Moving Hard Drive to new PC (Windows 98SE)

musicmaakr · External Since: Apr 14, 2009 Posts: 7

A lightning strike fried the system board on my desktop (Windows 98 SE) .
Yea, I know, I've been meaning to upgrade for a while. Anyway, I moved the
hard drive to a different desktop and of course it would not boot. I can get
to the hard drive and run setup but it's been too long. Is that the smart
thing to do?. I just need for it to recognize the drivers and hardware on the
new system.
--
musicmaakr

Brian A. · External Since: Apr 14, 2009 Posts: 5

"musicmaakr" <musicmaakr.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0E90DA7A-59BC-4789-B73E-A11CC97B565C@microsoft.com...
>A lightning strike fried the system board on my desktop (Windows 98 SE) .
> Yea, I know, I've been meaning to upgrade for a while. Anyway, I moved the
> hard drive to a different desktop and of course it would not boot. I can
> get
> to the hard drive and run setup but it's been too long. Is that the smart
> thing to do?. I just need for it to recognize the drivers and hardware on
> the
> new system.
> --
> musicmaakr

If you simply install 98SE over the top, make sure you have all of your
important data backed up in case something goes wrong. Either way, even If
you choose to format the drive and do a clean install, you will need your
Product Key to reinstall.

If you can’t boot Win98, but haven’t formatted the system drive, then boot
with a startup floppy or to a command prompt and run either of these:
C:\Windows\command\Find /I “ProductKey” c:\windows\system.dat
C:\Windows\command\Find /I “ProductKey” c:\system.1st

Once you have all of your ducks lined up, boot to setup to install.

If for some reason you have trouble running setup and you have the 98
install CD, start the machine with a Win98 Boot Disk that has CD support.
Once booted type at the prompt: drive letter:\setup.exe and press enter.
Substitute the drive letter for the one assigned which is normally one
higher than when in Windows which will be shown near the end of booting.

If you need to create a boot disk there are a few ways to get/create one.
You will need one floppy disk.
1) Click Start > Settings > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs > Create
Boot Disk tab.

2) Place the 98 CD in the drive.
Click Start > Run, type in: drive letter:\tools\msutils\fat32ebd.exe
or
If it is on the hard drive type the full path to where it is.

3) http://www.bootdisk.com/

--

Brian A. Sesko
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

Don Phillipson · External Since: Jan 11, 2009 Posts: 14

"musicmaakr" <musicmaakr DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0E90DA7A-59BC-4789-B73E-A11CC97B565C@microsoft.com...

> A lightning strike fried the system board on my desktop (Windows 98 SE) .
> Yea, I know, I've been meaning to upgrade for a while. Anyway, I moved the
> hard drive to a different desktop and of course it would not boot. I can
get
> to the hard drive and run setup but it's been too long. Is that the smart
> thing to do?. I just need for it to recognize the drivers and hardware on
the
> new system.

First you should run CHKDSK and manufacturers'
diagnostics to confirm the HDD is in good running
order. Lightning damage can harm HDDs and you
have already undergone lightning damage to the MB.

If reusing the HDD it would be prudent to reformat
it first. Before reformatting you should copy the
disk contents elsewhere, done fastest in another PC,
or by installing the OS on a new HDD with plenty of
space, installing the old HDD as D:, then copying
over and (repartitioning as Ext DOS) and reformatting D.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Jeff Richards · External Since: Mar 14, 2004 Posts: 1333

You have said that it won't boot, then you say that you can get to the hard
drive. Are you booting in some other way? When you get to the hard drive,
can you confirm it is working properly and everything is still there?.

If it's properly installed the drive should boot in that new machine.
However, it may not run Windows very well. There is a process you can go
through to delete all the hardware-specific information related to the
Windows installation and re-build it for the new hardware - it has a good
chance of success. But you need to get the new drive properly installed
first, and you need to ensure that when you re-build it the necessary
support for the new hardware is available for installation.

