NEC VERSA 6050 WINDOWS 98 - UPGRADE INFORMATION User manual

NEC Versa 6050 Windows 98 Upgrade Information 1
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 their entirety.
CAUTION
Although not a requirement, NEC recommends that you use
the system’s AC power adapter throughout this process. The
Windows 98 upgrade is somewhat lengthy and interrupting
the process with a loss of power can be catastrophic if the
system performs an emergency 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:
To identify your computer’s file system format,
double click on the My Computer desktop icon. Next, right
click on the C: drive icon, and select Properties. If the
system is running FAT32, it is listed here next to “File
system.” If it is FAT16, FAT or FAT 16 appears.
CAUTION
If you intend to convert your hard drive to the FAT32 file
system format we recommend that you first update the BIOS
and the save-to-disk utility (HDPrepEz).
Failure to do this can result in catastrophic data loss.
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.

2NEC Versa 6050 Windows 98 Upgrade Information
The system requirements for your NEC Versa are:
 A minimum of 16 MB of RAM (32 MB is recommended).
 Approximately 50 MB additional hard disk capacity.
 If backing up Windows 95 system configuration files, another additional
50 MB for a total of 100-MB additional hard disk space.
Note:
The Windows 98 Setup Wizard informs you if
your system has insufficient hard drive space to proceed.
NEC recommends that you do the following procedures in the order listed to
upgrade your system.
1. Upgrade your NEC Versa system BIOS.
2. Install the new version of HDPrepEz (the Save-to-File utility).
3. Upgrade your operating system to Windows 98.
CAUTION
Allowing your system to perform the Save-to-File process
(by means of executing a Standby request, either manually
invoking it with the “suspend button,” or by means of a
system power management time-out) in the FAT32 system
file mode without updating and running the latest version of
HDPrepEz can cause catastrophic hard drive data loss.
Upgrading the BIOS
Use these steps to upgrade the BIOS.
Note:
Before upgrading the BIOS, you must first check
that the BIOS dip switch setting inside your NEC Versa
system is enabled for the BIOS update. Refer to the section,
“Updating the System BIOS,” 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 located at the root of the floppy,
drive A:\ with the Windows Explorer.
3. Select, according to the prompts, “A) NEC Versa Notebooks” and “B)
Computer using Windows 95 only” successively.
4. Once the INSTALL batch file has finished, shut down Windows 95,
selecting “Restart” with the BIOS upgrade diskette still in the floppy drive.

NEC Versa 6050 Windows 98 Upgrade Information 3
5. After the display of warning screens, a menu appears. Select “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 on the screen.
7. Once in the BIOS setup utility, ensure the settings are set as desired or select
the factory default settings. Save them and exit the utility. The system
reboots.
Note:
The BIOS upgrade process requires that AC
power be supplied to the system. The BIOS upgrade
process does not execute in the absence of AC power.
CAUTION
The computer must not be docked while the BIOS upgrade
is performed.
Installing HDPrepEz
Use these steps to install HDPrepEz 1.9a (Save-to-Disk utility) and set the Save
to File feature.
1. Insert the HDPrepEz installation diskette into the floppy drive.
2. Run the “Setup” utility, which is located at the root of the floppy, drive A:\
using the Windows Explorer.
3. Once the installation is complete, reboot 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 HDPREPEZ.EXE file simply by typing HDPREPEZ at the DOS
command prompt.
9. When HDPREPEZ is finished, reboot the system 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 system has Auto Insert Notification enabled, a

4NEC Versa 6050 Windows 98 Upgrade Information
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:
You must to make three key decisions
depending on your particular needs and system
configuration. Use the following guidelines.
 Concerning docking stations: You should perform the
Windows 98 upgrade in the mode (docked or undocked)
which you use most often. This is purely a decision of
convenience, as Windows 98 upgrades docking
configurations on an “as detected” basis.
 Early during the Windows 98 upgrade process you are
prompted to decide if you want to back up your Windows
95 system files. Whether or not you backup your
Windows 95 system files is a judgement decision that is
left entirely to you. Just keep in mind that approximately
50 MB of hard drive space will be consumed by doing so.
NEC recommends that you back up your system
files.
 Early during the Windows 98 upgrade process you are
prompted to make a Windows 98 bootable Startup
diskette, which loads CD-ROM drivers. If your system
cannot run both a floppy drive and a CD-ROM drive at
the same time, skip this section by selecting “Cancel” at
the “Insert diskette” screen. Later, when you have the
floppy drive installed, go to the Control Panel,
Add/Remove Programs, select the “Windows Setup” tab,
and create a startup diskette.
NEC Versa 6050
Windows 98 Upgrade Information
819-200530-000 Rev. 00
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