.

Product Key screen

Type the Product Key in the spaces provided. The Product Key is located either on the Certificate of Authenticity or on the back of your Windows 98 CD container. If the number you type is not accepted, check the following:

• Make sure Caps Lock is not on. 

• If you are using the keypad to the right of your keyboard, make sure Num Lock is on. 

• Make sure you are not using the letter "l" for the number one. 

• Make sure you are not using the letter "o" for the number zero. 

Select Directory screen

If you want to install Windows 98 files in a folder (directory) other than C:\Windows, click Other Directory and type the path to the folder you prefer. If you specify a folder that doesn't exist, the wizard creates the folder for you.

Setup Options screen

You can customize your version of Windows by choosing the components that are installed on your hard disk. The Setup Options screen asks you to select the type of setup you prefer. You can choose from four setup options.

• Typical Click this button if you want all of the components that are usually installed with Windows 98. Most users should select this Setup option. 

• Portable Click this button if you want to install the options generally required for laptop or other portable computers. 

• Compact Click this button if you want the smallest possible installation of Windows 98. For example, you may want to perform a Compact installation if your hard disk doesn't have much free space. Setup then installs no optional components. If you later want to use an optional component, such as WebTV for Windows or Games, then you have to install it. To install an optional component after Setup is completed, use Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel. 

• Custom Click this button if you want to choose which optional components are installed. If you don't select a Custom installation, then Setup installs only the optional components that are selected by default. If you know you're going to need certain Windows components, you may want to select a Custom installation and ensure that those components are included during Setup. 

Select Components screen

On this screen, you can choose the options installed with Windows 98. Most items in the Components list represent groups of options. For example, the Accessories component contains several options, including Paint and the Windows 98 tour. To view the options that are included with a component, click Details.

Windows Components screen

On this screen, you choose whether or not to view a list of installation options.

If you select Install the most common components, Setup continues the installation. If you select Show me the list of components so I can choose, the Select Components screen appears. You then choose the individual options you want to be installed on your hard disk.

To select or deselect installation options

• To view or change the individual options in a component, click the component, and then click Details. 

  A dialog box appears, showing you the options in the component you selected. Here you can select the specific options you want. In this dialog box and on the Select Components screen, you can compare the space available on your hard disk with the amount of space required by the options you select. 

Identification screen

On this screen, you enter a name and description for your computer. If your computer is connected to a network, this information identifies your computer to other users.

Establishing Your Location screen

On this screen, you should probably select the country in which you live. Your selection here controls the channels available on your Channel Bar. That is, the Web content available on your Channel Bar will be of particular interest to people from the country you select.

For more information about the Channel Bar, see Chapter 4, "Customizing Your Desktop."

Logging On to Windows 98

If you forget your password, you can enter a new user name and still use Windows 98, but you may not be able to use your old settings.

Whenever you start Windows 98, the Welcome to Windows dialog box appears, asking you to log on. When you log on, you're identifying yourself to the computer. In addition to providing security, this identification allows Windows 98 to save your personal settings, such as the arrangement of your desktop, your recently used documents, and your Favorites. You're also asked to type a password. If you're upgrading from Windows 95 or Windows 3.1, Windows 98 uses your current logon information.

If you're on a computer network, you may also be asked for a domain name and network password. This request appears in a second, similar dialog box. If you don't know your domain name or network password, contact your network administrator.

 

For information about changing your Windows 98 and network passwords, see "passwords" on the Index tab in Windows Help.

To log on to Windows 98 for the first time

1. In the Welcome to Windows 98 dialog box, type your user name and password, and then click OK. 

   Your password appears as asterisks (*) on the screen. If you don't want to use a password, you can leave the box blank and click OK. 

2. In the Set Windows Password dialog box, type your password again in the Confirm New Password box, and then click OK. 

   The Windows 98 desktop appears. Installation is complete, and you can start using Windows 98. 

Registering Your Copy of Windows 98

After you've logged on, you should register your copy of Windows 98 to ensure that you receive product support and updated product information. If you have a modem, you can register by starting the Registration wizard in the Welcome to Windows 98 dialog box.