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Big Dog Joined: 20 Oct 2000 Posts: 3689 Location: USA

Quote:

Brian I run Win98 se and when I follow the instrutions you have on making a boot disk i don't get the same pictures as you present in your article on how to make a boot disk.In step 2 when I open a explorer window it does not show me the same things you have checked in your picture.What should I check under view in win 98 SE?Also My tab does not say like current window it says like current folder. I'm a little confused. Also can I copy the Windows/Cabs Folder in windows to another drive and reinstall win 98 on this Dell machine without putting all the Dell crap back on hard drive from restore CD?

jray,

I'll have to get back to you in a day or 2 when i've had a chance to boot into win98 (requires some un-configuration of one of my boxes) to answer some of that (but I was pretty sure that the screen caps were taken on my old company laptop which was running win98 at the time)

as far as your cabs and running setup, it kind of depends on the luck of when your system shipped

once upon a time the OEM's used to ship versions of windows that anyone could reinstall from

but someplace along about the middle of the win98 run, they started shipping these craptacular "system restore cd's" instead (due to license restrictions from M$ to assign blame where it's due)

Dell is one of the freindliest with the system cd's even now, so all i can recommend is that you copy the cabs, and the setup file and try rebooting to a dos prompt and reinstalling over your existing version to see if it's a go for you

if your version of win98 is one of those "restore cd's" you may or may not get a setup error (because you're reinstalling on the same machine that the cd came from it may work even if you were shafted with a system restore cd)

sorry i couldn't be more help there sir.

and since you have a Dell cd, there is a rumor floating around on the net that you can replace a couple of the files inside the cabs (such as *cough* oembios.bin *cough*) with "cracked versions" off the net and be able to use your "system restore cd" on any computer Evil Smile

[}

]

Proud Member of the LWD Seti team

Searching the skies for signs of other intelligent life . .
(because Canines seem to be the only signs of it down here !)

Stray Dog Joined: 15 Nov 2001 Posts: 1 Location: USA

HELP! I have a gateway,factory installed win me.I have a retail full windows 98se which I want to install.I dont really enjoy the bloated win me and want to cruise with well tuned 98se.The boot disk article created further concerns.Im not a novice,but I dont want to mess things up.The win 98se came with boot disk.Is there a relatively easy way to format and install.All advice will be appreciated.

Mutt Joined: 18 Jan 2002 Posts: 135 Location: India

a small question

i have made a edited win98 boot disk
which i will use to make a boootable cd

i want to know ho to execute a file on the cd in side a directory

this is the cofig.sys and autoexec.bat plz tell what i'm doing wrong

anyone

--------------------------------------------
[menu]
menuitem=NTSRV, Select 1 to install Windows NT SERVER v4.0.
menuitem=NTWRKSTN, Select 2 to install Windows NT WORKSTATION v4.0.
menuitem=HELP, View the Help file.
menudefault=CD,30
menucolor=7,0

[NTSRV]
device=himem.sys /testmem:off
device=oakcdrom.sys /D:mscd001
device=btdosm.sys
device=flashpt.sys
device=btcdrom.sys /D:mscd001
device=aspi2dos.sys
device=aspi8dos.sys
device=aspi4dos.sys
device=aspi8u2.sys
device=aspicd.sys /D:mscd001

[NTWRKSTN]
device=himem.sys /testmem:off
device=oakcdrom.sys /D:mscd001
device=btdosm.sys
device=flashpt.sys
device=btcdrom.sys /D:mscd001
device=aspi2dos.sys
device=aspi8dos.sys
device=aspi4dos.sys
device=aspi8u2.sys
device=aspicd.sys /D:mscd001
[HELP]
device=himem.sys /testmem:off

[COMMON]
files=10
buffers=10
dos=high,umb
stacks=9,256
devicehigh=ramdrive.sys /E 2048
lastdrive=z

