Windows 98 fails to install with 'Windows Setup requires 7340032 by' error in console

Question

If you install Windows 98 from CD-ROM by first booting from a start-up floppy (such as a Windows 98 Startup Disk) and run setup.exe, it will inform the user that it is going to check the hard disks, and then it is possible that you will get a strange, half-formed error message printed into the console like the one below and the installation will halt.

Please wait while Setup initializes.
Scanning system registry...
Windows Setup requires 7340032 by

The final line may be partially clipped at any point. The full message is

Windows Setup requires 7340032 bytes available on your C: drive.

This error is somewhat common on a freshly fdisked hard drive or SD/CF media.

How do you proceed past this error?

Answer 1

This strange error means that hard drive you intend to install Windows 98 onto may be partitioned, but not formatted - it appears that Windows' installation system is confused by the lack of a FAT on the destination drive.

Run format c: to format the new partition you've established within fdisk before running setup.exe. (Note that fdisk will warn you that you should immediately reboot the system after exiting fdisk, before attempting to use the drives you've partitioned.)

If you get the error in the question, follow the following steps:

0. Back up all important data from any drives connected to the system!
1. Boot from the start-up floppy.
2. Run fdisk to alter the partitions.
3. Exit fdisk.
4. Reboot the computer.
5. Boot from the start-up floppy.
6. You may need to fdisk /mbr if this is a completely unused drive, or CF/SD card that's never been used as a bootable drive before.
7. format any new volumes you've created.
8. Run Windows 98 setup.exe.