Re: How difficult is it to install Windows 98?

[Jo Francis Byrd <jbyrd -at- byrdwrites -dot- com>]

Well, Jane, to quote Jared Spool (a leading usability expert here in the US), it
depends.....

Is your Windows 98 a OEM? If it's an upgrade, you may have problems - it may
look for a prior installation and balk if it can't find it. If it's an OEM, it
should go easily enough - but it IS time consuming - and you probably won't have
any problems. A few months back I had to reformat and reload everything when my
hard drive corrupted (I made the poor Dell Computer technician stay on the phone
for virtual hand-holding the entire time, but if...more likely when....I have to
do it again....I'll do it on my own). It's a long process, but pretty
straightforward. Just follow the screen directions and you should be OK.

Good luck!

Jo Byrd

"Carnall, Jane" wrote:

> Offlist answers, please!
>
> My laptop computer was stolen two or three weeks ago. The toerags who took it
> missed my software CDs, which included the CD for Windows 98. I can buy a
> replacement more cheaply (the difference is 70 ukp) if I buy it without
> Windows and install Windows 98 from the CD.
>
> The last time I installed an operating system it was O/S2, from 3.5" floppy
> disks, in 1990. I have dismal memories of that occasion - not least that as I
> remember, O/S2 occupied a lot of floppies! I have installed other Windows
> software from CDs and floppies over the past ten years, but never Windows
> itself.
>
> I don't want to mess up my new laptop for the sake of saving 70 quid.
> Conversely, if installing Windows 98 is simple enough, I don't want to spend
> 70 quid if I don't have to - particularly as the whole thing is already
> costing me nearly 700ukp to replace. (My insurance didn't cover the theft.)
>
> Has anyone installed Windows 98 and can tell me how foolproof (or how tricky!)
> it is to install?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jane Carnall
> Technical Writer, Compaq, UK
> Unless stated otherwise, these opinions are mine, and mine alone.