Windows 95/98/98SE "dirty install" works, usually...

[RolandJS]

Any of those goldenOldies [like me!] remember doing "dirty installs" of Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 98SE? I have. Mostly, the installs, with a little pre-install prep, go quite well. I think I have always used the full disk, not an upgrade disk. What experiences have youse guys and young ladies had?

[Berton]

I used to do 'dirty installs' but it generally was after cleaning a computer of viruses and an easy way to replace corrupted or missing files. The Upgrade disc would work as long as it was the same as installed, i.e. Service Pack , etc., since a version of Windows was already installed.

[speedball]

okay

color me stupid or too old to remember
but
what is a dirty install

i have a 98se box that got forked when i tried to install an outboard usb

been meaning to finish trying to recover it with tips i found on the net
but maybe this dirty install would be easier

please explain

[Berton]

A "dirty install" is simply reinstalling over the top of the current installation, sometimes fixes things but not always. The other installs are "clean" [deletes everything] and "upgrade", replaces an older version of the OS.

As for USB, one of the features of the 'new' Win98SE was support for USB 2.0 drivers provided by the device manufacturer/vendor, didn't have the actual drivers built-in. Another new feature was ICS/Internet Connection Sharing, great with Dial-Up and having 2 computers.