OFF2000: How to Install Windows 98 to a New Folder

ID: Q200378


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 98


SUMMARY

This article describes how to install a second copy of Microsoft Windows 98 to a new folder on your computer. For information about installing Microsoft Windows 95 into a new folder, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q200375 OFF2000: How to Install Windows 95 to a New Folder

Requirements for Installing a Second Copy of Windows 98 to a New Folder

In order to use the instructions listed in this article, you need:
  • Approximately 365 megabytes (MB) of free hard drive space for the second copy of Windows 98 (170 MB for the Win98 folder and 195 MB for the Windows 98 installation). If you plan to install Windows programs (such as Office) under the new copy of Windows 98, you will need additional disk space as required by each program.


  • The Windows 98 compact disc (CD) or access to the Windows 98 installation files.


  • Your Windows 98 Product Key, which is normally located on the Windows 98 CD sleeve. If you are using an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) version of Windows 98, you will need your OEM Product Key, which is located on your Certificate of Authenticity.


  • A Windows 98 Startup disk. If you should encounter problems following the instructions below, it may be necessary to use the Windows 98 Startup disk to start the computer.



MORE INFORMATION

Create a Windows 98 Startup Disk

If you do not have a Windows 98 Startup disk, you will need to create one. To do so, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


  2. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.


  3. Click the Startup Disk tab.


  4. Click Create Disk.


How to Install a Second Copy of Windows 98 to a New Folder

  1. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click MS-DOS Prompt.


  2. At the command prompt, type the following lines pressing ENTER after each line:


  3. 
    cd\ 
    md w98flat 
  4. Insert the Windows 98 CD into the CD-ROM drive.


  5. At the command prompt, type the following line and press ENTER:
    
    copy <drive>:\win98\*.* c:\w98flat 
    where <drive> is the drive letter assigned to your CD-ROM drive.


  6. At the command prompt, type exit and press ENTER.


  7. Restart your computer. Press and hold down the CTRL key until the Windows 98 Startup menu appears.


  8. On the Windows Startup menu, select the option for Command Prompt Only, and then press ENTER.


  9. Make a backup copy and rename the system files in case you decide to return to your original installation of Windows 98 later. To do so, type the following lines at the command prompt. Press ENTER after each line.
    
    attrib -s -h -r bootlog.txt
    attrib -s -h -r bootlog.prv
    attrib -s -h -r detlog.txt
    attrib -s -h -r msdos.sys
    attrib -s -h -r setuplog.txt
    attrib -s -h -r system.1st
    copy autoexec.bat *.xxx
    copy config.sys *.xxx
    ren bootlog.prv bootlog2.xxx
    ren bootlog.txt *.xxx
    ren detlog.txt *.xxx
    ren msdos.sys *.xxx
    ren setuplog.txt *.xxx
    ren system.1st *.xxx
     
    NOTE: If you receive a "File not found" error message entering any of the previous lines, ignore the error message and proceed to the next line.

    NOTE: The Program Files folder will not be changed because the Program Files folder was not renamed.


  10. Type the following line and then press ENTER:


  11. 
    cd\w98flat 
  12. To run the Windows 98 Setup program, type setup and then press ENTER.

    During the Windows 98 setup, specify a new folder for the Windows 98 installation. Make sure not to use the folder for your current installation of Windows 98.


How to Restore the Previous Copy of Windows 98

Note that if the problem you are troubleshooting still occurs in the new copy of Windows 98, your problem may not be software-related or it may be necessary to format your hard drive in order to resolve your problem.

These steps explain how to restore your original copy of Windows 98 if you determine that the installation of Windows 98 to a new folder did not resolve the problem.

  1. Restart your computer. Press and hold down the CTRL key until the Windows 98 Startup menu appears.


  2. On the Windows Startup menu, select the option for Command Prompt Only, and then press ENTER.


  3. At the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line, type y and press ENTER:
    
    deltree autoexec.bat
    deltree bootlog.txt
    deltree bootlog.prv
    deltree config.sys
    deltree detlog.txt
    deltree msdos.sys
    deltree setuplog.txt
    deltree system.1st
    ren bootlog2.xxx bootlog.prv
    ren autoexec.xxx *.bat
    ren bootlog.xxx *.txt
    ren config.xxx *.sys
    ren detlog.xxx *.txt
    ren msdos.xxx *.sys
    ren setuplog.xxx *.txt
    ren system.xxx *.1st 
    NOTE: If you receive a "File not found" error message entering any of the previous lines that use the ren command, ignore the error message and proceed to the next line.

    NOTE: When you press ENTER after typing each of the following deltree commands, you should be prompted to confirm that you want to delete the folder. If this prompt does not appear, you may have typed the command incorrectly


  4. At the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line. Note that you will be asked to confirm each line when you press ENTER. Type
    
    deltree w98flat
    deltree <folder> 
    where <folder> is the name of the folder where the new copy of Windows 98 is installed. If your new Windows 98 directory is called "win98", the syntax would look like this:


  5. 
    deltree win98 
  6. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart the computer. When the computer restarts, your original copy of Windows 98 will be restored.


Additional query words: OFF2000 kbtshoot tshoot

Keywords : kbdta
Version : WINDOWS:
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: May 13, 1999
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