-------------------------------------------

@ECHO OFF
set EXPAND=YES
SET DIRCMD=/O:N
set LglDrv=27 * 26 Z 25 Y 24 X 23 W 22 V 21 U 20 T 19 S 18 R 17 Q 16 P 15
set LglDrv=%LglDrv% O 14 N 13 M 12 L 11 K 10 J 9 I 8 H 7 G 6 F 5 E 4 D 3 C
cls
call setramd.bat %LglDrv%
set temp=c Undecided

set tmp=c

path=%RAMD% Undecided

;a

;%CDROM%

copy command.com %RAMD% Undecided

> NUL
set comspec=%RAMD%:\command.com
copy extract.exe %RAMD% Undecided

> NUL
copy readme.txt %RAMD% Undecided

> NUL

:ERROR
IF EXIST ebd.cab GOTO EXT
echo Please insert Windows 98 Startup Disk 2
echo.
pause
GOTO ERROR
REM ********************************************************
:EXT
%RAMD%:\extract /y /e /l %RAMD%: ebd.cab > NUL
IF "%config%"=="NTWRKSTN" GOTO EXT1
LH %ramd%:\MSCDEX.EXE /D:mscd001 /L:%CDROM%
echo startin up 1.
echo.

%CDROM%:\SERVER\I.BAT
GOTO QUIT

REM ********************************************************

:EXT1
%RAMD%:\extract /y /e /l %RAMD%: ebd.cab > NUL
echo startin up 2.
echo.

LH %ramd%:\MSCDEX.EXE /D:mscd001 /L:%CDROM%
%CDROM%:\WRKSTN\I.BAT

GOTO QUIT
REM ********************************************************

:HELP
cls
call help.bat
echo Your computer will now restart and the startup menu will appear.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
restart.com
GOTO QUIT

:QUIT
echo To get help, type HELP and press ENTER.
echo.
rem clean up environment variables
set CDROM=
set LglDrv=

Mutt Joined: 18 Jan 2002 Posts: 135 Location: India

a small question

i have made a edited win98 boot disk
which i will use to make a boootable cd

i want to know ho to execute a file on the cd in side a directory

this is the cofig.sys and autoexec.bat plz tell what i'm doing wrong

anyone

--------------------------------------------
[menu]
menuitem=NTSRV, Select 1 to install Windows NT SERVER v4.0.
menuitem=NTWRKSTN, Select 2 to install Windows NT WORKSTATION v4.0.
menuitem=HELP, View the Help file.
menudefault=CD,30
menucolor=7,0

[NTSRV]
device=himem.sys /testmem:off
device=oakcdrom.sys /D:mscd001
device=btdosm.sys
device=flashpt.sys
device=btcdrom.sys /D:mscd001
device=aspi2dos.sys
device=aspi8dos.sys
device=aspi4dos.sys
device=aspi8u2.sys
device=aspicd.sys /D:mscd001

[NTWRKSTN]
device=himem.sys /testmem:off
device=oakcdrom.sys /D:mscd001
device=btdosm.sys
device=flashpt.sys
device=btcdrom.sys /D:mscd001
device=aspi2dos.sys
device=aspi8dos.sys
device=aspi4dos.sys
device=aspi8u2.sys
device=aspicd.sys /D:mscd001
[HELP]
device=himem.sys /testmem:off

[COMMON]
files=10
buffers=10
dos=high,umb
stacks=9,256
devicehigh=ramdrive.sys /E 2048
lastdrive=z

