Win98 OEM to Upgrade

Edited text of question

Locate the file Mini.cab from the Win98 CD, extract all files from this file to a directory of your HDD, (C:\WIN98\TMP)

If you have Cabview, just drap & drop if not, use this command:
Extract mini.cab /L /E C:\WIN98\TMP

Open up System.ini from the extracted directory, modify Shell=winsetup.bin to Shell=D:\Win98\Setup.exe (D:=cd-rom drive letter) save and exit.

Look for a file name Dosx.exe from the extracted directory, run this file to start Win98 setup.

For larbel:
Sorry but the answer you proposed, even though is kinda cool, has almost the same
effect like renaming win.com
What I am looking for is something that completelly changes oem to upgrade.
I want even to be able to save win95 files so that uninstall would be feasible.

In win95 oem this was done by changing the 'producttype' field in setuppp.inf in
precopy2.cab. I want something equivalent that works with 98.

Thanks for your answer....

Run the setup from wothin win95. This Win98 OEM will upgrade your system.

For varun:
No. It will stop after finishing copying files needed for setup saying :
"There is an operating system already installed. You need to obtain the upgrade version"

My copy of Win98 is an early release version, but I just ran setup from within 95, and it installed fine.  However, if you have any PROBLEMS with 95, 98 will NOT  fix them.  Better to deltree windows and Program files and start with a clean slate....... IF you had any problems.  My 98 was crashing during the SCREEN SAVER.  I deleted it and started over, and no problems now.

For hippopotamus:
I have already installed 98 in my system with a clean installation.
The query is for scientific purposes only..!!

I'd like to know the answer, myself, but I'm going to have to wait until a 98 oem falls into my hands, which it should within about a week <grin>. Once I get it, I'll be able to compare files, but for right now, it would be a serious task. I'll be keeping an eye open in case someone finds it before I do though.

Now I have a Win98 Full version,  and while it says it doesn't recommend upgrading when SETUP is run,  It will allow you to do so.  (And if it sees 95,  it will upgrade and not allow a dual boot),  so you might want to approach this direction if you see some docs on how to do it.

So you are trying to upgrade a system to win98 when it is already installed?  Or is it win95 that is installed?  With all this mess,  I suggest you reformat your system and install a clean upgrade.  It is worth it beleive me.  Have you tried making a win95 startup disk and copying all the files to c:\ dr over writing config.sys ect?

Question recap :

System with win95 (OSR 2.1) installed.
We want to -upgrade- using 98 oem.
98 setup will stop at some time saying that we need to get the upgrade version.
We can overun this by renaming 95's win.com and running setup from dos or
doing what -larbel- suggested but then we won't get the option to unistall 98.
We are looking for a trick that will make 98 oem perform exactly like 98 upgrade.
With 95 oem this was done by messing with layout.inf and setuppp.inf but in 98
while the files are almost identical, the trick doesn't work.

As I said before, the answer to this question is for -scientific- purposes only.
(I can always format the 95 system and install 98 from scratch)

The first that proposes an answer that works as I describe above will recieve a
clean - A - .

Thank you all for your interest.

Another way is to take backup of your system, rename win.com, run w98 oem setup. Now you have a backup. If you don't like w98, restore from your backup.

Sorry. Probably you didn't read the question recap.

Ooooohh  naughty varun for not reading the surface recap !

No it can't be done

This is the first really honest answer.
I will reopen the question for now and if no answer comes up in the next 5 days or so and  -toste- gives the same answer again he will get his grade and the subject will be considered closed.
Have a nice weekend......

First of all, I would suggest a clean install because it is a lot more powerful. Try this:  Don't delete win.com, but rename it. Make 2 win95 startup disk. With the second copy c:\msdos.sys to it and replace the existing file. Make a new folder called win98. Copy all the setup files to "C:\win98\options\" or "cabs" or something. (the setup files are located at D:\win98\ (d: being your cd rom)  Boot to dos using your 1st startup disk.  Browse to "C:\win98\options\" and type setup.  Once setup is complete, (only if you cannot reinstall all apllications) copy the ini files to the new windows directory. Once you have done that insert your second startup disk and you can boot to win95.  If you need the disk space delete "c:\windows" and it should work.

Best,
--
Jonathan Gamble

What exactly is the point of doing all this?

It is a way to install win98. I found another way to install it when I was browsing a newgroup today.  Something to extract layout.bin and someother file.  I will post it here when I find out the exact procedure.  Sorry for not posting it.

It works as you describe. Doesn't allow you to revert.
Question considered closed.
Thanks you all

Is the other stuff required, or would just renaming win.com give the same benefits?

That was the answer I found.  Sorry for the waste of time.