Article ID: 300026
Article Last Modified on 1/31/2007
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
- Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
This article was previously published under Q300026
SYMPTOMS
When you attempt to install Microsoft Windows 98 on a new or unformatted hard disk, you may receive the following command-line message:
Please wait while Setup initializes.
Scanning system registry...
Windows Setup may then stop responding (hang) and you may be unable to continue the Windows installation.
CAUSE
This issue can occur if either of the following conditions are true:
- Your hard disk has a damaged partition table.
-or-
- The hard disk partition on which you attempt to install Windows is not formatted.
RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, check your BIOS settings, repartition and format your hard disk, and then install Windows. To do this, follow these steps.
WARNING: Repartitioning the hard disk will delete all data.
- Verify that the correct hard disk settings are used in the computer BIOS and that the computer supports the hard disk. To do this, consult the computer manufacturer.
- Insert a Windows 98 Startup disk and restart your computer.
- At the command prompt, type fdisk, and then press ENTER.
- At the Do you wish to enable large disk support (Y/N) prompt, type Y, and then press ENTER.
- On the FDISK Options page, at the Enter choice prompt, type 1, and then press ENTER.
- On the Create DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive page, at the Enter Choice prompt, type 1, and then press ENTER. The following prompt appears:
Do you wish to use the maximum available size for a Primary DOS Partition
and make the partition active (Y/N)..............? - Type Y, and then press ENTER.
- Press the ESCAPE key to quit FDISK, and then restart the computer.
- At the Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu, select 1. Start computer with CD-ROM support, and then press ENTER.
- Record the drive letter assigned to the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. For example, D.
- At the command prompt, type Format C:, and then press ENTER.
- Press Y, and then press ENTER.
The drive is formatted. - At the Volume label (11 characters, ENTER for none)? prompt, press ENTER.
- Type
drive:setup (wheredriveis the drive letter that you recorded in step 10), and then press ENTER. For example, type D:setup and then press ENTER. - Follow the instructions to start Windows Setup.
For information about how to contact computer hardware manufacturers, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Keywords: kbprb kbsetup KB300026
