95 to 98 install

[Mich@el]

Ok im trying to upgrade a school computer and having a little bit of a problem. It is a 95 machine and im trying to upgrade to 98. I have a 98 cd but when i try and install it it says the computer already has an OS and cant install that i need the windows 98 upgrade CD not the normal CD. Is there any way to get past this without taking out the machines OS that its using now.


Also anoher question will ME upgrade from 98 only or from 98 and 95.

[Ya_know]

I think without the upgrade version, you are going to have to install fresh. Either into another directory, or just format/re-install. Win98 install is like this by design…

Now, if you had the upgrade, and wanted to do a clean install, you could do that, you just need a 95 CD handy for verification when prompted (or win3.1 disks).

There may be a way around this, but I wouldn’t wait too long for a miracle to pop up here…If you need to get this done right away, just get started with the fresh install…

[Chosen One]

Boot from a Windows 98 Boot Floppy and load Windows 98 from a DOS Prompt. It should load over Windows 95. You may have some misdirected links within Windows though when this is done. Also, depending on drivers, you might get some errors when booting into Windows that you'll have to tweak the Registry or other system files. Good luck!

[Mich@el]

Ok i really dont want to have to format and reinstall everything because it can become very annoying because the computer is on a network that is working very well and i dont want to screw it up where i have to fix it. but if i do have to reformat what would you suggest the easiest way to backup my files. should i just copy my c: files to another cmputer on the network(its 1.4gigs only atm). i dont have a burner on the network either so that kinda screws me. also if i do the backing up how do i deal with the 95 windows directory junk?

[Ya_know]

[quote]Originally posted by Mich@el:
<strong>Ok i really dont want to have to format and reinstall everything because it can become very annoying because the computer is on a network that is working very well and i dont want to screw it up where i have to fix it. but if i do have to reformat what would you suggest the easiest way to backup my files. should i just copy my c: files to another cmputer on the network(its 1.4gigs only atm). i dont have a burner on the network either so that kinda screws me. also if i do the backing up how do i deal with the 95 windows directory junk?</strong><hr></blockquote>

You will still have to reinstall all of your applications, drivers, and you will have files from both installs creeping up on you, so the best thing to do is reinstall, and trust your skills. 98SE will find allot more hardware that 95 ever could, so trust me when I say, it will probably be easier to perform and maintain than a mixed up, faulty upgrade. Trust me again when I say that there is no such thing as “a PC that can’t be reformatted”. Just be sure that you corral all of your data, from files, to email, to address book, to favorites, to macros, to signatures and templates, and you shouldn’t need anything else. Again, trust your skills.

As far as the 1.4 GB, are you looking to back up the entire drive? The best way would be to Clone this disk with another, using Ghost or something similar. You will have everything available, and can jump back to the other if you need a living PC.

Now, if you are talking about 1.4 Gig of data files, let me ask you this: where would you be without a backup if the PC were to crash? It is time to let go of some of that information, and use the network, providing that the network shares are backed up...

[deseqer]

You will have to rename the win.com file and the desktop folder. both of them are locate in the windows dir if there was any question were they were located. then you should be able to install windows 98 over top of 95.

[kato]

[quote]Originally posted by Ya_know:
<strong>

You will still have to reinstall all of your applications, drivers</strong><hr></blockquote>

What????? maybe if your installing NT and win9x together, but this is not the case.

[quote]Originally posted by deseqer:
<strong>You will have to rename the win.com file and the desktop folder. both of them are locate in the windows dir if there was any question were they were located. then you should be able to install windows 98 over top of 95</strong><hr></blockquote>

9 times out of ten, this is the easiest solution for this problem. if that doesn't work then here's a workaround straight from microsoft.
<a href="http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q225/2/52.asp" target="_blank">http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q225/2/52.asp</a>


normally when upgrading an OS I reccomend re-format and fresh install. but in the case of win95 to 98, it's not as critical. 98 is basically windows 95 with service packs and better driver support. you won't normally hurt anything by installing 98 overtop of 95.

[Ya_know]

[quote]Originally posted by kato2274:
<strong>

9 times out of ten, this is the easiest solution for this problem. if that doesn't work then here's a workaround straight from microsoft.
<a href="http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q225/2/52.asp" target="_blank">http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q225/2/52.asp</a>

</strong><hr></blockquote>

I went though that article, and evaluated everyone's suggestions, you make a valid point. Perhaps it is possible to upgrade without the upgrade version, and have a fully functional OS...

I say give it a shot, you stand a chance of saving several hours of work if the upgrade goes smooth.