I have an old presario 1240 that had win98se on it. it came with a 98se disk, but there was no longer an os on it. Partition and C drive had been formatted. Tried loading the 98se and get the message that it's an upgrade and have to have win98 installed first. Could I get away with installing 95 and then installing 98se? Or is there a way around the upgrade issue?

Windows 98SE USB Mass Storage Device Drivers,

You can use the generic drivers for your OS 98SE @ http://www.technical-assistance.co.uk/kb/win98se-usb-mass-storage-drivers.php

Please read the installation procedure properly.

Hope it helps.

Are you trying to set up a raid configuration? If not I would reformat using the 98 disk and reinstall. (You may be able to skip installing 98, try installing xp first and it should ask for the disk containing the software (win98) that qualifies for the upgrade.

Haven't used win98 for a while so bear with me and this uses DOS COMMANDS too.
If useing restore cd/floppy you have to use a utility from compaq that creates two partitions on hard-drive.
They may have a restore floppy if you need it too.
One for "recovery files" and one for "OS Boot"
AHH, the memories, I still have my 95/98/ME Laptops up and running for older stuff. HP n CQ too.
Restore CD should do it all though.
If no restore CD - have Win98 CD?
if Harddrive partitioned and formated - Just do 1
1. boot from Win98 CD.
Partition n Format
2. Choose boot to DOS (puts u in virtual drive A)
AT PROMPT
3. Type drive letter of CD ( C: D: or E: )
4. Type CD Win98
5. Type Fdisk ( to partion drive)
reboot n do 1 + 2
6. Type format C: ( I do this to ckeck drive for errors)
OR
JUST Boot from CD and follow install instructions.
1 to 6 for if you have problem with Win98 CD setting up Harddrive.

tru following steps

1) plug in usb device
2) change your boot option to cd from hard disk
3) insert installation disk in cd drive.
4) follow the steps.
5)finalize instalation.

Enjoy !!!

Wndows 98 requires installation of Mass Storage Drivers for USB Keys to operate.

http://www.technical-assistance.co.uk/kb/win98se-usb-mass-storage-drivers.php

Why would you torture yourself with that old thing?  Yeah, you can create more boot script lines...they should designate the proper root for the second volume and that ought to fix any missing file issues if indeed ICG32.dll and company are where they started....

What OS are you using? Windows 98SE does not always recognize exterrnal hard drives. Try the external HD on a computer running Windows XP and see if that works. If it works on WinXP and not Win98SE or possibly WinME the External HD is good.

Hi,

NTLDR is NT Loader which indicates that the hard disk originally contains an NT OS such as Windows XP. The laptop not reading the installer is possibly a CD ROM or CD disc problem. Most (but not all) NT OS would be using an NTFS type of HD format. Windows 98SE would only read and install on a FAT(32).

What perhaps you can do is to remove the HD from the laptop and using an external 2.5 interface to USB connect it to a 2nd PC and re-partition that HD as well as format it to FAT32. You can also make that HD bootable (do a Google) and copy the entire CD installer of Windows 98SE to a folder inside that HD.

Once back to the laptop, it should boot to a C: prompt, go to the folder where the Win98SE installation/setup files are located and run setup.exe.

Hope this be of initial help/idea. Pls post back how things turned up or should you need additional information.

Good luck and kind regards.

Thank you for using FixYa.

Hmm...Something may be wrong really!

Are u able to copy from any folder within the hard disk?

Some viruses / malwares are preventing the copy function of the windows from working properly!!!
(So, try some good antivirus)

Also...one more info for u
   1. u must have sufficient disk space for copying files to hard disk:)
   2. if file system is FAT32, u may mot be able to copy files of size more than 4GB
   3. Try updating the firmware of the CD/DVD drive
   4. Try coming back here with more clues to ur problem :)

have a nice day

Here's a fdisk utility for you to use: http://www.shareup.com/Super_Fdisk-download-18631.html That will help partition and activate drives. If you don't know how to partition a drive, then this link will help explain, in tech detail, what you are doing: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q221829/ If you want more of a layman's explanation, then goto this link: http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/weendoggy/index.htm As the person there went into detail as to what you are doing from what I think is a not-as-technical explanation as most other sites. Fdisk wipes your hard drive clear of anything when you run it, it then partitions the drives and activates the partitions so that a operating system can be installed on it. With your RAM, why did you even try to install Vista? Vista needs at least 1G of RAM for optimal performance, not to mention a good graphics card, and just overall new hardware.