What exactly happens when you try to start the machine with that drive
installed, and what process do you use to boot it so that you can see the
drive?
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"musicmaakr" <musicmaakr DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0E90DA7A-59BC-4789-B73E-A11CC97B565C@microsoft.com...
>A lightning strike fried the system board on my desktop (Windows 98 SE) .
> Yea, I know, I've been meaning to upgrade for a while. Anyway, I moved the
> hard drive to a different desktop and of course it would not boot. I can
> get
> to the hard drive and run setup but it's been too long. Is that the smart
> thing to do?. I just need for it to recognize the drivers and hardware on
> the
> new system.
> --
> musicmaakr

letterman · External Since: Feb 17, 2009 Posts: 16

This message is not archived

Bob Harris · External Since: Feb 22, 2006 Posts: 48

If the hard drive is still good, it should be fairly easy to move it to a
new PC and run win98.

But, realize that less and less modern hardware supports win98. It is
possible to have too new a motherboard for win98 (no drivers), or too much
RAM, or too fast a CPU.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312108
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/253912
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304943

But, assuming that the new PC/motherboard is similar in vintage to the old
one, then moving should only require a boot into safe mode to remove old
drivers and install new ones, then it should boot into the full windows
mode.

"musicmaakr" <musicmaakr.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0E90DA7A-59BC-4789-B73E-A11CC97B565C@microsoft.com...
>A lightning strike fried the system board on my desktop (Windows 98 SE) .
> Yea, I know, I've been meaning to upgrade for a while. Anyway, I moved the
> hard drive to a different desktop and of course it would not boot. I can
> get
> to the hard drive and run setup but it's been too long. Is that the smart
> thing to do?. I just need for it to recognize the drivers and hardware on
> the
> new system.
> --
> musicmaakr

musicmaakr · External Since: Apr 14, 2009 Posts: 7

WOW What great response! You folks are the best. First of all I need to
clarify, the drive does boot but won't run windows because it can't load some
drivers. I tried safe mode and it does the same thingI have a another drive
that I can install and backup the one with 98 on it.
--
musicmaakr

"musicmaakr" wrote:

> A lightning strike fried the system board on my desktop (Windows 98 SE) .
> Yea, I know, I've been meaning to upgrade for a while. Anyway, I moved the
> hard drive to a different desktop and of course it would not boot. I can get
> to the hard drive and run setup but it's been too long. Is that the smart
> thing to do?. I just need for it to recognize the drivers and hardware on the
> new system.
> --
> musicmaakr

musicmaakr · External Since: Apr 14, 2009 Posts: 7

Hi Bob! Thanks for the reply. It won't load windows even in safe mode. It
starts to and then freezes when it load driver VKD. I believe that is the
keyboard. I have to pull the plug on the desktop after that.
--
musicmaakr

"Bob Harris" wrote:

> If the hard drive is still good, it should be fairly easy to move it to a
> new PC and run win98.
>
> But, realize that less and less modern hardware supports win98. It is
> possible to have too new a motherboard for win98 (no drivers), or too much
> RAM, or too fast a CPU.
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312108
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/253912
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304943
>
> But, assuming that the new PC/motherboard is similar in vintage to the old
> one, then moving should only require a boot into safe mode to remove old
> drivers and install new ones, then it should boot into the full windows
> mode.
>
>
> "musicmaakr" <musicmaakr RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:0E90DA7A-59BC-4789-B73E-A11CC97B565C@microsoft.com...
> >A lightning strike fried the system board on my desktop (Windows 98 SE) .
> > Yea, I know, I've been meaning to upgrade for a while. Anyway, I moved the
> > hard drive to a different desktop and of course it would not boot. I can
> > get
> > to the hard drive and run setup but it's been too long. Is that the smart
> > thing to do?. I just need for it to recognize the drivers and hardware on
> > the
> > new system.
> > --
> > musicmaakr
>
>
>

westom · External Since: Apr 15, 2009 Posts: 1

On Apr 15, 12:55 pm, musicmaakr <musicma....DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:
> Hi Bob! Thanks for the reply. It won't load windows even in safe mode. It
> starts to and then freezes when it load driver VKD.

You have a large number of options. Too many to list here. A list
that gets shorter if your provide some simple facts. For example, was
the filesystem FAT16 or FAT32? Did you use a BIOS extender?

Your problem is why responsible manufacturers provide diagnostics -
and for free. In your case, the diagnostics are downloaded from that
hard drive manufacturer. Don't even try to boot an OS. First boot
the computer using that diagnostic to learn if disk drive hardware
works and talks to a working motherboard. If you don't even know
that, then any further answers are speculation based upon assumptions
of disk hardware.

