Yes, you can force install Windows 98.
Yes, you can force install Windows 98.
You need to ensure the CD-ROM is set as the first boot device. Since your BIOS doesn’t remember changes after power-off, replacing the CMOS battery should restore those settings. Check your system settings after rebooting to confirm it boots from the CD. If issues persist, consider using a bootable USB with Windows 98 to test installation.
Consider the floppy disk. If you're fortunate and it appears first in the boot sequence, you might launch the 98 SE Boot disk and subsequently use it to execute the Install CD.
I verified the laptop model and noticed it should include an FDD. That seems unusual. It also varies based on whether the ISO is bootable; the one I received from WinWorld might not work on my Dell C610 without a boot disk. Since I haven’t received the FDD bay extension, I’ve burned the image to a disc instead. I start by booting from the CD, which brings up DOS with MSCDEX installed. I swap the disc with the installation media, go to "R:" and run the setup tool. The boot disk also contains helpful utilities such as fdisk, allowing you to partition the drive before installation.
The laptop does have a FDD, though it wasn<|pad|>, not shown in the BIOS. I used a floppy disk that my mom saved from high school, and it recognized the disk. Now I know why you need a floppy to load the install CD. I located a budget boot disk with the original installation disc on eBay, in case swapping the boot CD doesn’t work. Thanks for your assistance!