Install windows 98 after XP without having floppy drive

[fsteeman]

Someone asked me to install a 98 partition on her XP-installed PC. I read a number of good how-to's on the internet
(e.g. this one:

http://www.petri.co.il/install_windows_98_after_windows_xp.htm).

I have everything prepared... partitions, installation CD's, Gparted, etc., just.... no floppy drive...

What do I do now!?



Fedor Steeman
Virksomheds-IT http://www.virksomheds-it.dk/
Denmark

 

[wolluf]

win98 install CD is bootable - you don't need floppy to start the install.

 

[fsteeman]

Thanks. The question is also, whether i slavically have to follow the guide on the link I found. Or can I just install Win98 on the right partition then followed by XP installation to repair the boot sector (MBR)....

Fedor Steeman
Virksomheds-IT http://www.virksomheds-it.dk/
Denmark

 

[Freestone]

Is installing 98 under a Virtual PC session an option? That way the current XP is not affected.

 

[fsteeman]

Last time I checked, VirtualPC only runs on Windows XP Professional. However, I am considering installing Linux in the partition so she can run her 'legacy' programs with WINE...

Yet, it should be possible to fix the MBR after a WIN98 install. So don't wanna give up just yet...

Fedor Steeman
Virksomheds-IT http://www.virksomheds-it.dk/
Denmark

 

[RichLee]

If you ignore the warning (Host OS Not Supported), it will install and work fine on XP Home.

 

[wolluf]

Yes you can fix the boot record after the win98 install - that guide is just a guide. Basically 98 install breaks the XP boot sector, plus in order to boot 98 from XP boot menu a copy of the 98 boot sector need to be saved in a file (bootsect.dos) which is loaded by the windows 98 entry in boot.ini.

A better way (IMO) is to use a third party boot menu. Hide the existing XP partition, create new partition & install 98 into it (can be before or after XP partition, and XP can be on NTFS) - because XP partition hidden, it will install 98 boot sector on new partition (need to be primary partition). Unhide the XP partition - install the boot manager & hey presto. I use (or used to - only hvae virtual 98 machines now)

http://www.boot-us.com,

which has tools for hiding partitions too (both in its windows gui and as a dos tool) & can be installed to mbr or floppy or Cd (via image file). Its free version is fine for a single drive - or multiple if you install to floppy.