fdisk not working

[anton muzic]

Hi all,
I was given a seemingly dead pc, it boots up till it starts asking for files for the OS (WINME...the pc also has another OS layered..WINDOWS that i can see from the directory structure.)
I decided to start from scratch and put my OWN win98se on CD on the pc using the registered key already on pc....but how do i find it in DOS? I tries using aida on EBCD but nothing shows up.

ALso, when i go to FDISK and delete...but i get "no logical dos drives to delete"
can anyone help?

cheers
anton :)

[classicsoftware]

The best way to do this is to have:


The Windows CD
A valid COA
A bootable CD or Floppy with hard drive manufacturers installation software.
A Windows 98 startup disc


Then you need to:
Insert the MFT disc/disk in the floppy or CD. This will allow you to partition and format the drive. After the program asks you to re-boot,
Insert the Windows 98 bbot disk and CD.
Create a file on the HDD called Win98
Copy the Contents of the Win98 folder on the CD to the WIN98 folder on the hard drive.
Run the setup program in the C:\WIN98 folder.


Links to HDD utilities found here (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=29081)

[Sylvander]

"but how do i find it in DOS?I tries using aida on EBCD but nothing shows up"
On the EBCD, use the "Registry Tool" to "Edit the Registry" [only don't edit it].
On the very 1st window the "Product Key" is displayed along with other useful/vital info.

At the bottom of this thread...
http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=41485
see How to use the EBCD “Volkov Commander” to create a folder on a [FAT(32)] partition, then copy over the Windows installation files and run the Windows installation program file.
This is a REALLY easy way to do it.

"no logical dos drives to delete"
This might mean that some program other than fdisk [that doesn't make DOS partitions] was used to partition the drive.
You may need to zero-fill the drive before re-partitioning.
Killdisk = www.killdisk.com/downloadfree.htm is free and good.

[anton muzic]

Ok,
some update....
in trying to find the the product key i cannot using this function below..
On the EBCD, use the "Registry Tool" to "Edit the Registry" [only don't edit it].
On the very 1st window the "Product Key" is displayed along with other useful/vital info.

i also tried on a good pc and it still does not show me. Is it amongst all that data before the registrar main menu?

I did find this technique...
go to the c:> prompt
type
c:\windows\command\find/I "productkey" c\windows\system.dat
(space b4 and after " " only)
which worked fine for my good pc but on the temperamental one, i heard things happening but there was no visual display. I cannot find system.dat on the root of windows on either machine..is this file hidden?

Do i really, really need the product key on that machine?

cheers
anton ;)

[classicsoftware]

First if the machine came with ME, the key should be on a sticker on the box somewhere. If you are installing 98, the ME key would not work.

[Sylvander]

"in trying to find the the product key i cannot using this function"
1. Boot from the EBCD | boot option 8 [Registry Editor] | choose "Edit Registry" | "Creating Backup..." displayed | "Exporting Registry..." displayed [long pause of about 3 min, "Registrar" pattern on screen] | editor window displays "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version".
"Product Key" is displayed [near bottom of the list] among other info.

If yours doesn't display, perhaps you could navigate to the above key location.

My OS is Win98SE, yours WinME?
Perhaps it doesn't work with ME?

"C:\Windows\System.dat" on my PC.
Perhaps you could use "File Manager" on EBCD to navigate to your copy to check it really is there.

[anton muzic]

Hi Guys,
this has become some of a crusade! I found this little 32kb gem diag.exe
http://www.62nds.co.nz/cgi-bin/download.pl/diag.exe?sWOtr

put it on my boot disk, boot up the temperamental pc to a:> prompt and ran
diag.....BINGO :eek: . Just what the man ordered.
Funny, it seems to think that the OS is win98se....and it gives a few other bits of info. Now to the next step....

SYlvander...i'll try those routines now

cheers
anton ;)

[anton muzic]

Hi,

classic
First if the machine came with ME, the key should be on a sticker on the box somewhere. If you are installing 98, the ME key would not work

i wasn't listening....I did a complete wipe using Killdisk and fresh install Win98se and typed in old machine key...no-go-joe! ....so i used my own.
S'pose i'd needed the old machine key more when i do a repair install or similar.
The learning curve gets steeper!

cheers
anton ;)

[classicsoftware]

What you are doing is not kosher according to M$. What I am about to voice is my own personal opinion.

You own ME and have a license for ME for the PC in question. Since ME and 98 are of the same genre, the WIN9X genre of OS's and since they no longer support 98 Iwould have no moral problems with using your copy and key for WIN98 on this PC. If your OS was 2k or XP, I would not.

Just so you know it is a clear violation of the EULA for your copy of Windows 98.

[anton muzic]

Errr,
did i ever mention i visit a psych unit weekly?

chaeers
anton