Upgrade Win 95 to Win98 3

[oldcomptrguy]

I have a comptr with Windows 95 and alot of data on it that I do not want to lose. I have a Windows 98 CD and was going to upgrade to 98 but the Windows 98 CD is a full version, and not an upgrade. So when I try and install it it tells me there is already an OS on the comptr and I need to use the upgrade version. I don't want to format and lose the current data on the comptr.

Is there any way I can use the 98 CD to upgrade this comptr?

 

[Comtech]

Open Explorer, browse to the c:\windows folder, rename the file "win.com" to "win.bak"
You can now install Win98.
Make sure that you change the installation path, when prompted, from c:\windows.000 to c:\windows and it will install over top. You will keep all your current settings and files in place, not lose anything.

Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/

 

[oldcomptrguy]

Thanks Comtech. That's the good news I wanted to hear.

 

[Win98User]

Am I right in thinking that this is done from inside windows and not in dos?

 

[Comtech]

Exactly. If you restart the computer, you get a "Cannot find win.com" error, and are dumped to a dos prompt, with no CD-ROM support.
DO NOT restart after renaming win.com to avoid it.
If you DO end up at a DOS prompt, you can either rename win.bak back to win.com and restart, or find a win98 startup diskette with CD-ROM support, OR install DOS CD-ROM drivers on the hard drive, or change the BIOS sequence to boot from CD-ROM first.

Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/

 

[Win98User]

Thanks Jim.

Regards,

John.

 

[oldcomptrguy]

Comtech. I have checked the Windows folders on my 95, 98 and ME comptrs and cannot find the win.com file. All already have the win.bak.

 

[KimberTech]

win.com should be in the windows folder on your system.
Does the system boot?

It might have been installed into an alternative directory, say one called win95.

Just do a search for it...

Kimber

Members of Tek-Tips provide answers to questions based on the information given. For the best answers, post detailed descriptions of the issue. Use the search features of the site to see if your issue was already addressed in another thread.

 

[edfair]

Or look in msdos.sys and see what the system is using for the boot directory.

Ed Fair
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[Comtech]

win.com is there. It has to be, or windows won't run.
It's probably just hidden.
Open Explorer, View, Folder options, View.
Set to "show all". do NOT "hide extentions for known...", and "show hidden and system", apply to all folders, and NOW look...

Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/

 

[PatrickIRL]

Hi guys, I've got the same problem, a computer with Win95 that I want to upgrade to Win98se. I tried but got the "OS already installed error", did the renaming thing but still got the error, any ideas ?????

 

[PatrickIRL]

Hang on, think I may have it. Looked at some more posts and the solution given in thread 520321 is to rename win.com AND winver.exe. I'll give it a try