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Add Solution

Install Windows 98 on XP host

Source: microsoft.public.virtualpc
Sent: 10/20/2006
From: Tronzo
Message:

I created a bootable CD using Win98 boot files. Everything looks perfect
until I get a message "Windows 98 has detected that Drive C does not contain
a valid FAT or FAT32 partition".
I had read that it's best to set up VMs on NTFS. My drive is formatted with
NTFS. Do I need to create a separate partition in FAT32 specifically for this
VM? Is that the answer or does anybody know how to get around this?

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Related Messages

RE: Install Windows 98 on XP host

Sent: 10/20/2006
From: Win98 Sufferer
Message:

On a tangent, may I ask how exactly did you create this bootable Win98 CD?

I'm new to VPC, but I thinkyou defintely need to use a FAT32 virtual disk
for Win98.

I would start over again with a new virtual machine, create it for Win98,
then when you start your Win98 install, use whatever disk formatting utility
it has to format the virtual C: drive as FAT32, then restart the virtual
machine, then proceed with the Win98 install.

There's really no reason to try to partition virtual drives I'm realizing,
as you can very easily add additional independent virtual hard drives in your
VPC's preferences, later if you need them for some reason (and there isn't
much reason you would, other than for organizational purposes).

Again -- I'm definitely not the expert -- just some thought...

"Tronzo" wrote:

Show quoted text

> I created a bootable CD using Win98 boot files. Everything looks perfect
> until I get a message "Windows 98 has detected that Drive C does not contain
> a valid FAT or FAT32 partition".
> I had read that it's best to set up VMs on NTFS. My drive is formatted with
> NTFS. Do I need to create a separate partition in FAT32 specifically for this
> VM? Is that the answer or does anybody know how to get around this?

RE: Install Windows 98 on XP host

Sent: 10/20/2006
From: Win98 Sufferer
Message:

Oh re-reading your post, this answers your question better:

Forget about your hardware computer's hard drive -- it's irrelevant.

All that matters is the Virtual Hard Drive you are creating for each Virtual
Machine.

When you start, the Virtual Hard Drive is completely blank, and needs to be
formatted before you can install an OS.

For Win98, format the Virtual Hard Drive as FAT32.

For Win98, you have to do this formatting, and then restart (just) the
Virtual Machine (not VPC, not your computer) to continue with the Win98
install.

"Tronzo" wrote:

Show quoted text

Re: Install Windows 98 on XP host

Sent: 10/20/2006
From: Steve Jain <(email address - cut out)>
Message:

On Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:16:02 -0700, Win98 Sufferer
<(email address - cut out)> wrote:

Before you format, you need to run FDISK and partition the VHD

--
Cheers,
Steve Jain, Virtual Machine MVP
http://vpc.essjae.com/
I do not work for Microsoft.

Show quoted text

>
>Oh re-reading your post, this answers your question better:
>
>Forget about your hardware computer's hard drive -- it's irrelevant.
>
>All that matters is the Virtual Hard Drive you are creating for each Virtual
>Machine.
>
>When you start, the Virtual Hard Drive is completely blank, and needs to be
>formatted before you can install an OS.
>
>For Win98, format the Virtual Hard Drive as FAT32.
>
>For Win98, you have to do this formatting, and then restart (just) the
>Virtual Machine (not VPC, not your computer) to continue with the Win98
>install.

RE: Install Windows 98 on XP host

Sent: 10/20/2006
From: Tronzo
Message:

Got it figured out. I can't believe the lack of documentation from MS for
these installs (or any other VM help site for that matter)
If anyone has this same issue, here's how I did this.
1. Created a bootable CD that includes Win98 boot files. These can be found
on the web
2. Burn to a CD using Nero or other that can create a bootable CD
3. Boot the VM to the CD and Fdisk the C: drive, then format. The only
syntax it would allow with the format command was FORMAT c: (no switches)
4. Reboot to the startup disk. You will end with an A: prompt. There should
be an indication of what letter has been assigned the CDROM drive - or you
can switch drives (D: etc) and run a DIR command until you find it, which
will contain the SETUP.EXE file
5. Run the SETUP.EXE file and voila.
Impressive application. Very disappointing documentation.