Attach that disk drive separately on the motherboard's secondary
IDE. Boot from the primary IDE disk drive. The OS should figure out
the filesystem (FAT16 or FAT32); read the drive or at least identify
the drive. Most facts that achieve a solution - step by step - by not
trying to achieve an instantaneous solution. First define what you
have and everything you know. Solutions come later. Not even defined
is why you know the first computer was damaged - what specifically was
damaged.

Don Phillipson · External Since: Jan 11, 2009 Posts: 14

"Bob Harris" <rharris270[SPAM]@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uUyTYEWvJHA.5836@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> If the hard drive is still good, it should be fairly easy to move it to a
> new PC and run win98.

The OP said his PC had been damaged by lightning
badly enough to fry the motherboard, and all he now
knows about the hard drive is that it will not boot up a
different computer. It would be wasteful to spend any
time on this hard drive before finding out whether it
has been ruined or is in running order.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Brian A. · External Since: Apr 14, 2009 Posts: 5

"musicmaakr" <musicmaakr.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B7F40432-56DD-490E-B546-C560A6AFDA14@microsoft.com...
> Hi Bob! Thanks for the reply. It won't load windows even in safe mode. It
> starts to and then freezes when it load driver VKD. I believe that is the
> keyboard. I have to pull the plug on the desktop after that.
> --
> musicmaakr
>
>
> "Bob Harris" wrote:
>
>> If the hard drive is still good, it should be fairly easy to move it to a
>> new PC and run win98.
>>
>> But, realize that less and less modern hardware supports win98. It is
>> possible to have too new a motherboard for win98 (no drivers), or too
>> much
>> RAM, or too fast a CPU.
>>
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312108
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/253912
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304943
>>
>> But, assuming that the new PC/motherboard is similar in vintage to the
>> old
>> one, then moving should only require a boot into safe mode to remove old
>> drivers and install new ones, then it should boot into the full windows
>> mode.
>>
>>
>> "musicmaakr" <musicmaakr.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:0E90DA7A-59BC-4789-B73E-A11CC97B565C@microsoft.com...
>> >A lightning strike fried the system board on my desktop (Windows 98 SE)
>> >.
>> > Yea, I know, I've been meaning to upgrade for a while. Anyway, I moved
>> > the
>> > hard drive to a different desktop and of course it would not boot. I
>> > can
>> > get
>> > to the hard drive and run setup but it's been too long. Is that the
>> > smart
>> > thing to do?. I just need for it to recognize the drivers and hardware
>> > on
>> > the
>> > new system.
>> > --
>> > musicmaakr
>>
>>
>>

See if this helps:
Error Message: While Initializing Device VKD -- Windows Protection Error --
You Need to Restart Your Computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/263318

--

Brian A. Sesko
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

musicmaakr · External Since: Apr 14, 2009 Posts: 7

Brian, thanks for the link. I viewed it and that is exactly what it is doing.
However the solution they provide is to try another keyboard. It does the
same thing. The keyboard works fine up until the time windows loads that
driver. I can't find it in the win.ini or system.ini files. Is there any
other way I can keep it from loading that driver?
--
musicmaakr

"Brian A." wrote:

> "musicmaakr" <musicmaakr.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:B7F40432-56DD-490E-B546-C560A6AFDA14@microsoft.com...
> > Hi Bob! Thanks for the reply. It won't load windows even in safe mode. It
> > starts to and then freezes when it load driver VKD. I believe that is the
> > keyboard. I have to pull the plug on the desktop after that.
> > --
> > musicmaakr
> >
> >
> > "Bob Harris" wrote:
> >
> >> If the hard drive is still good, it should be fairly easy to move it to a
> >> new PC and run win98.
> >>
> >> But, realize that less and less modern hardware supports win98. It is
> >> possible to have too new a motherboard for win98 (no drivers), or too
> >> much
> >> RAM, or too fast a CPU.
> >>
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312108
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/253912
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304943
> >>
> >> But, assuming that the new PC/motherboard is similar in vintage to the
> >> old
> >> one, then moving should only require a boot into safe mode to remove old
> >> drivers and install new ones, then it should boot into the full windows
> >> mode.
> >>
> >>
> >> "musicmaakr" <musicmaakr.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:0E90DA7A-59BC-4789-B73E-A11CC97B565C@microsoft.com...
> >> >A lightning strike fried the system board on my desktop (Windows 98 SE)
> >> >.
> >> > Yea, I know, I've been meaning to upgrade for a while. Anyway, I moved
> >> > the
> >> > hard drive to a different desktop and of course it would not boot. I
> >> > can
> >> > get
> >> > to the hard drive and run setup but it's been too long. Is that the
> >> > smart
> >> > thing to do?. I just need for it to recognize the drivers and hardware
> >> > on
> >> > the
> >> > new system.
> >> > --
> >> > musicmaakr
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
> See if this helps:
> Error Message: While Initializing Device VKD -- Windows Protection Error --
> You Need to Restart Your Computer
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/263318
>
>
> --
>
> Brian A. Sesko
> Conflicts start where information lacks.
> http://basconotw.mvps.org/
>
> Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
>
>
>

