MS Windows 98 Installation Tips

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Why Setup Is a Breeze
System Requirements
Installation Tips

Why Setup Is a Breeze

Installation and setup of the Microsoft® Windows® 98 operating system is easy, thanks to:

  • Automatic detection of the hardware already on your system, so you can easily install appropriate drivers

  • Improved adaptability, so you can customize the functions that are installed

  • Smart Recovery, which remembers the last setup step completed before a failure or interruption and begins the setup process again from that point

  • Ability to verify installed components and easily reinstall missing or corrupted files

  • Improved support for installing Windows 98 on a network

  • System backup option that you can use to uninstall Windows 98 and revert to your old operating system

System Requirements

The Basics

To install the Microsoft® Windows® 98 operating system, you need:

  • Personal computer with a 486DX/66 MHz or higher processor (Pentium processor recommended)

  • 16 MB of memory (RAM); 24 MB recommended

  • 120 MB of free hard-disk space. (Typical installation requires 195 MB. Depending on your system configuration and the options you choose to install, you may need between 120 MB and 295 MB.)

  • CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive and the Windows 98 CD. (3.5" high-density disks are available for an additional charge.)

  • VGA or higher-resolution monitor (16-bit or 24-bit color Super VGA recommended)

  • Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

Optional Components

To get the most out of Windows 98, you may want to get these optional components:

  • ATI All-in-Wonder graphics card (TV tuner card) and antenna or cable hook-up—For receiving television and Internet broadcast content (support for other TV tuner cards will be provided through Windows Update, an online extension of Windows 98)

  • Digital camera—For taking pictures that you can download directly into your PC. Once they're downloaded, you can use Microsoft Picture It!® to fix, modify, or edit your photos on your PC.

  • DVD CD-ROM drive and decoder card—For installing programs, listening to music, watching DVD movies, and so on

  • Audio card and speakers—For sound

  • Scanner—For scanning pictures into your PC. Once scanned, photos are easily modified and edited using Microsoft Picture It!

  • Second monitor and video card—For connecting multiple monitors to one PC

Installation Tips

Installing the Microsoft® Windows® 98 operating system is basically a four-step process:

  • Step 1 copies files from the Windows 98 CD (or disk) onto your PC.

  • Step 2 detects existing hardware to determine available resources and their configuration.

  • Step 3 determines which components to install.

  • Step 4 upgrades and configures the system.

These tips may help make your Windows 98 setup even simpler.

Tip: Easily install Windows 98 over Windows 95.

It's easy to install Windows 98 over the Microsoft Windows 95 operating system. To do this:

  • Insert the Windows 98 CD (or disk) into your computer. The Setup program will run automatically.

  • Follow the instructions as they appear on your screen.

Tip: You can reformat your hard disk and install Windows 98 on it.

To install Windows 98 on a freshly formatted hard disk, you must use FDISK.EXE. If you're not familiar with this program, refer to your MS-DOS® operating system or Windows 95 documentation to learn about it before you start.

To install Windows 98 on a freshly formatted hard disk:

  1. Create a Windows 95 boot disk. To create this disk, do the following:

    On the task bar, click Start, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.

    Double-click Add/Remove Programs.

    Click the Startup Disk tab, and then click Create Disk.

    Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

    Important: Make sure that the Windows 95 boot disk contains FDISK.EXE and FORMAT.COM.

  2. Insert the Windows 95 boot disk in your first floppy disk drive, and then restart your computer.

  3. After your computer restarts, you'll see the MS-DOS prompt C:\>. Type A: at the prompt to switch to drive A. Then type FDISK, and then press ENTER. This will delete all information on your hard disk.

  4. Delete any and all partitions from your hard disk.

  5. Create a Primary DOS partition and make sure that it is set to ACTIVE.

  6. Exit FDISK.

  7. After your computer restarts, type FORMAT C:/S, and then press ENTER.

  8. When the format is complete, remove the Windows 95 boot disk.

  9. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to restart your computer.

  10. To do this, install your real-mode, MS-DOS-based IDE, or SCSI CD-ROM drivers to reenable your CD-ROM drive.

  11. Restart your computer.

  12. Insert the Windows 98 CD in your CD drive.

  13. Run SETUP.EXE from the MS-DOS prompt.

  14. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Tip: Make it easy to uninstall Windows 98.

If you are upgrading from Windows 95, you can save your Windows 95 system files so you can easily uninstall Windows 98 and revert to your computer's previous operating system. To use this feature:

  • During setup, a wizard will ask if you want to back up your current system files. Choose Yes.

  • To uninstall, on the task bar, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and double-click Add/Remove Programs. Then select an option on the Install/Uninstall screen.

    Please note If you convert to FAT32 during Windows 98 installation, you cannot revert to Windows 95.

Tip: Get automatic updates when you register Windows 98.

Windows 98 gives you the option of registering your Windows 98 software electronically, through the Registration Wizard. As a registered user, you can access the Windows 98 Update Web site, where you can download the latest drivers and system files and get answers to questions about Windows 98.

Tip: Convert to FAT32.

During the setup process, you will be asked if you want to convert to FAT32. FAT32 is the Windows 98 file allocation table, or storage system. It frees an average of 28 percent more disk space on typical desktop computers. If you choose to convert FAT32, you will not be able to go back to FAT16 or Windows 95. If you choose not to convert to FAT32 during setup, you can convert at a later date.

Tip: Schedule Windows Maintenance Wizard during setup.

Windows 98 features the Windows Maintenance Wizard, which automatically cleans up unnecessary files and performs disk defragmentation on your most often-used applications to make them run faster. You can schedule the Windows Maintenance Wizard to run on a certain day and at a certain time each week.

During setup, Windows 98 gives you the option to schedule the wizard. If you choose not to schedule it during setup, you can schedule it at another time.

Tip: Connect to the Internet.

If you are new to the Internet, Windows 98 makes it easy to get online. The Internet Connection Wizard helps you establish a first-time connection to the Internet. It gives you a list of Internet service providers to choose from and then configures your system according to your selection.

Tip: View the Windows 98 tutorial.

After Windows 98 is set up, leave the CD in to run the Windows 98 tutorial. This tutorial is geared for all user levels. Beginning users of Windows may want to watch it in its entirety; advanced users have the option of skipping ahead. The tutorial covers computer basics, Windows 98, and the Internet.