"Tronzo" wrote:

Show quoted text

RE: Install Windows 98 on XP host

Sent: 10/20/2006
From: Tronzo
Message:

FYI - I had to create a bootable CD because my laptop doesn't have a floppy
drive.

"Tronzo" wrote:

Show quoted text

> Got it figured out. I can't believe the lack of documentation from MS for
> these installs (or any other VM help site for that matter)
> If anyone has this same issue, here's how I did this.
> 1. Created a bootable CD that includes Win98 boot files. These can be found
> on the web
> 2. Burn to a CD using Nero or other that can create a bootable CD
> 3. Boot the VM to the CD and Fdisk the C: drive, then format. The only
> syntax it would allow with the format command was FORMAT c: (no switches)
> 4. Reboot to the startup disk. You will end with an A: prompt. There should
> be an indication of what letter has been assigned the CDROM drive - or you
> can switch drives (D: etc) and run a DIR command until you find it, which
> will contain the SETUP.EXE file
> 5. Run the SETUP.EXE file and voila.
> Impressive application. Very disappointing documentation.
>
> "Tronzo" wrote:
>
> > I created a bootable CD using Win98 boot files. Everything looks perfect
> > until I get a message "Windows 98 has detected that Drive C does not contain
> > a valid FAT or FAT32 partition".
> > I had read that it's best to set up VMs on NTFS. My drive is formatted with
> > NTFS. Do I need to create a separate partition in FAT32 specifically for this
> > VM? Is that the answer or does anybody know how to get around this?

RE: Install Windows 98 on XP host

Sent: 10/20/2006
From: Tronzo
Message:

Final note: Step 4 assumes you have replaced the bootable startup disk with
the Win98 CD.
I guess my documentation stinks too. ;)

"Tronzo" wrote:

Show quoted text

Re: Install Windows 98 on XP host

Sent: 10/20/2006
From: Steve Jain <(email address - cut out)>
Message:

On Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:06:02 -0700, Tronzo
<(email address - cut out)> wrote:

But you didn't. You could simply use a VIRTUAL floppy disk, like the
one at my website to boot Win98.

--
Cheers,
Steve Jain, Virtual Machine MVP
http://vpc.essjae.com/
I do not work for Microsoft.

Show quoted text

>FYI - I had to create a bootable CD because my laptop doesn't have a floppy
>drive.

Re: Install Windows 98 on XP host

Sent: 10/20/2006
From: Steve Jain <(email address - cut out)>
Message:

I don't see why this is so difficult. This has been discussed several
hundred times in this newsgroup, often daily, with the same answers
given, boot from a floppy <link to a bootdisk>, FDISK, FORMAT,
install. The instructions for it are all over this newsgroup.

Plus, I've had all the necessary files on my website for years to
simply allow you to mount your Win98 Cd and just install.

On Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:09:02 -0700, Tronzo
<(email address - cut out)> wrote:

--
Cheers,
Steve Jain, Virtual Machine MVP
http://vpc.essjae.com/
I do not work for Microsoft.

Show quoted text

>Final note: Step 4 assumes you have replaced the bootable startup disk with
>the Win98 CD.
>I guess my documentation stinks too. ;)
>
>"Tronzo" wrote:
>
>> Got it figured out. I can't believe the lack of documentation from MS for
>> these installs (or any other VM help site for that matter)
>> If anyone has this same issue, here's how I did this.
>> 1. Created a bootable CD that includes Win98 boot files. These can be found
>> on the web
>> 2. Burn to a CD using Nero or other that can create a bootable CD
>> 3. Boot the VM to the CD and Fdisk the C: drive, then format. The only
>> syntax it would allow with the format command was FORMAT c: (no switches)
>> 4. Reboot to the startup disk. You will end with an A: prompt. There should
>> be an indication of what letter has been assigned the CDROM drive - or you
>> can switch drives (D: etc) and run a DIR command until you find it, which
>> will contain the SETUP.EXE file
>> 5. Run the SETUP.EXE file and voila.
>> Impressive application. Very disappointing documentation.
>>
>> "Tronzo" wrote:
>>
>> > I created a bootable CD using Win98 boot files. Everything looks perfect
>> > until I get a message "Windows 98 has detected that Drive C does not contain
>> > a valid FAT or FAT32 partition".
>> > I had read that it's best to set up VMs on NTFS. My drive is formatted with
>> > NTFS. Do I need to create a separate partition in FAT32 specifically for this
>> > VM? Is that the answer or does anybody know how to get around this?

