Installation on a HP/Compaq machine.

Windows 98

Create a FreeDOS USB boot disk using Rufus: select Freedos from in there, then go.

Download the SATA CDROM driver from here.

Unzip the file, then copy the files (excluding folders) to the USB disk just created. This creates a config.sys file with the CDROM driver present.

Boot from the USB disk, and go to the D: drive (or whatever other letter is the CDROM)

Start setup with the keys /nm /is /im /nr

This should start setup.

Sadly enough this hangs after a while with prompts to add diskettes in A: and B: - game over.

Round 2: Easy2Boot

Follow the procedure described on the Easy2boot website: Install Windows 98 from USB Flash Drive with Easy2Boot

Once you get to the boot without USB drive you get “Insufficient memory to run Windows” because you have 1.5GB of memory, sigh. See this: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/windows-9598-error-insufficient-memory-initialize-windows-ibm-intellistation-m-pro-type-6889

• Boot and press F8, select “Command prompt only”

• CD to \WINDOWS

• Type “edit system.ini”

• Find the [386Enh] section and add:
  MaxPhysPage=3B000

• Save the file

• Reboot

Safe mode still causes a memory error; this can be fixed by using option 4 (step by step), allowing himemx.exe to run to claim memory, then answering “load all device drivers” with NO.

Alternatively, it appears that safe mode uses the file “system.cb” as a system.ini file. Adding the MaxPhysPage setting there might work too.