You don't have the required version of MSI (Windows Installer) installed. Most versions of Windows have it as standard, so BOINC cut the file size down by omitting a bootstrapper just for Windows 98.

Install it from Windows Update.

Your advice is most helpful and I've solved my problem. I didn't think of googling the file - duh - need to reload more OS's, I guess. Thanks much and best wishes for '08.

Thanks for your advice. I actually didn't try your approach because I was able to get the file over the internet at the links provided by Path7.

Re: Win 98 problems in general. I am reloading my original copy because I had to replace my hard drive. I am having much, much more trouble now than with prior reloads over the years. This time a dozen or so missing or corrupted files and one of the Windows Updates won't install at all. It's the same CD, mobo, cpu, hardware I used previously, so I don't get it at all. But after all the trouble getting Win98 running, I wasn't surprised to have a little problem getting BOINC running on it.