How can I install Windows onto my computer?

Question

the last time I did it, I had no problems, I can normally do it hassle free but this time it's not going to plan. I'm using a Window 98 boot disk because that's the easiest way I know of doing it, but when it's all booted up and I type in E:/Setup (E: is the CD drive I'm using, that's not the problem) it says "This program cannot run in Dos". I've tried just booting up the computer with the CD alone and it just says "Missing Operating System", and I've tried installing Windows 98, onto the computer, so that I could then upgrade it to XP but I got the same cannot run in Dos message. Any ideas? thanks alot.

I've changed the order in the BIOS to CD, HDD then Floppy and I'm still having the same problem. It's not running straight from the CD and it won't run using the boot disk. Neither 98 or XP will boot.

it turns out I had the Bios settings wrong, sorry, I should of checked that first. Thanks for the answer though everyone, much appreciated, bye.

Answer 1

MAKE SURE THAT YOU BACK UP ALL IMPORTANT DATA TO A CD OR OTHER REMOVABLE DEVICE (IE USB DRIVE) OR TO A NETWORK DRIVE (IE A SERVER)!

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Firstly, start your PC without any disks in the removable drives (eg CD drive, floppy drive).
Then look for something that tells you what to press to gain access to your BIOS settings - this usually happens right at the start (when the black screen and system settings appear). On most motherboards, it's F2 but it does change.
When you're into the BIOS settings, you can navigate the settings using the arrow keys. For all other navigation keys it usually tells you somewhere (mine says them on the bottom of each screen). Next, change the Boot Device Priority so that it boots like so:

1. CD Drive
2. Hard Drive
3. Floppy Drive

Please note that these aren't going to be the names of your drives - they all change depending on what make/model they are. For example, my Hard Drive is not called "Hard Drive", instead it's called "MAXTOR PP20514300GB".
When you've done that, save changes and restart. Once you've restarted (do this as soon as the PC shows the system settings [ie the black screen with white writing]) insert your OS' disc - I recommend putting the XP disc in and installing that.
The XP Setup will load from the disc after it's loaded all of the necessary components. The XP Setup (I'll call it XPSe from now on!) will give you three choices.
1: Install Windows XP
2: Repair Windows XP
3: Quit and restart

Press 1 on your keyboard. At the next screen, choose to format your hard disk, but don't do the Quick mode! I think it's Option 2 you need to choose. Then, wait for XPSe to format your disc. Formatting the disc just makes it easier for Windows to write itself to your Hard Drive. Follow everything through, and then after that it will tell you to restart! DO NOT TAKE OUT YOUR XPSe CD AT THIS POINT!

When the PC has restarted, do not boot from disk again (it will ask you to confirm if you want to boot from disk, just ignore it!) and XPSe's GUI should load (this time it looks like a normal program!). Follow the steps through and voila - XP is installed!

Good luck and if you need any more assistance just post back here! :D

Answer 2

Windows XP will not install from the Dos prompt? What you need is a Win XP bootable CD.

The next step (considering that you got a Win 98 CD) is to install Win 98, then insert the Win XP CD… Windows will then tell you that it found a newer version and ask if you want to upgrade? For this, you choose yes, and look for the option that says, “Clean install”. What this does is copy the necessary files required to start the PC from DOS and then formats the hard drive and install onto the newly formatted drive.

Answer 3

Hi,

When you start to boot your PC you will get something like please press F2 or Del to enter setup. This will bring you into the BIOS. Change the boot options to boot from the CD/DVD drive first. Then put in your Win98 CD and save and exit the BIOS. Your PC will boot from the beginning again and search the CD/DVD drive first and you should then be able to go on with that.

When installation is done, go back into the BIOS and put the boot order back to the way it was.

Have a try of that, if not, tell me what happens and we can go through trying the boot disk again.

HTH

Answer 4

!st of all IF you want windows XP finally then you dont need to install win 98 for it simply find a bootable CD of XP & install it.

I'll suggest you to go into BIOS & in the Boot device priority set the ATAPI or CD drive as no. 1 priority.

Please follow the link below it'll really help you buddy.
Lemme know for any issues.
Points apreciated.

Answer 5

You need a WIN98 boot disk (floppy). That will have everything you need on it to start. If your using an old 3.5 that you used before and its a tad old? It may have degraded or have a bad sector or 2 on it so Dos may not be loading. Get a new 3.5 and try it again. I had this problem before and a new 3.5 fixed it. Once teh CD drivers are loaded and you get your prompt, it should work fine.

Answer 6

im not sure whats going on in ur computer put have you tried just putting in the xp cd and doing a clean installation (not upgrading)

Answer 7

Daemon Tools will allow you to mount a cd or dvd that you've downloaded. An operating system is a different story. You can either a) go buy some dvd's and burn it, or b) go buy a legit copy of windows

Answer 8

have you changed your boot order in your bios to boot to your cd drive first? It sounds like it is looking for command.com on your hard drive first. Change your boot order to to seek your cdrom drive first with the win98 disk in that drive.

Answer 9

if u have xp cd bootable boot from it and inastall that is very easy just read every thing written and go step by step
I hope that i helped you
..........bye

Answer 10

Go to a good installer, but tell them if it is leaded or sash ones that you want