win2k problems

[Chiguy]

I have a friend with the following problem:

"I want to install win2k on my computer. I have the cd that came with a Dell computer that I no longer have. However, it will not let me install win2k unless the computer I am installing it on is a Dell computer. I have determined that when I run setup.exe in the root directory of the cd, it runs the program i386/BCHK32.exe. I am assuming that this is the file that checks to see if I have a Dell computer. Please Help! What can I do? Can I hex edit the file? If I can, how would I do so? I have a hex editor but I don't know how to hex edit it. If I can't do this, what can I do? I can email the file from win2khelpneeded@netscape.net . I need to get this working ASAP.
Thanks in advance."

[Bovon]

Can you copy all of the cd files to the hard drive then delete the suspect file?

If so, you can execute the setup from the C drive at dos. (I think...never tried it, but methinks its possible)

[muno]

Isn't there i386\winnt.exe/winnt32.exe?
Those are the installation programs. There's a problem however, w2k won't let you install from command line (at least didn't let me). So the only way would be, perhaps installing w95 first, and running from the gui i386\winnt32.exe. This is what I think =)
You might want to try to make the 3 boot floppies for installing w2k (the option is still available, at least with my release).
-M

[Chiguy]

Thanks for the advice. I tried copying the files to my hard drive, but when I start the startup program, something flashes on the monitor and nothing happens. I haven't tried to do this in dos yet, but setup.exe cannot run in dos, however winnt32.exe might. I'll try this and post the results. I've tried to make the setup disks but I think that Dell may have removed this feature. I also tried to run winnt and winnt32 in win98 but it locks me out saying that it only works on a dell computer.