Upgrading & Fixing Laptops DUMmIES

If your hard drive uses overlaysoftware to enable support of larger disk sizes

than older operating systems permitted, the drive overlay software must be

installed before Windows 98 is installed. Consult the instructions provided

by the hard drive manufacturer or utility maker for details.

Skipping to 98 disks ...........................................................................

Microsoft sells or makes available through computer manufacturers three

versions of Windows 98 installation disks.

Recovery disk supplied with laptop

This recovery disk is intended for recovery or reinstallation of a failed oper-

ating system or hard drive. You should also be able to use this disk to install

Windows 98 onto a new hard drive that you install to replace the original

storage system; you need to enter the product key that is attached to the CD

envelope or on a tag on the laptop itself.

On some of these recovery disks, you need to reinstall the entire software

suite that first came with the machine as delivered by the manufacturer. That

may be a pain or a waste of time, but you can always go back and remove

unnecessary programs and utilities later.

Be sure to read the original instructions that came with your restore or

recovery CD; if you can’t find the manual, check the manufacturer’s web site

for advice. Keep in mind that the recovery disk will likely delete or make inac-

cessible any existing software and data on the drive.

Note, too, that the recovery disk for your machine may be so old that it

installs Windows 98 and not the later 98SE version. In that case, you must

purchase a Windows 98SE upgrade to obtain the new features.

Microsoft Windows 98 for PCs without Windows package

As its name suggests, this CD-ROM version is intended for use on a hard drive

that does not have an existing operating system. Just pop the CD into your

laptop’s CD or DVD drive and follow the instructions for installation. The

package comes with its own product key that should be entered at the

requested moment.

Microsoft Windows 98 Upgrade package

Offered at a discounted price, this CD-ROM requires that you prove that you

own a copy of the previous version of Windows. If the previous version is

already installed on the hard drive, the installation should proceed automati-

cally. If you have removed the older operating system or are seeking to install

the new version on a new replacement hard drive, you can prove to Microsoft

270 Part V: The Software Side of Life