philo1 · External Since: May 08, 2004 Posts: 59

musicmaakr wrote:
> WOW What great response! You folks are the best. First of all I need to
> clarify, the drive does boot but won't run windows because it can't load some
> drivers. I tried safe mode and it does the same thingI have a another drive
> that I can install and backup the one with 98 on it.

A fresh install may be the right way to go...
but before you get too far...how new is the mobo
and how much RAM do you have?

Though Win98 can use more than 512 megs of RAM with a minor tweak...
you may not be able to install it with a larger amount.

Also, if the mobo is new...chances are that no win98 chip set drivers
are available so Win98 may not be a good candidate for use with the mobo

letterman · External Since: Feb 17, 2009 Posts: 16

This message is not archived

Bill in Co. · External Since: Apr 24, 2005 Posts: 570

letterman.DeleteThis@invalid.com wrote:
> On Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:55:02 -0700, musicmaakr
> <musicmaakr.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi Bob! Thanks for the reply. It won't load windows even in safe mode. It
>> starts to and then freezes when it load driver VKD. I believe that is the
>> keyboard. I have to pull the plug on the desktop after that.
>
> You do know that you can install Windows to another folder name,
> right?
>
> I've done it. Lets assume you have it now in C:\WINDOWS.
> OK, insert your install CD, and when it asks you if you want to
> install it in the same folder, select "NO". Install it in some other
> folder, such as C:\WIN98. That way you have a fresh install, but
> still have all your data.

Better yet, if you're going to due a fresh and new install, you might
consider renaming the old \Windows folder to something else (in real DOS
mode), and ditto for \Program Files, and then after inserting the CD, let it
install it freshly install to C:\WINDOWS, since that's the normal one. Of
course, once you do this, you'll have to reinstall all your apps. I
wouldn't mess with C:\WIN98 (which in my case, stored the CD windows install
CAB files)

Of course, in all cases, it's best to have a complete backup before doing
any of this, just in case you overlook something or something goes amiss.

Buffalo · External Since: Jan 07, 2007 Posts: 42

musicmaakr wrote:
> Hi Bob! Thanks for the reply. It won't load windows even in safe
> mode. It starts to and then freezes when it load driver VKD. I
> believe that is the keyboard. I have to pull the plug on the desktop
> after that.
>
Are you using an USB or wireless keyboard? If so, try a standard wired
keyboard.
There is also a key which you can delete in the Registry that will force
your PC to re-detect all your devices. Sorry, I can't remember how to do
that.
Buffalo
PS
If you need to get important data off that drive, put it in another computer
and make a copy or image of what you need to save.
Also, some of the newer MB's don't support Win98SE.

Brian A. · External Since: Apr 14, 2009 Posts: 5

"Buffalo" <Eric DeleteThis @nada.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:gs5qc1$rus$1@news.motzarella.org...
>
>
> musicmaakr wrote:
>> Hi Bob! Thanks for the reply. It won't load windows even in safe
>> mode. It starts to and then freezes when it load driver VKD. I
>> believe that is the keyboard. I have to pull the plug on the desktop
>> after that.
>>
> Are you using an USB or wireless keyboard? If so, try a standard wired
> keyboard.
> There is also a key which you can delete in the Registry that will force
> your PC to re-detect all your devices. Sorry, I can't remember how to do
> that.
> Buffalo
> PS
> If you need to get important data off that drive, put it in another
> computer
> and make a copy or image of what you need to save.
> Also, some of the newer MB's don't support Win98SE.
>
>

It appears from his last response to me that the PC won't boot much past
the POST, if even past.