-------------------------------------------

@ECHO OFF
set EXPAND=YES
SET DIRCMD=/O:N
set LglDrv=27 * 26 Z 25 Y 24 X 23 W 22 V 21 U 20 T 19 S 18 R 17 Q 16 P 15
set LglDrv=%LglDrv% O 14 N 13 M 12 L 11 K 10 J 9 I 8 H 7 G 6 F 5 E 4 D 3 C
cls
call setramd.bat %LglDrv%
set temp=c Undecided

set tmp=c

path=%RAMD% Undecided

;a

;%CDROM%

copy command.com %RAMD% Undecided

> NUL
set comspec=%RAMD%:\command.com
copy extract.exe %RAMD% Undecided

> NUL
copy readme.txt %RAMD% Undecided

> NUL

:ERROR
IF EXIST ebd.cab GOTO EXT
echo Please insert Windows 98 Startup Disk 2
echo.
pause
GOTO ERROR
REM ********************************************************
:EXT
%RAMD%:\extract /y /e /l %RAMD%: ebd.cab > NUL
IF "%config%"=="NTWRKSTN" GOTO EXT1
LH %ramd%:\MSCDEX.EXE /D:mscd001 /L:%CDROM%
echo startin up 1.
echo.

%CDROM%:\SERVER\I.BAT
GOTO QUIT

REM ********************************************************

:EXT1
%RAMD%:\extract /y /e /l %RAMD%: ebd.cab > NUL
echo startin up 2.
echo.

LH %ramd%:\MSCDEX.EXE /D:mscd001 /L:%CDROM%
%CDROM%:\WRKSTN\I.BAT

GOTO QUIT
REM ********************************************************

:HELP
cls
call help.bat
echo Your computer will now restart and the startup menu will appear.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
restart.com
GOTO QUIT

:QUIT
echo To get help, type HELP and press ENTER.
echo.
rem clean up environment variables
set CDROM=
set LglDrv=

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2002 4:35 am Post subject:

Quote:

[menu]
menuitem=NTSRV, Select 1 to install Windows NT SERVER v4.0.
menuitem=NTWRKSTN, Select 2 to install Windows NT WORKSTATION v4.0.
menuitem=HELP, View the Help file.
menudefault=CD,30
menucolor=7,0

Firstly, you have the default menu selection set to an option which doesn't appear in the menu, i.e. CD. There may be other errors, too; I've not gone through the whole script.

My £0.02,
Demon
---=== ===---
Where do you want to be herded today?

Edited by - Demon on 01/19/2002 07:36:10

Mutt Joined: 18 Jan 2002 Posts: 135 Location: India

Got that

the prob i'm facing is that

%cdrom%:\server\i.bat

does not work

any suggestions

Quote:

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:

Firstly, you have the default menu selection set to an option which doesn't appear in the menu, i.e. CD. There may be other errors, too; I've not gone through the whole script.

My £0.02,
Demon
---=== ===---
Where do you want to be herded today?

Edited by - Demon on 01/19/2002 07:36:10
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote>

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2002 8:04 am Post subject:

Quote:

Got that

the prob i'm facing is that

%cdrom%:\server\i.bat

does not work

any suggestions

Yes. If you use variables, e.g. %CDROM% then you need to populate them at some point. Nowhere in your script is the variable %CDROM% populated so any of the commands which use that variable, such as MSCDEX, fail.

The penultimate line clears %CDROM% but you don't have a corresponding line at the beginning which populates it.

I recommend that you get this book. Although it's aimed at NT a lot of the concepts it presents will work happily under DOS too, including any Windows 9x-created startup disks.

My £0.02,
Demon
---=== ===---
Where do you want to be herded today?

Mutt Joined: 18 Jan 2002 Posts: 135 Location: India

thanks for the input

but may be u could give ma some thing a little more usefull

the book u suggested will can be shipped to me but only brob is the cost kinnda doubles

and for a boot disk do think 90$ is a wise investment

maybe u can help me out and just tell me what i need to add

to the script

i shall be eternally greatfull

Colin

Quote:

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:

Yes. If you use variables, e.g. %CDROM% then you need to populate them at some point. Nowhere in your script is the variable %CDROM% populated so any of the commands which use that variable, such as MSCDEX, fail.

The penultimate line clears %CDROM% but you don't have a corresponding line at the beginning which populates it.

