In the past week, I think I am a really experienced FDISK user. And I still need help.

Goal: Install English Windows 98 from Compaq QuickRestore CD onto Hard Disk 2. Install Chinese Windows 98 on Hard Disk 1 from installation files kept in a certain partition. Install Linux on extended+logic partition on Hard Disk 2. MS-DOS needs to be present on primary partitions of both drives.

Steps I took after friend installed Hard Disk 2:
1. Formatted primary partition on Hard Disk 1. Ran G:\setup.exe in MS-DOS and setup Chinese Windows 98.
2. Using Super FDISK, I hid all the partitions on Hard Disk 1.
3. Booted into Hard Disk 2 and found old documents, emails, programs and logs from the old owner of the hard disk.
4. Restarted after deleting documents and everything and found Explorer.exe to be corrupted.
5. Using the Windows 98 Startup Disk, ran EXT and extracted a fresh copy of Explorer.exe into the Windows directory of Hard Disk 2.
6. SYSTEM.INI edited to Shell=Winfile.exe instead of Shell=Explorer.exe.
7. As recommended by Microsoft, uninstall Internet Explorer as much as possible using its setup program.
8. Reversed step 6 and restarted computer. Explorer.exe was not found.
9. Did a Compaq QuickRestore from emergency CD.
10. After Windows loaded, I decided to boot into Chinese Windows 98.
11. Found out that Compaq QuickRestore OVERWRITTEN the hidden partitions on Hard Disk 1. Chinese Windows 98 was gone and Explorer.exe from Hard Disk 2 was still missing/corrupted.
12. Reformatted hard disk 1 and reinstalled Chinese Windows 98.
**2 days later (today)**
13. Just to be safe, I used Super FDISK to hide partitions of Hard Disk 1 again.
14. Unplugged data cable of Hard Disk 1 and 2 and plugged Data Cable 0 (from Hard Disk 1) into Hard Disk 2. No data cable is connected to Hard Disk 1.
15. Formatted all partitions on Hard Disk 2. Partitioned into FAT16 (I don't like FAT32).
16. Ran Compaq QuickRestore and worked successfully.
17. Plugged data cable back into Hard Disk 1. Rebooted and can switch between Chinese and English Windows through a complicated process of hiding/unhiding/activating/scanning partitions using Super FDISK and Microsoft FDISK in MS-DOS.
18. Removed manufacturer's crap software off English Windows 98. Left nothing but Microsoft Money 99 OEM Edition.
19. Installed necessary components into Chinese Windows 98.

Now, how do I put Linux on the Hard Disk 2? I already put the external case back on the computer and I don't want to take it off again.

Don't worry, nothing valuable is on the disks so telling me to Format and FDISK is no problem at all.

In total (incl. before my friend put Hard Disk 2 in), I have probably reinstalled Chinese Windows 98 at least 18 times and Compaq QuickRestored the hard disk at least 25 times.

Not sure I can help you too much, but if this setup is only temporary, you can always boot Linux as a LiveCD so you wouldn't have to mess with startup partitions.

You can always make disk 2 your primary boot disk, then try installing linux. Depending on the distro, it may recognize the win98 partition and let you install the linux one without too much trouble. glty

ya, use a Linux LiveCD to partition your drives. It always works best like that.

xboxrulz

The problem is that the CD Drive only works in DOS and Windows. And I don't think I will be able to run a non-manufacturer's CD in MS-DOS mode. I need a graphical Linux that is on a floppy (1.44MB).

booting linux is completely independant from the OS, it all happens before any OS is loaded, so you'll be able to boot any bootable cd (if of course the BIOS can boot from the CD).

First you'll probably have to resize the partition on HDD for linux, then boot some linux cd and install it. For booting, I suggest using Grub, it allows to (un)hide and remap disks and parititions automaticaly (you have to configure it to do that tough, but that's easy).

I can't seem to figure out the key to access BIOS on the old computer. Dell gives it right away, the other one is a Compaq.

Boot order is 1. Floppy 2. Hard Disk 3. CD

So I must use a floppy or something from DOS.