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callerguy
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 Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 3:09 pm Post subject: Help - need to fall back to Win98SE from XP? |
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I have an "old" Dell Latitude Laptop (233Mhz; 64Mb RAM) that was running Win98SE just fine, but I decided to upgrade to XP even though I realized it was a 'minimum' config. for XP. As you might expect, it runs 'ok' but very very slow!  As this Laptop is only being used for Word processing & some email; little surfing; I'd rather re-install Win98. Problem is that if you drop in the Win98 Upgrade CD & try to run it, the system won't let you because XP is already there. So I'm figuring that I'm going to have to format the hard drive & reinstall the Win98 from scratch.
I've got 3 other systems loaded with XP so am familiar with the behaviour of the XP reinstall / sys. console etc, but when I apply the same approach in trying to "fall back" to Win98, I've got 2 (at least) problems ......
(1) With XP I can boot from the XP disc & run everything from there - not the case with the Win98 disc even if BIOS is set to boot from the CDR - XP seems to cause a 'by-pass' & boots from the HD ignoring the CD in the drive bay.
(2) Ok then, I'm thinking I could create a DOS boot floppy (sys has a floppy & CDRom) with autoexec.bat & config.sys files, but would need to define the CDRom - something I haven't done for years & have tossed my old DOS6.0 manual !! However, the original OS was Win95 & when it was upgraded to Win98, the original W95 CD's were lost, so even if I reformat the HD, the Win98 UG may not even start up as a previous Win (95 or 3.1) isn't present? 
Hummm, maybe Linux work? 
Any suggestions, anyone? (I searched the forum topics but couldn't locate anything)
Thanks!
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ardvarkishereagain
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| Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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Hi...
You are correct, you will need to repartition and format the hard drive, via floppy boot disk. I assuming since this is an older laptop, it has a floppy drive built into it. There are two choices I can offer. You can go here and download the correct boot software for your version of 98 (there are two)...
http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
Download it to your desktop and insert a blank floppy for it to write to and you should be good to go. You should not need to define any CD-ROM. However, if you don't remember or know the commands you will need to do this (repartition and format,) please post back and I will tell you.
OR
Simply download the version (OEM) I have uploaded for you below. The above still applies.
Concerning Linux, with the amount of memory and CPU speed you have to work with, you would need an extremely light running distro. Here is another link that can give you some ideas...
http://distrocenter.linux.com/article.pl?sid=06/02/13/1854251&tid=127
However, in fair warning, it won't run most Windows applications although there are open source variations and alternatives to almost all of them, providing you master the dreaded "command line."
Hope this helps...
Best Regards...
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callerguy
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Mister2
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| Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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Hi callerguy,
| Quote: | | Problem is that if you drop in the Win98 Upgrade CD ... |
The important word here is upgrade.
As I understand it, a Windows upgrade install relies on a previous Windows installation to be present. If not then it is possible to insert a Win 95 or 3.1 disk during the installation to get the relevant files confirming that an upgrade is permissible under the MS licensing agreement.
I would hate you to reformat only to find you could not load an operating system at all - bear in mind that it would be illegal to load XP using the CD from one of your other systems if it is only a single-license version. Your best bet would be to purchase a full Win 98 CD - I got one for £25 a while back. Just don't go for the cheapest as these are probably pirate copies - you need a genuine disk with the MS hologram.
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ardvarkishereagain
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callerguy
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Mister2
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| Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 5:55 am Post subject: |
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Sorry it's not good news. That's the problem with older hardware - the OS costs more than the system!
I got mine off eBay - there were cheaper ones available (around $10 CDN) but I got the impression they were just copies run off as necessary. It might be an idea to ring a local dealer / repair shop - they might have an old copy left in stock.
Good luck with the search!
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callerguy
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ardvarkishereagain
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Thank you, I thought as much. I have downloaded the file you posted 
& created the floppy disk. As you surmised, the laptop has a modular floppy drive (connected by LPT1) as well as CDrom in the modular drive bay. Although my old DOS skills are very rusty, the readme.txt on the new floppy has sufficient info. for me to work with. If I run into problems I'll post back. I'll also let you know how it all turns out if things run smoothly.
I'm glad I could help.
Yes, I was bidding on eBay for 2 'original' Win98 & was outbid, one going for $45US! I wouldn't have thought there was much demand for that OS these days.... but - go figure. Maybe I can snag a Win95, afterall I do have a Win98 upgrade ! 