Well, I am considering buying a new computer, and I’d like to eventually re-partition it to support Win ME (since I, alas, wouldn’t have a Win98SE full disk) and Linux. However, as we all know now computer manufacturers [OEMs] do NOT include a full install disk, but instead send the ‘Recovery Disk’. From what I understand, this disk does NOT seem to have the necessary files to fully re-install Windows (insert massive curse here) on a re-formatted
However, in my case there will be no old computer, just the new one from the manufacturer (which will probably be either Gateway or Dell).
Actually, I much rather install Win98SE, but don’t know if full-install copies are still for sale from reputable sellers.
Why would anyone buy a computer from a vendor which doesn’t include a complete installation CD for the OS with which it comes? Unless it is used or part of a special clearance sale on stuff they don’t support any more?
Gateway’s operating system backup CD currently does ship with a full set of the windows Cabs on the cd. For windows ME they are in the Win9x folder, for windows 98 they are in the Win98 folder.
Addressing the two responses (and getting a free bump in the process):
AHunter3:
I was not given a choice: I asked the Sales Rep that question (how do I go about getting a full install OS disk from them), and after consulting with his ‘manager’ (or whatever he checked), he said it simply couldn’t be done - only the recovery disk could be sent.
kinoons:
I’ve seen your responses before to other users dealing with similar questions, and found them interesting and helpful - but I am still a bit confused on one point. I know you’ve said the Win Cab files are there (at least for Gateway; any idea on Dell Recovery disks?) but imagine a fresh, formatted hard drive (no OS) on a new computer, no other computers around (can’t do this install at work), and me having nothing but OEM-issued recovery disks. How can I install? What’s the first step (and if kinoons is busy, anyone else have any insight, good web-sites, personal experience)? I mean, it was quite straight-forward with a full install disk (done it a number of times in the past), but now?
Sorry to ramble…
Why don’t you just buy the operating system? If you get an OEM version with your computer, read the software license, it should state if you don’t use it that they have to give you your money back for the software. I saw a woman do that with Emachines once, she got $25.00 then you can buy the full version & put it on. Or try Ebay.com its probably cheap there.
Actually, the HP recovery disk works just find to reinstall Windows fully (WinME in my sad case). First thing I did when it arrived was set it up, booted with a Win98 DOS disk, partitioned the drive, and low-level formatted the drives. Popped in the self-booting HP recovery disk, let it recover, and all was well again. Well, like new again (not necessarily well since it is, after all, Windows ).
The problem with this approach is that you get all of the crappy DLLS and drivers and stupid “consumer-level” apps for things you don’t want installed automatically as well. Despite the fact that you can uninstall these, it does NOT work as well as a fresh, clean, installation of anything. In the case of my employer-provided HP (via PeoplePC), I can’t even use Internet Explorer until I call up and register with PeoplePC!
So really, your best bet if you can do it is find a copy of a full-install version of your OS of choice. Try Outpost, they often have lots of old stuff, and they’re reputable.
Heres the catch, I work for gateway for atleast another week or so before I leave them to become a full time paramedic, so I know how our stuff works, not anyone elses.
The current CD’s on the market are called image CD’s. They are used in place of a real windows CD to protect MS from piracy. The current trend is to make a “image” (read copy) of a generic file system on a CD that can be rapidly copied to another computer, and then have the specific driver files installed.
On Gateway CD’s the windows files live in the win9x or win98 directory respectively. The big clue is that they have the letters win in the file with the extenstion cab.
The way that I install windows on any computer is as follows
just to make things simple I’m going to stick with win9x for the instructions
Format the hard drive.
Make a directory on the hard drive for the windows files (dos command “md win9x”
copy the cab files (all the files in the d:\win9x directory) to the same directory on the hard drive. (dos command from the D:\win9x prompt “copy . c:\win9x”
go back to the c:\win9x directory and run setup from there.
the big question is how to get there. You need some way to get to a MSDOS prompt and have CDrom support. A windows 98 boot disk is one way. Also your restoration CD’s may have an option you can boot to for a command prompt.
I hope that was clear enough. If not ask away and I’ll try to elaborate
).