How it works:
Copy the contents of the compressed Windows 98 Installation of the original Microsoft CD into a directory of the reference PC. In order to create the mini installation of Windows 98 you have to extract the files COPY.INF, SETUPP.INF, PRECOPY.INF, MSINFO.INF, LAYOUT.INF from the CAB files you copied to the reference PC before (use the EXTRACT.EXE command, which resides in the same directory after the copy), and modify these files afterwards as described in the Appendix. The modifications make Windows 98 load only really needed drivers. This saves a lot of space.
Once you have altered the INF files following the description below, you start the installation as usual with the SETUP.EXE command, but this time from the directory which contains the modified INF Files. While the installation process is going on you will be asked for the installation of optional components. Please deactivate almost everything in order to save memory space. They can be added later.
Having finished the mini installation on the reference PC, reboot it to start the new installed mini Windows and copy the reference installation of Windows 98, from the operating system directory C:\WINDOWS of this reference PC to a directory of your choice on a (boot) server using the command XCOPY /c /h /e /k /r /s c:\windows
Appendix C: Modifcations to the INF files
Turn the following lines of the INF files into comments (insert ; at the beginning).
SETUPPP.INF
[inf.files]
;mtd.inf
; decpsmw4.inf
; mdmvv.inf
; netcd.inf
; netdca.inf
; netsmc32.inf
; netub.inf
; netncr.inf
; netracal.inf
; netevx.inf
; netznote.inf
; nettulip.inf
; mwavmdm.inf
; mwavwrap.inf
; mwdsp460.inf
; mwmed460.inf
; mwprt460.inf
; mwutl460.inf
; mwdsp420.inf
; mwmcimed.inf
; mwmdm420.inf
; mwmed420.inf
; mwprt420.inf
[load_inf]
; 1394.inf
;adapter.inf
;amovie.inf
;awfax.inf
;atitunep.inf
;atixbar.inf
;cwbaud98.inf
;dvd.inf
;dxmedia.inf
;dxtrans.inf
;mpcodecs.inf
;enable.inf
;f3audio.inf
;gps.inf
;hiddev.inf
;ics.inf
;icshare.inf
;icsharep.inf
;icw97.inf
;image.inf
;inetmail.inf
;infrared.inf
;instcm16.inf
;ks.inf
;ksfilter.inf
;kscaptur.inf
; mdacinst.inf
;msnclnup.inf
;nettlan.inf
;netfjvi.inf
;netdl660.inf
;msjava16.inf
;netfar.inf
;Netel5x9.inf
;netel59x.inf
;net3c562.inf
;net3comt.inf
;oobeinst.inf
;powercfg.inf
; mf.inf
;monitor2.inf
;monitor3.inf
;monitor4.inf
;monitor6.inf
;monitor7.inf
;monitr10.inf
;monitr11.inf
;motown.inf
;dxtrid.inf
;dxmga.inf
;dxmm3dfx.inf
;dxati.inf
;dxglint.inf
;dxpmedia.inf
;dxneom.inf
;dxchips.inf
;dxcirrus.inf
;dxi128.inf
;dxrend.inf
;dxs3.inf
;dxtseng.inf
;msddraw.inf
;dxwd.inf
;dxnvidia.inf
;mfcem28.inf
;mfcem33.inf
;mplay98.inf
;msmail.inf
;msprint2.inf
;msprint3.inf
;msprint4.inf
;mtd.inf
;net557.inf
;ibmeimp.inf
;ibm4mir.inf
;net3com.inf
;net3c575.inf
;netsilc.inf
;netel90x.inf
;nettpro.inf
;netstrm.inf
;netflex.inf
;neto100.inf
;netoce3x.inf
;ethpcmdm.inf
;ethpcmf.inf
;ethpcnet.inf
;netejet.inf
;netfjvj.inf
;netm32a.inf
;netmhz.inf
;net2xnet.inf
;oce2xmf.inf
;iedat16.inf
;octkmf.inf
;octknet.inf
;netcbe.inf
;netce2.inf
;neticard.inf
;net100i.inf
;nettdkp.inf
;netcem28.inf
;netcem33.inf
;netfl32.inf
;netibm2.inf
;netpro10.inf
;netmadge.inf
;nettcc.inf
;netcable.inf
;netprot.inf
;nethppci.inf
;netamd.inf
;netex10.inf
;netrt.inf
;netrtf.inf
;nete10p.inf
;nete100i.inf
;netatki.inf
;netdec.inf
;netee16.inf
;netpci.inf
;netnf3.inf
;netnice.inf
;netnovel.inf
;neta351.inf
;netfore.inf
;netmatmc.inf
;netoca1p.inf
;netoli.inf
;nethp.inf
;netsmc.inf
;netsmctr.inf
;netxir.inf
;netibm.inf
;netibmv.inf
;netcpq.inf
;netsnip.inf
;netcem.inf
;netbw.inf
;netdlc.inf
;cemmf.inf
;pcmcia.inf
;pcmciamf.inf
; pwsinfo.inf
;sb16awe.inf
;scsi.inf
;sti.inf
;tapi.inf
;taishid.inf
; usb.inf
;wdmaudio.inf
;sbp2.inf
;vidcap.inf
;wave.inf
;msdsound.inf
;wordpad.inf
;ws2atmsp.inf
;netblue.inf
;nethpind.inf
;nethppnd.inf
;netibm1.inf
;netnepls.inf
;netoce4x.inf
;net3c589.inf
;netrptip.inf
;netmdyp.inf
;netepc.inf
;netsmc2.inf
;mf8020m.inf
;net8020m.inf
;smcmodem.inf
;netsmc1.inf
;netce3.inf
;netm16a.inf
;netenet.inf
;netrnsf.inf
;netcbdec.inf
;netfake.inf
;umaxusd.inf
;vgx.inf
;webfdr16.inf
;usbcdc.inf
;mdm3cusb.inf
;mdmluc.inf
;mdmgl001.inf
;mdmgl002.inf
;mdmgl003.inf
;mdmgl004.inf
;mdmgl005.inf
;mdmgl006.inf
;mdmgl007.inf
;mdmgl100.inf
;usbwave.inf
;atmuni.inf
;axa.inf
;cabpayie.inf
;cchat25.inf
;clip.inf
;cxpdfgo.inf
;cxpdfpci.inf
;decpsmw4.inf
;didiva.inf
;digiisdn.inf
;diwan.inf
;easyisdn.inf
;imagevue.inf
;infoisdn.inf
;mfdfgo.inf
;mfdfpci.inf
;mmopt.inf
;msdxddex.inf
;msnetmtg.inf
;oe9x50.inf
;wab9x50.inf
;ncplatfm.inf
;ncwandis.inf
;ndscli.inf
;netcmdr.inf
;netdfgo.inf
;netdfpci.inf
;netdlc32.inf
;netibmtb.inf
;neteni25.inf
;netaic59.inf
;netcd.inf
;netdca.inf
;netlane.inf
;netsmc32.inf
;netub.inf
;netncr.inf
;netracal.inf
;netevx.inf
;netznote.inf
;nettulip.inf
;ols.inf
;sampler.inf
;swdir16.inf
;swflsh16.inf
;themes.inf
;themes1.inf
;themes2.inf
;tour98.inf
;wbem.inf
;wpwin98.inf
;wsh.inf
;vdolive.inf
你可以再精简一些