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NEC Versa 6050
Windows 98 Upgrade Information
Follow the instructions provided in this document to upgrade your
NEC Versa® 6050 system to Microsoft® Windows® 98. You may have to update
the system’s BIOS and the system’s save-to-disk utility depending on the hard
drive format used on your NEC Versa (16-bit versus 32-bit format).
Please read these notes in thei r enti rety.
CAUTION
Although not a requi r em ent, NE C recomm ends that you use
the system’s AC power adapter throughout this process. The
Windows 98 upgrade is somewhat l engthy and interrupti ng
the process with a loss of power can be catastr ophic if the
system performs an emergenc y save-to-file.
Background
If you are using the FAT16 file-system format (16-bit based File Allocation
Table), then the BIOS and the save-to-disk utility (HDPrepEz) do not have to be
updated.
Note:
double click on the My Computer desktop icon. Next, right
click on the C: driv e icon, and sel ec t Pr oper ties. If the
system is running FAT32, it is listed here next to “File
system.” If it is FAT16, FAT or FAT 16 appears.
If you intend to convert y our har d drive to the FAT32 file
system format we recommend that you first update the BIOS
and the save-to-disk ut ility (HDPrepEz).
Failure to do this can result in catastrophic data loss.
To identify your computer’s file system format,
CAUTION
System Requirements
The system requirements for your NEC Versa using Windows 98 are
approximately the same as they are for using Windows 95. As with Windows
95, Windows 98 requires 16 MB of RAM. For hard disk space, a typical
installation requires 225 MB of free hard disk space, but may range from 165
MB to 300 MB, depending on system configuration and options selected.
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The system requirements for your NEC Versa are:
A min imum of 16 M B of RAM (32 M B is re commende d).
Approximately 50 MB additional hard d isk capacity.
If backing up Windows 95 system configuration files, another additional
50 MB for a total of 100-MB additional hard disk space.
Note:
your system has insufficient hard driv e space to proceed.
The Windows 98 Setup Wizar d informs you if
NEC recommends that you do the following procedures in the order listed to
upgrade your system.
1. Upgrade your NEC Versa syste m BIOS.
2. Install the new vers ion of HDP repEz (the S ave-to-File utility).
3. Upgrade your operating system to Windows 98.
CAUTION
Allowing your system to perform the Save-to-File pr oc ess
(by means of executing a Standby r equest, either manuall y
invoking it wit h the “suspend button,” or by means of a
system power managem ent time-out) in the FAT32 system
file mode without updat ing and running the latest v er si on of
HDPrepEz can cause catastrophic hard drive dat a loss.
Upgrading the BIOS
Use these steps to upgrade the BIOS.
Note:
that the BIOS dip switch sett ing inside your NEC Versa
system is enabled f or the BIOS update. Refer to the section,
“Updating the System B IO S,” in Chapter 4 of your NEC
Versa User’s Guide.
1. Insert the BIOS upgrade diskette into the floppy drive unit.
2. Run the “INSTALL” batch file, which is locat ed at the root of the floppy,
drive A:\ with the Windows Explorer.
3. Select, accor ding to the prompts, “A) NEC Ver sa Notebooks” and “B)
Computer using Windows 95 only” successively.
4. Once the INSTALL batch file has finished, s hut do wn Windows 95,
selecting “Restart” with the BIOS upgrade diskette still in the floppy drive.
Before upgrading the BIOS, you must first check
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5. After the display of warning screens, a menu appears. S elect “Install New
BIOS” from the menu.
6. When the BIOS update is complete, reboot the system and enter the BIOS
setup utility by pressing either the F1 or F2 key as indicated o n the screen.
7. Once in the BIOS setup ut ility, ensure the settings are set as des ired o r se lect
the factory default sett ings. S ave t hem and exit the utilit y. The system
reboots.
Note:
power be supplied to t he system. The BIOS upgrade
process does not exec ute in the absence of AC power.
The computer must not be dock ed while the BIOS upgrade
is performed.
The BIOS upgrade process requir es that AC
Installing HDPrepEz
Use these steps to inst all HDPrepEz 1.9a (Save-to-Disk ut ility) and set the Save
to File feature.
CAUTION
1. Insert the HDPrepEz installation diskette into the floppy drive.
2. Run the “Set up” ut ility, whic h is locat ed at t he root o f the floppy, drive A:\
using the Windows Explorer.
3. O nc e the installation is complet e, r e boot your system.
4. While the system is rebooting press the F8 key to get to the Windows 95
Startup menu.
5. Select the “Command prompt only” option to go to a DOS prompt.
6. Navigate to the C:\NECUTILS\HDPREP directory.
7. At the prompt, type LOCK C: and answer “y” to the “Are you sure?”
prompt. This allows HDPrepEz to create your save to disk file.
8. Execute the HDPREPE Z. E XE file simply by typing HDPREPE Z at the DOS
command prompt.
9. When HDPREPEZ is finished, r ebo ot t he syst em to restart Windows 95.
Upgrading To Windows 98
Use these steps to upgrade from Windows 95 to Windows 98.
1. With Windows 95 running, insert the Windows 98 installation CDROM into
your system. If your syst em has Auto Insert Notificat ion ena b led, a
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Windows 98 graphic appears asking you if you want to upgrade to Windows
98. If you see the graphic, answer “Yes” and skip to step 3. If you do not see
this graphic, continue to step 2.
2. Use Windows Explorer to navigate to the Windows 98 Setup utility, at the
root of the CDROM drive – (your CD-ROM drive will most likely be E:).
3. Double click on the Setup icon. The Setup Wizard guides you through the
installation process. Answer all prompts appropriately.
Note:
depending on your particular needs and system
configurati on. Use the following guidelines.
Concerning docki ng stations: You should perform the
Windows 98 upgrade in the mode (doc k ed or undoc k ed)
which you use most often. T his i s purely a decision of
convenienc e, as Windows 98 upgrade s docking
configurati ons on an “as detected” basis.
Early during the Windows 98 upgrade proces s you are
prompted to decide if you want to back up y our Windows
95 system files. Whet her or not y ou bac k up your
Windows 95 system files i s a judgement decision that is
left entirely to you. Just keep in mind that approxim ately
50 MB of hard drive space will be consum ed by doing so.
NEC recommends that you back up your system
files.
Early during the Windows 98 upgrade proces s you are
prompted to make a Windows 98 bootable Startup
diskette, whic h loads CD-RO M drivers. If your system
cannot run both a floppy drive and a CD-ROM drive at
the same time, skip this secti on by sel ec ting “Cancel” at
the “Insert di sket te” screen. Later, when you have the
floppy drive installed, go to the Control Panel,
Add/Remove Program s, sel ec t the “Windows Setup” tab,
and create a startup diskette.
You must to make three key decisions
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NEC Versa 6050
Windows 98 Upgrade Information
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