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Best current method to install Windows 98?

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First post, by cloverskull

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Hey friends, there are apparently a multitude of ways to install Windows 98 SE - from the original ISO, using a slipstreamed version, or with a quick install. Then there are different methods of patching the system, none of which have I even begun to explore.

What's the ideal way to get up and running and have everything as optimized/stable as possible? Is there an update pack or something to get the latest updates all in one fell swoop?

Thanks!

Reply 1 of 12, by marxveix

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Best method for me is to make a perfect Wn9x install with right and good drivers and make backup file of it (it can be without or with patches), so i can install it back at any time with one backup file. Of course its ideal only for one or similar pcs, but it works and new install is quick and it helps out also if hdd or sdd starts to fail, just change hdd and use cd or usb to install all back from backup file. Works for newer and older Windows OS. Some backup tools are free, some not. There are dos based, cd and usb bootable ones and probably many that i dont know. Just use what works for you. First try it may take some time to use correct steps at learning, later its easy.

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Reply 2 of 12, by leileilol

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there's many confusing solutions that want to be The Savior of Windows 98 or something.....so i'd just install windows me and forget them

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Reply 3 of 12, by jakethompson1

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However you do it, just make sure to copy the \WIN98 directory to C: and start setup from there, not directly from the CD-ROM, so that Windows doesn't demand the CD-ROM every time you reconfigure your network settings.

Reply 4 of 12, by Repo Man11

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KT7A Guy was nice enough to do a thread: Generic Win98SE Installation & Setup Guide

After watching many YouTube videos about older computer hardware, YouTube began recommending videos about trains - are they trying to tell me something?

Reply 5 of 12, by gerry

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i do the "copy the \WIN98 directory to C: and start setup from there" approach, the install takes time but you dont have to sit there, most it just happens bar a few small selection points

The main issue i found was getting the CD readable from msdos boot disk and making sure the files could transfer optimally. the guides, like above, should cover it all

Writing this i realise i havent installed win 98se often in the last 5-6 years, maybe once or twice to test something

Reply 6 of 12, by Yoghoo

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If you install Windows 98SE often it helps to create a msbatch.inf file with all parameters you want/need (serial, options etc). Just copy it in the C:\WIN98 directory where you put the install files and run setup. This makes installing it very quick with almost no user input. Only need to press enter two times.

For updates I just use https://windowsupdaterestored.com. There are also update CDs btw. Search for them on an archival site which shall not be named on this forum.

Reply 7 of 12, by jakethompson1

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gerry wrote on 2026-05-20, 08:20:

The main issue i found was getting the CD readable from msdos boot disk and making sure the files could transfer optimally. the guides, like above, should cover it all

If your machine doesn't have CD-ROM boot and you can't or don't want to use smart boot manager/plop/etc., then because Win98 era CD-ROM boot uses an emulated floppy image anyway, you can use 7-zip to extract the image from the CD-ROM and then write it to a real floppy, so it's just like having the CD-ROM boot without having to build your own disk. 😁

Reply 8 of 12, by BitWrangler

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I sort of mix and match. Got one HDD with a low end generic driver install, which I clone to a disk when I suspect a machine might have difficulties installing due to slowass CPU or some other weirdness. Then for everything else, I have the CD dumped to a HDD with the files on, which is a much faster copy to another install directory on target drive than CD and then run setup from in that.

Unicorn herding operations are proceeding, but all the totes of hens teeth and barrels of rocking horse poop give them plenty of hiding spots.

Reply 9 of 12, by Ahrle

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Best I think depends on your computer. With a collection of 74 rigs I have some different methods.

1. 98 without CD:

Requirements:
- boot floppy
- screwdriver
- test rig/another PC with the same HDD interface (remember 2.5" and 3.5" IDE are different)
- 98 ISO & nusb33e (if you have USB)

1. Floppy boot your retro machine
2. Fdisk, single partition
3. Restart and format C: (in DOS, or DOS will throw "no valid partition")
4. Remove the HDD, install in your test rig.
5. Extract the win98 iso to the drive.
6. Reinstall the drive into your retro rig
7. Floppy boot and install win98

2. 98 with CD:

Requirements:
- 98 CD
- boot floppy (if 98 CD is not bootable)
- nusb33e (if you have USB)

1. Floppy/CD boot your retro machine
2. Fdisk, single partition
3. Floppy/CD reboot and install win98 (installer will format the drive for you)

3. 98+XP multiboot without CDs

Requirements:
- boot floppy
- screwdriver
- test rig/another PC with the same HDD interface (remember 2.5" and 3.5" IDE are different)
- 98 & XP ISO

Install 98 (from C:\win98) first:
1. Floppy boot your retro machine
2. Fdisk, two partitions. Partition 1 will be your 98 and partition 2 your XP partition.
I prefer C: the entire drive minus 2048 MB, and D: 2048MB for space efficiency.
3. Restart and format C: (in DOS, or DOS will throw "no valid partition")
4. Remove the HDD, install in your test rig.
5. Extract the win98 and XP iso's to the drive (for instance to \win98 and \winXP).
6. Reinstall the drive into your retro rig
7. Floppy boot and install win98 on C:

Install XP next (from C:\winxp) next:
1. Restart in DOS mode
2. Type "smartdrv" (without quotes) to speed up the installation
3. Start installation with C:\winxp\i386\winnt.exe
4. When you get to HDD selection, pick Unpartitioned space (2047 MB or so) for installation
5. Format as FAT (quick) so win98 also can access it in the future.

