How to Troubleshoot Pre-File Copy Windows 98 Setup Issues

ID: Q195750

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 98

SUMMARY

This article describes how to troubleshoot Windows 98 Setup issues when Windows 98 Setup stops responding (hangs) before the file copying portion of Setup.

MORE INFORMATION

Windows 98 Setup can hang before the file copying portion of Setup for any of the following reasons:

An anti-virus program is running during Setup.

Your computer's Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) virus protection (also known as Master Boot Record protection) may be running during Setup.

Programs or terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) programs may be running during Setup.

Your computer hardware may not be working correctly.

To troubleshoot any of these issues, use the appropriate method:

Anti-Virus Program Is Running During Setup

If an anti-virus program was running during Setup, disable the anti-virus program or uninstall it, and then run Windows 98 Setup. For information about how to do so, view the documentation included with your anti-virus program, or contact the manufacturer of your anti-virus program.

BIOS Virus Protection Running During Setup

If a BIOS virus protection was running during Setup, disable it, and then run Windows 98 Setup. For information about how to do so, view the documentation included with your motherboard or computer, or contact the manufacturer of your motherboard or computer.

Programs or TSR Programs Running During Setup

To troubleshoot this issue, use clean boot troubleshooting. For information about how to do so, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q192926
TITLE: How to Perform Clean Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 98

Computer Hardware May Not Be Working Correctly

Hardware-related issues can occur for any of the following reasons:

The computer's BIOS is out of date.

Hardware that is not connected correctly, including peripherals that are not seated in the motherboard correctly.

Damaged random-access memory (RAM), cache RAM, or a damaged central processing unit (CPU).

Other damaged or failing hardware.

To troubleshoot a possible hardware-related issue, install Windows 98 to a new folder, and then test to determine if the issue is resolved. For information about how to do so, use the troubleshooting steps in the "Installing Windows 98 from MS-DOS" section of the Windows 98 Setup.txt file in the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q179756
TITLE : Windows 98 Setup.txt File

Note that if Windows 98 Setup does not install correctly to a new folder, it is possible that this issue is a hardware-related issue. For assistance with hardware-related issues, please contact your computer manufacturer.

Additional query words: 98


Keywords          : kbsetup kbtshoot win98 
Version           : WINDOWS:
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: January 30, 1999