Need Help with Installing Windows 98

[Dimondminer11]

So I have a Windows XP machine I used to install Windows 98 Se onto a HDD that I then stuck in my Dell Dimension XPS Pro 200n (a Pentium Pro 200 PC from 1996) and when I try to boot it says disk IO error even though it is detected perfectly on that machine (the HDD that is) and the XP machine. So this is really starting to get on my nerves now and I should mention I don't have any floppies what so ever which is why I went the convoluted route of installing it on a different system. I also won't have the money to buy any floppies for a week so what should I do?

[Radium_Angel]

Windows 98 was really fussy about seeing one set of hardware (your Dell XP box) and then trying to boot to a different environment (the XPS) it's entirely possible that the two systems are different enough this won't work.

You might try seeing iff you can get 98 to boot to safe mode, that (IIRC) uses a generic set of I/O drivers that should get you there.

[Dimondminer11]

Just now, Radium_Angel said:

Windows 98 was really fussy about seeing one set of hardware (your Dell XP box) and then trying to boot to a different environment (the XPS) it's entirely possible that the two systems are different enough this won't work.

You might try seeing iff you can get 98 to boot to safe mode, that (IIRC) uses a generic set of I/O drivers that should get you there.

How might I do that (and yeah the XP box has an Athlon 64 x2 4200+ which is very different from a Pentium Pro)

 

[Radium_Angel]

2 hours ago, Dimondminer11 said:

How might I do that (and yeah the XP box has an Athlon 64 x2 4200+ which is very different from a Pentium Pro)

 

It's been a long time since I played with Win98, but as it starts to boot up (just after the BIOS is done with its thing), you press the f8 key (repeatedly) and you should be presented with a menu for safe mode