Notes:
- In XP, go to Control Panel > Power Settings and disable Hibernation mode. This will free up D: space equivalent to your RAM. You will now have ~500MB free on D:
- In XP, also uninstall online games from Add/Remove Programs > Windows components for some extra 8MB.
- In XP, right click My Computer > Advanced > Startup and restore > Settings and pick your default OS. Reboot into XP for it to take effect. Also uncheck "Restart automatically" to avoid spontaneous restarts in the event of stop codes.
- nusb33e not needed immediately due to USB access from XP, but a nice touch to 98.

4. 98+XP multiboot with CDs

Requirements:
- 98 & XP CD
- boot floppy (if 98 CD is not bootable)

Install 98 first:
1. Boot your retro machine (with 98 CD, floppy if CD is not bootable)
2. Fdisk, two partitions. Partition 1 will be your 98 and partition 2 your XP partition.
I prefer C: the entire drive minus 2048 MB, and D: 2048MB for maximum space efficiency.
3. Restart and install Win98 from CD

Install XP next (from C:\winxp) next:
1. Boot with XP CD
2. When you get to HDD selection, pick Unpartitioned space (2047 MB or so) for installation
2. Format as FAT (quick) so win98 also can access it in the future.

Tweaks

98:
Speed up boot massively: Windows + Pause > Device manager. Disable any network cards unless you need them. This will remove NIC related 15-120 sec delays during startup.
Speed up boot more: Disable any other unnecessary devices in Device Manager
Disable floppy seek on every startup: Windows + Pause > Performance > File System > Floppy > untick "Seek for new floppy devices on every startup" (or so)

XP:
- Start your favorite OS by default, change the timer, etc: Windows+Pause > Advanced > Startup and repair.
Also advised to uncheck "Restart automatically" to be able to read BSoDs.
- Free up HDD space equivalent to RAM: Control Panel > Power Settings > disable Hibernation mode.
- Free up ~8MB space: Add/Remove Programs > Windows components > Games > Online games (they don't work anyway)

I would also go to "Virtual memory" under System Settings > Advanced (Windows+Pause) and set a useful amount of virtual memory (page file).
By default you get 1.5x RAM, but I've found pretty much everything (except Everest benches) to work great with 16MB.
Also, by setting a fixed pagefile amount, the page file will not scatter and need to be defragged.

Also don't forget to speed up your mouse and keyboard response in control panel 😉
Enjoy!

Last edited by Ahrle on 2026-05-22, 19:08. Edited 2 times in total.

Project Peak-End 357575: ECS U4914-G | 486DX2-66 | 64MB | ET4000/W32i 1MB | CT3900 28MB | MT-32, SC-55 MK1 & 2, TG-300
Alt: IBM PC300PL | PIII-750 | 256MiB | Diamond Viper + V2 SLi | CT4500 | SC-88 Pro

Reply 10 of 12, by gerry

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Ahrle wrote on 2026-05-21, 19:09:

With a collection of 74 rigs I have some different methods.

😀 and i think i have too many.. sounds like experience and a need for efficiency has refined you approaches

Reply 11 of 12, by Ahrle

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gerry wrote on 2026-05-22, 09:53:
Ahrle wrote on 2026-05-21, 19:09:

With a collection of 74 rigs I have some different methods.

😀 and i think i have too many.. sounds like experience and a need for efficiency has refined you approaches

haha, thanks 😁

It's a blend of donations, gifts, garbage picks, bargains, long-term collection and dailies.
I feel freedom going to the lockup, picking whatever desired at the moment, or just delving into a project now and then. Like physical eBay, but everything's free.

Guess Vogons and especially (How many computers do you own?) didn't help cleaning up either (keeping track of the collection there) 😁

Project Peak-End 357575: ECS U4914-G | 486DX2-66 | 64MB | ET4000/W32i 1MB | CT3900 28MB | MT-32, SC-55 MK1 & 2, TG-300
Alt: IBM PC300PL | PIII-750 | 256MiB | Diamond Viper + V2 SLi | CT4500 | SC-88 Pro

Reply 12 of 12, by zapbuzz

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leileilol wrote on 2026-05-18, 22:57:

there's many confusing solutions that want to be The Savior of Windows 98 or something.....so i'd just install windows me and forget them

I have to agree especially with pentium 4 and USB2.

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