I recommend that you get this book. Although it's aimed at NT a lot of the concepts it presents will work happily under DOS too, including any Windows 9x-created startup disks.

My £0.02,
Demon
---=== ===---
Where do you want to be herded today?

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2002 3:23 am Post subject:

Quote:

cls
call setramd.bat %LglDrv%
set temp=c
set tmp=c
set CDROM=Z
path=%RAMD%;a;%CDROM%
copy command.com %RAMD% > NUL

The quickest way is to add a line which defines the variable %CDROM%. See above, in red. That will set your CD-ROM to be drive Z: - change the letter to suit your needs if necessary.

There is other optimisation you could do as well, for example MSCDEX is used twice when it only needs to be used once, but the fastest way of sorting your problem out is shown above.

My £0.02,
Demon
---=== ===---
Where do you want to be herded today?

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2002 3:25 am Post subject:

Also, if it isn't practical to order that book, then take a look at this:
http://directory.google.com/Top/Computers/Software/Operating_Systems/x86/DOS/Programming/Languages/Batch/

You should find plenty of tutorials and hints.

My £0.02,
Demon
---=== ===---
Where do you want to be herded today?

Big Dog Joined: 20 Oct 2000 Posts: 3689 Location: USA

Hey

Thanks Demon . . . I haven't been in here for a week or so (time constraints and low bandwidth when i'm traveling) but it's nice to see you're still taking care of the other members while i'm gone [ Sticking out Tongue

]

temporary replacement signature . . . please stand by

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2002 12:59 pm Post subject:

Quote:

Hey

Thanks Demon . . . I haven't been in here for a week or so (time constraints and low bandwidth when i'm traveling) but it's nice to see you're still taking care of the other members while i'm gone []

temporary replacement signature . . . please stand by

My pleasure, sir.

My £0.02,
Demon
---=== ===---
Where do you want to be herded today?

Stray Dog Joined: 20 Jan 2002 Posts: 2

I tried making a bootup disk using your instructions in the article so I could do a clean reinstall,and all my info pops up on the black screen,but I keep getting invalid system disk repladce the isk, and then press any key. Any suggestions????

Big Dog Joined: 20 Oct 2000 Posts: 3689 Location: USA

Quote:

I tried making a bootup disk using your instructions in the article so I could do a clean reinstall,and all my info pops up on the black screen,but I keep getting invalid system disk repladce the isk, and then press any key. Any suggestions????

all your info pops up on the black screen Confused

:

do you mean the P.O.S.T. and the bios stuff ?

or do you mean there's actually something happening with the floppy and then you get the message

if you're getting an invalid system disk error:

either you didn't format it correctly (the part where you create a windows boot disk if you used winME

or the floppy your used turned out to be bad

i probably can't be of much more help without you supplying some system details

temporary replacement signature . . . please stand by

Stray Dog Joined: 20 Jan 2002 Posts: 2

all your info pops up on the black screen Confused

:

do you mean the P.O.S.T. and the bios stuff ?

or do you mean there's actually something happening with the floppy and then you get the message

if you're getting an invalid system disk error:

either you didn't format it correctly (the part where you create a windows boot disk if you used winME

or the floppy your used turned out to be bad

i probably can't be of much more help without you supplying some system details

temporary replacement signature . . . please stand by
[/quote]
I can turn on the power, and I get my manufacterers screen (emachine)
then the screen goes black and it loads all the POST and AMIBIOS info. then it ays searching for boot recordfrom cdrom..not found (thats with the windows me installation inthe cdrom drive)
searchig for boot record from floppy..not found (thats with the power bootup disk that I created using your tutorial.)
I have tried using the regular windows startup disk (creted in add/remove programs) as well as the power startup dis.
Searching for boot record from ide-0..ok
invalid system disk
replace the disk and then press any key.

during the startup, you can hear he cd rom fire up, and the green light for te a drive goes on, so I know it is searching both.....I just can't figure outwhy none of them are working