installing windows 98

[md300]

ok I now i can install windows 98 from the cd is there a way to put on hard drive and have it install from there and to point to windows 98 on hard drive for furture files needed thanks be as specific as possible please thanks.

[LeftCoast]

I think you could copy the i386 file to your HDD, then direct the system to that saved folder if files are needed in the future(if I'm understanding you).

[md300]

ok can you tell me how to do that i am formating and reinstalling system thanks or after install just copy win 98 to hard drive folder and then what thanks

[rastorize]

I don't believe there is a i386 folder for Windows 98...I think the folder is named something like 'Windows'... or 'Win98'...look for a folder with a 'setup.exe' in it and a bunch of .cab files. When you find it, all you need is that folder - copy it to your C: drive and run setup.exe from there. Are you doing this from a DOS prompt?

After you format your disk...

In DOS, create a folder on the C: drive called 'win98setup' or whatever you choose (don't choose 'windows' tho)

C:\md win98setup

Then, assuming your CD is the D:\ drive, I'd then copy over the setup files:
copy D:\win98 C:\win98setup

Then type C:\cd win98setup
then type C:\run setup.exe

Someone else correct me if I'm wrong - I'm doing this from memory and it's been ages since I've done anything is DOS...

[md300]

ok I think I got it but one thing if I put windows start up disk format how do i creat a new folder is C drive if that what i am understandiing you right

[Foggy]

http://www.hexff.com/win98_install.php Scroll down to #11

[noseBleeD]

shorten the directory name (limit to 8 chars in dos for directories)
at the c prompt (c:\) type
md win98su
then press Enter key

You can then use xcopy to copy files to that new directory
using e and v switches (e - copies subdirs even empty ones, v - verifies copied correctly)
xcopy d:\win98\*.* c:\win98su\*.* /e /v
then press Enter

This is just from memory too. <-edit for clarification

the dos command 'copy' works too, xcopy will verify copy was copied correctly
I've never done install from hdd so I'm not sure if everything posted here be me will work for installing from hdd, because not sure of every file needed for complete install is located in win98 folder on cd - probably is though.
If you have a small hdd, every gb counts, so if need to copy is for faster install related concerns, the difference in speed isn't worth the diff sacrificed by hdd space. If need to copy is out of concern for install disk going bad, just burn a copy (you own the OS -right?), and make a couple of virus free startup floppy disks and write protect them.

Also, the link Foggy gave points to informative page that you probably should bookmark and read over. It tells you what you need to know. Good job Foggy!