Re: Install Windows 98 on XP host

Sent: 10/20/2006
From: "Mark Rae" <(email address - cut out)>
Message:

"Tronzo" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
news:(email address - cut out)...

What documentation were you expecting, exactly...?

Virtual PC is a piece of software which simulates a real PC.

You install Virtual PC and create a virtual machine - what you do with it
thereafter is no concern of Microsoft's...

Exactly the same as going along to your local PC shop and buying a brand new
machine with a completely blank hard disk.

The way you would install Windows 98 on either of those is the same...

Show quoted text

> Impressive application. Very disappointing documentation.

Re: Install Windows 98 on XP host

Sent: 10/20/2006
From: "Mark Rae" <(email address - cut out)>
Message:

"Tronzo" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
news:(email address - cut out)...

You didn't have to do this at all. All you had to do was download a virtual
floppy drive from any number of websites, including Steve Jain's...

Show quoted text

> FYI - I had to create a bootable CD because my laptop doesn't have a
> floppy
> drive.

Re: Install Windows 98 on XP host

Sent: 10/23/2006
From: "Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com>
Message:

Some system builders provided a bootable Win98 cd because they knew their
systems had BIOS's that supported a cd boot option. All such cd's are OEM,
of course, and as such are not suitable for use in a vm because of licensing
limitations but they will boot the vm just the way a Win98 setup floppy did.

"Win98 Sufferer" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
news:(email address - cut out)...

Show quoted text

>
> On a tangent, may I ask how exactly did you create this bootable Win98 CD?
>
> I'm new to VPC, but I thinkyou defintely need to use a FAT32 virtual disk
> for Win98.
>
> I would start over again with a new virtual machine, create it for Win98,
> then when you start your Win98 install, use whatever disk formatting
> utility
> it has to format the virtual C: drive as FAT32, then restart the virtual
> machine, then proceed with the Win98 install.
>
> There's really no reason to try to partition virtual drives I'm realizing,
> as you can very easily add additional independent virtual hard drives in
> your
> VPC's preferences, later if you need them for some reason (and there isn't
> much reason you would, other than for organizational purposes).
>
> Again -- I'm definitely not the expert -- just some thought...
>
>
> "Tronzo" wrote:
>
>> I created a bootable CD using Win98 boot files. Everything looks perfect
>> until I get a message "Windows 98 has detected that Drive C does not
>> contain
>> a valid FAT or FAT32 partition".
>> I had read that it's best to set up VMs on NTFS. My drive is formatted
>> with
>> NTFS. Do I need to create a separate partition in FAT32 specifically for
>> this
>> VM? Is that the answer or does anybody know how to get around this?

Re: Install Windows 98 on XP host

Sent: 10/23/2006
From: "Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com>
Message:

A very fine website.

"Steve Jain" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
news:(email address - cut out)...

Show quoted text

> On Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:06:02 -0700, Tronzo
> <(email address - cut out)> wrote:
>
>>FYI - I had to create a bootable CD because my laptop doesn't have a
>>floppy
>>drive.
>
> But you didn't. You could simply use a VIRTUAL floppy disk, like the
> one at my website to boot Win98.
>
> --
> Cheers,
> Steve Jain, Virtual Machine MVP
> http://vpc.essjae.com/
> I do not work for Microsoft.

Re: Install Windows 98 on XP host

Sent: 10/23/2006
From: Steve Jain <(email address - cut out)>
Message:

On Mon, 23 Oct 2006 09:41:17 -0600, "Colin Barnhorst"
<colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote:

;-)

--
Cheers,
Steve Jain, Virtual Machine MVP
http://vpc.essjae.com/
I do not work for Microsoft.

Show quoted text

>A very fine website.

Post Reply | This is Spam! | Mark as Spam

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