DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

Installing windows 98 on xp

10 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/installing-windows-98-on-xp.2161/

A
aman Original post #1
Oct 21, 2004 at 1:49 PM
I have a computer with windows xp installed and wish to install windos 98 on this. when i try to do this, i get a message saying that i hve to install it in ms dos mode. How do i do this?
My conf. is celeron 433mhz, 20 GB HDD with 4 partitions of 5 GB each.
P.S. i want to delete xp and install windows 98 on that partition. :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:
B
BlAsTeR #2
Oct 21, 2004 at 4:28 PM
Boot to dos mode using bootable cd or bootable floopy.
If you dont have 1 then use digit cd of this month and boot to dos mode.



If you want to remove xp then either format the system disk , or delete following folders and files before installing windows 98.

Program files.
Windows.
Document and settings


Then start installation of windows 98.
Kl@w-24
Kl@w-24 #3
Oct 21, 2004 at 4:31 PM
Go here for a step-by-step guide :

*www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_repair_9x.htm
Kl@w-24
Kl@w-24 #5
Oct 21, 2004 at 4:37 PM
@it_waaznt_me, that article is a setup guide for XP. The poor bloke, aman, wants to install 98 after installing xp!
iinfi
iinfi #6
Oct 22, 2004 at 11:52 AM
hi mate
just uninstall the winXP from the control panel and u will get the win98 u wanted ... this will work if you had installed winXP on top of win 98...... if the uninstall option gives you an error try booting to DOS mode and install win98 as a separate entity. after this boot using the new win 98 adn then delete the winXP folder form the c:\ ....
if you had installed the winXP on an NTFS partition then all this is not possible. ... bcoz the DOS prompt will not detect your root directory.....
for this back up all your data on the c:\ ..... boot onto DOS mode using a winXP or win2000 bootable CD adn format your C:\ and convert it into a FAT32 partition and then load win98 .....
regards
arvind
A
aman #7
Oct 27, 2004 at 5:07 PM
can i also install win 2000 on xp if so how?
B
BlAsTeR #8
Oct 27, 2004 at 7:40 PM
Yes

You can install windows 2000 on windows xp without loosing any thing..

Since windows 2000 and xp are running on NT based system and both are using same boot loader that is ntldr.

Boot.ini is having entries of operating systems , windows 2000 setup will only add its entry in the file and old entries are there only.

Start windows 2000 setup using cd and install
else boot in dos , go to i386 folder , and type winnt.exe
Deep
Deep #9
Oct 27, 2004 at 8:40 PM
BlAsTeR said:
Yes

You can install windows 2000 on windows xp without loosing any thing..

Since windows 2000 and xp are running on NT based system and both are using same boot loader that is ntldr.

Boot.ini is having entries of operating systems , windows 2000 setup will only add its entry in the file and old entries are there only.

Start windows 2000 setup using cd and install
else boot in dos , go to i386 folder , and type winnt.exe

unfortunately you cannot install old version of system over new version

i.e. you cant install win 2k or win 98 if you have XP already installed..

you need to remove xp first in order to install

why it doest work ?

if you try to install old version of OS then it will overwrite the MBR with it's version and will not allow to boot xp or may be both..

there is a solution for this..

*www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_repair_2k.htm

or

*www.petri.co.il/install_windows_98_after_windows_xp.htm


now the answer to 2nd question of aman

aman said:
P.S. i want to delete xp and install windows 98 on that partition.

you need to format xp drive first

how to do that from DOS ?

insert your windows 98 bootable cd

select boot with cd rom support

it shall show you the command prompt thing..

so from that do dir

and run fdisk

then it shall show you the list of options i.e. view primary drive, local drives etc..

you will see an option delete parition

then there will be option to delete non-dos drive i.e. NTFS..

done delete it..

and then install you 98 on same drive :)

Regards
Deep
B
BlAsTeR #10
Oct 27, 2004 at 8:52 PM
OK thanks deep

I forgot to write the next step for installation.

Do above steps and then from win 2000 start windows xp setup and go to recovery consol when windows setup starts.

in recovery consol type fixmbr and fixboot

This will restore the xp mbr and every thing will work fine.