Help installing Windows 98 (freeze during install)

[hubbadub]

Hello. Any help anyone can give will be greatly appreciated. During the installation of Win98SE on my new computer, it keeps freezing during the initial install, more specifically during the part where it checks for plug-and-play (and non) devices. It always freezes during this process, and always between 10-17% remaining.

Heres my setup: Athlon 1800 XP, running on a PcChips K7SEM mobo, with 256MB Ram, a 40GB Fujitsu HD, NEC 12x CDRW, generic floppy, and Iomega 100MB Zip Drive. The sound and video are onboard, and it has an AMR modem.
Heres what Ive tried: I removed all unnecessary devices. The AMR modem, floppy drive, and zip drive. Ive also disable the onboard sound in the bios. Also, I tried the install with my friends copy of the same Windows 98, this was 1st edition though, and it froze in the same spot, so it cant be a problem with the CD itself.

What could be causing this?? I dont think its the RAM, as it keeps freezing in the same spot. I dont think its the hard drive, because after I had all this trouble, I installed, then uninstalled, Redhat Linux 8.0, which ran fine. I purchased a new hard drive (IDE) cable. Do you guys think it could be a problem with a BIOS option?? Or something I havent even thought of??? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance, and if you need more info on my system, or what I have tried, let me know. Thanks

 

[KimberTech]

If you have a setting in the bios called PNP Operating System installed, set it to NO.
Then try again.
Have seen this a couple of times before...
several causes.
If this doesnt work post again and can try something else.

Good Luck! Kimber

The more I learn,I realize how much more there is to know!

 

[hubbadub]

Ok, I have an Award BIOS, i can give you the exact version if I need to, but there is no option for the Plug and Play OS....ive seen this in my old computer, so I know what your talking about.

Is it possible it could be under a different option/category??? This is a very feature-rich BIOS, the best ive yet seen, so i cant really tell you every single option in the bios, but if you can give me a couple of other things to try, id be much obliged. thanks

 

[KimberTech]

Try just for troubleshooting purposes....
copy the install files onto the hard disk in a folder and try running from there.

Another work around that has worked in the past..
oh and you are welcome...any time.

Kimber

The more I learn,I realize how much more there is to know!

 

[hubbadub]

ok ill try that, but can you give me a heads up on what i would need to do in order to do that??? i imagine id go to the dos prompt, but what from there?? thanks once again

 

[karmic]

One more little tidbit...

Make sure ALL onboard hardware is enabled. I recently dropped back to 98SE from 2000 and almost tore my hair out over the same problem as yours. Turns out I had to enable the onboard scsi. Once I did that, worked like a charm

Good luck ~ The day I think I know it all, i'm changing careers ~

 

[KimberTech]

hubbadub do you know how to xcopy the cab files over in dos?
Kimber

The more I learn,I realize how much more there is to know!

 

[pudda]

If you have a Win98 boot disk, start the machine with it and choose the "Start with CD-ROM support". After the installation of startup files and at the A:> prompt, type:
C: [ENTER]
C:\>MD WINDOWS [ENTER]
C:\>CD WINDOWS [ENTER]
C:\WINDOWS> MD OPTIONS [ENTER]
C:\WINDOWS> CD OPTIONS [ENTER]
C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS> MD CABS [ENTER]
C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS> CD CABS [ENTER]
C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS> D: [ENTER] (Note: Replace D with whatever your CD-ROM drive is)
D:\>CD WIN98 [ENTER]
D:\WIN98>COPY *.* C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS [ENTER]

This should copy all the files necessary for installing the OS. When it is complete, follow this:
D:\WIN98>C: [ENTER]
C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS>SETUP [ENTER]

Follow the setup instructions and leave the floppy in until the startup disk is to be created, cancel it's creation, then remove the floppy and continue. The test continues...