To jog your memory on the registry:
hkey_local_machine\enum

If he could get to it there really shouldn't be a need to remove it and it
should only be done as a last ditch effort.

--

Brian A. Sesko
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

Brian A. · External Since: Apr 14, 2009 Posts: 5

"musicmaakr" <musicmaakr.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A3EFAF4A-FCCF-4115-85EC-0EDFBE95EF1E@microsoft.com...
> Brian, thanks for the link. I viewed it and that is exactly what it is
> doing.
> However the solution they provide is to try another keyboard. It does the
> same thing. The keyboard works fine up until the time windows loads that
> driver. I can't find it in the win.ini or system.ini files. Is there any
> other way I can keep it from loading that driver?
> --
> musicmaakr

If the boot fails after POST completion as the article states
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/263318 , try booting without the keyboard
connected. If it still fails, press F1 to enter "BIOS" setup and check the
date/time and if it's set in the past, set it to this years date/time > save
the changed configuration > shut down > reconnect the KB and reboot. If it
fails again, enter the BIOS and see if the date/time changed and if it did
replace the CMOS battery. If it didn't change, please post a response with
information about the manufaturer/make/model of the PC, the mobo, amount of
RAM installed, add-on cards inastalled, peripherals connected, etc.

--

Brian A. Sesko
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

musicmaakr · External Since: Apr 14, 2009 Posts: 7

Ok per reuqest let me provide as much info as I can. First of all the machine
will boot to a command prompt and safe mode command prompt. Not sure what the
difference is but that's the choices I get on the startup menu. Anytime I try
to run windows it freezes up when it loads the VKD device. The new PC is old
as well that is about the same time period as the one that got fried. Post
counts up to 196M installed and is a Compaq. There is a video card for the
display and a network (enet) card but other than that there is nothing else
in this unit. I did try to slave a hard drive just to copy files over but can
not get it to recognize the drive. I tried several jumper settings but that
is really a different problem. I'm just trying to get it to run 98 long
enough for me to copy data over from the network. Processor is a Pentium II
400Mhz. I hope this helps. Thanks in advance for all your help.
--
musicmaakr

"musicmaakr" wrote:

> A lightning strike fried the system board on my desktop (Windows 98 SE) .
> Yea, I know, I've been meaning to upgrade for a while. Anyway, I moved the
> hard drive to a different desktop and of course it would not boot. I can get
> to the hard drive and run setup but it's been too long. Is that the smart
> thing to do?. I just need for it to recognize the drivers and hardware on the
> new system.
> --
> musicmaakr

musicmaakr · External Since: Apr 14, 2009 Posts: 7

Brian I tried this and the date is current. Isn't there a way just to get 98
to look at the system and reinstall any drivers? What I don't understand is
that the keyboard works fine up until the point that the Keyboard driver is
installed.
--
musicmaakr

"Brian A." wrote:

> "musicmaakr" <musicmaakr.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:A3EFAF4A-FCCF-4115-85EC-0EDFBE95EF1E@microsoft.com...
> > Brian, thanks for the link. I viewed it and that is exactly what it is
> > doing.
> > However the solution they provide is to try another keyboard. It does the
> > same thing. The keyboard works fine up until the time windows loads that
> > driver. I can't find it in the win.ini or system.ini files. Is there any
> > other way I can keep it from loading that driver?
> > --
> > musicmaakr
>
> If the boot fails after POST completion as the article states
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/263318 , try booting without the keyboard
> connected. If it still fails, press F1 to enter "BIOS" setup and check the
> date/time and if it's set in the past, set it to this years date/time > save
> the changed configuration > shut down > reconnect the KB and reboot. If it
> fails again, enter the BIOS and see if the date/time changed and if it did
> replace the CMOS battery. If it didn't change, please post a response with
> information about the manufaturer/make/model of the PC, the mobo, amount of
> RAM installed, add-on cards inastalled, peripherals connected, etc.
>
> --
>
> Brian A. Sesko
> Conflicts start where information lacks.
> http://basconotw.mvps.org/
>
> Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
>
>
>