ScanDisk Stops Responding During Windows 98 Setup

When you install Windows 98, Windows 98 Setup may appear to stop responding (hang) while ScanDisk is running.

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This behavior can occur for a variety of reasons including a damaged hard disk, faulty hardware, and so on.

To work around this behavior, run ScanDisk at a command prompt before you install Windows 98:

1. Restart your computer, press and hold down the CTRL key until you see the Windows 98 Startup menu, and then choose Command Prompt Only.
2. At the command prompt, type scandisk, and then press ENTER.
3. Click Yes or press Y (for Yes) when you are prompted to perform a surface scan.
4. When ScanDisk finishes, restart your computer normally, and then run Windows 98 Setup by using the setup /is command. The /is parameter causes Windows 98 Setup to bypass ScanDisk.

To determine why ScanDisk hangs during Windows 98 Setup, run Windows 98 Setup by using the setup /ih command. The /ih parameter causes Windows 98 Setup to run ScanDisk in the foreground so that you can view the results.

For additional information about Windows 98 Setup switches, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: