Can`t reinstall WIN98 on my c drive.WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

Question

When i run installCD i get error invalid system desk.i`m a newbi. trying to learn all I can. I`VE not run into this problem before. HELP PLEASE

Answer 1

you need to format your hard drive first before reinstalling the windows 98... when you boot up your computer type in format c: and then when it gets done, type in setup /ie /is...it will skip the scandisk and boot disk, it will be faster to set up

Answer 2

yes, my windows 98 SE disk does not require a floppy. The message is saying that you have an invalid system disk. There are two solutions (assuming there's no problem with your cd disk).

1. You need the floppy disk mentioned in a previous message.
2. You can go into BIOS at bootup and change the order in which the drives are being searched. You will want it to look for the CD first, then the HDD. Now it should load from the CD.

If you have further problems, email me. I do remember how intimidated I was with my first computer and my first attempt to install.

While win 98 can give you good experience installing, you should quickly move on to a more up to date OS. Win 98 is no longer supported, and the things you're going to want to be doing may not be supported. But good luck with your current project!

Answer 3

To the best of my knowledge Windows 98 Cds were not bootable CD's thats is why you are getting an error non system disk.

You would need to create a Windows 98 bootable floppy which would give you CDROM drive support as well.
You would need to make Floppy drive a first boot device as well to make the system boot through Windows 98 floppy disk.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/187632/

In case you dont have access to another Windows 98 computer to create a Windows 98 startup floppy, you can download the image of windows 98 from the link below and create a disk from it.
http://www.bootdisk.com/

once you have booted your system with this floppy then you can insert your windows 98 installation disk and start installation by going to cdrom drive through dos
depending on your hard disk partitioning you would be alloted a drive letter by the boot disk for your CDROM in dos.
You would see a message on the DOS screen once you system boots up using Windows 98 startup floppy telling you the drive letter.
type in
d:\ (if it allots d: drive to it)
then goto win98 folder
cd win98
and then type
setup /ie (The /ie flag tells Windows 98 not to make a new Startup Floppy during the installation.)

additional info on installation and upgrade on links below.

hope this helps.

Answer 4

Invalid system desk? Do you by chance mean Invalid system DISK.

If so, you may just need to clean the CD. Sounds like it is not reading the CD.

Answer 5

Shut up and go get your copy of Windows XP Pro / Windows Vista......

Answer 6

if chriseg24_81's answer is not workin, I think u'll need to re-partition ur hard drive before steps in his/her answer.

try to fix the hard jumper to single drive mode.