Hi.

I've just spent several days (literally) installing Windows 98 SE on a VAIO PCG-N505X (as I don't yet have the restore CD) and failing badly for a very simple reason.

Symptoms are that the install fails after adding the start menu items in the install script. I've tried my retail CD, OEM version and backups of each. Each fails in the same place. I had this experience before and chalked it up to a bad memory module as the problem went away after removing (coincidence it tuns out)

However the real answer is documented here:
https://blacktree.nl/2022/02/24/windows-98-in … the-start-menu/

If you are installing Windows 98 on a devicve that has a USB floppy drive plugged in, it will fail at this point. Rebooting without the USB drive will result in sucess. Potentially this applies to other USB devices too?

Hope that helps somebody save a day or so!