ok i'm fed up, and i wonte ven try to explain the multitude of problems this damn thing is giving me. my problem is that i'm a poor man's excuse for a computer nerd and i dont know what to do. what i would like from yall is a little help reinstalling windows.
is there a way to run the setup program without getting into windows itself?
or
also, i have an hp, is there a way i can simply run the setup program from the recovery discs without doing a complete recovery?
or
where can i get a windows 98 cd?
or any other helpful suggestions would be nice...
thanks
win98 help
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ballininthamix
- Member
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Fri Apr 26, 2002 1:01 am
win98 help
HP Pavillion
500 mhz
celeron
win98
500 mhz
celeron
win98
State your problem(s) and we may be able to fix you up without a reinstall.
Yes, you can do a reinstall from Dos, if you have the install files.
You won't lose any files. But that will not always fix problems, since it just over writes the current install, and doesn't change user settings.
HP may or may not have put the 98 install files on the CD. You could have a look around on the CD while in windows and see if you can find them. You're looking for a lot of files with a .cab extension.
Post back with your problem and lets see if we can fix you up.
Yes, you can do a reinstall from Dos, if you have the install files.
You won't lose any files. But that will not always fix problems, since it just over writes the current install, and doesn't change user settings.
HP may or may not have put the 98 install files on the CD. You could have a look around on the CD while in windows and see if you can find them. You're looking for a lot of files with a .cab extension.
Post back with your problem and lets see if we can fix you up.
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ballininthamix
- Member
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Fri Apr 26, 2002 1:01 am
ok here we go...
ok it seems like i'm stuck in a loop. every time i fix one thing, i get another problem. i can remember them all exactly at the moment but here's the gist of it:
first: i can't get into windows at all(that of course is the main problem) here come the errors...
two: it keeps telling me it can't find the himem.sys file. ok, fine. so i restore the file using the recovery disk. problem solved right? wrong. it either still cant find the himem.sys file or i get another error...
three: i'll get the startup screen, and then bam! blue screen of death. with a vxd error and a screen full of stuff whcich basically says to reinstall windows and asks if i want to continue...yes...
four: bam! missing VFAT error. system halted. i figured out how to fix both of those, but somehow they keep reappearing.
five: sometimes i'll get the startup screen and then it'll give me a SHELL error and say that it cant find or load KRNL386.exe. ok, recover it. well that works for a little while, but then it pops up again. oh and also, i did a step by step start up when this first happened and found that it occured after i loaded msmouse.vxd. i dont know what exactly that means, but that may help.
finally, when i try to run in safe mode, it send me automatically to a dos prompt.
also, i tried to run scandisk from a bootdisk but cant get it to finish. theres a part where it has to write files fileXXXX to the drive and it has to stop because it gets to file9999 and has nowhere to put the rest. something to do with cross-linked clusters.
that about does it i guess. i can do a selective recovery from the hp disks but i havent been able to replace the right file yet and i've run out of ideas. at this point i'd just like to get into windows long enough to back up a few things with my burner and do a complete reformat of the disk. if this is not possible is there any way i can hook my computer to another in order to get the data? i have a burned copy of a windows 98 cd but havent been able to access it from dos(that may help to)
oh and here are my specs(i know...its old):
hp pavillion
intel celeron 500 mhz
40 gig hd
uhhhh. not sure of the rest right now sorry, but that should be enough to get ya started
there ya have it.
phew, what a mess.
thanks in advance for any help or suggestions
first: i can't get into windows at all(that of course is the main problem) here come the errors...
two: it keeps telling me it can't find the himem.sys file. ok, fine. so i restore the file using the recovery disk. problem solved right? wrong. it either still cant find the himem.sys file or i get another error...
three: i'll get the startup screen, and then bam! blue screen of death. with a vxd error and a screen full of stuff whcich basically says to reinstall windows and asks if i want to continue...yes...
four: bam! missing VFAT error. system halted. i figured out how to fix both of those, but somehow they keep reappearing.
five: sometimes i'll get the startup screen and then it'll give me a SHELL error and say that it cant find or load KRNL386.exe. ok, recover it. well that works for a little while, but then it pops up again. oh and also, i did a step by step start up when this first happened and found that it occured after i loaded msmouse.vxd. i dont know what exactly that means, but that may help.
finally, when i try to run in safe mode, it send me automatically to a dos prompt.
also, i tried to run scandisk from a bootdisk but cant get it to finish. theres a part where it has to write files fileXXXX to the drive and it has to stop because it gets to file9999 and has nowhere to put the rest. something to do with cross-linked clusters.
that about does it i guess. i can do a selective recovery from the hp disks but i havent been able to replace the right file yet and i've run out of ideas. at this point i'd just like to get into windows long enough to back up a few things with my burner and do a complete reformat of the disk. if this is not possible is there any way i can hook my computer to another in order to get the data? i have a burned copy of a windows 98 cd but havent been able to access it from dos(that may help to)
oh and here are my specs(i know...its old):
hp pavillion
intel celeron 500 mhz
40 gig hd
uhhhh. not sure of the rest right now sorry, but that should be enough to get ya started
there ya have it.
phew, what a mess.
thanks in advance for any help or suggestions
HP Pavillion
500 mhz
celeron
win98
500 mhz
celeron
win98
It sounds like a lot of your files (too many) have been ruined. Scandisk creates those filexxxx.chk dir's to replace the hoses ones. Now your drive if full.
If you have a second drive you could hook up and install windows on, that would be best, so you could go in and see what's left on the main drive, and save what you can.
Otherwise a format and reinstall of windows is quickest and easiest.
If you have the win98 install files you could try to reinstall over the current windows, but you'll have to clear those .chk files to make some room. Use a boot disk and del c:\*.chk (Run smartdrv.exe first or it will take forever). It will take a while regardlesss.
I don't know if the HP restore CD has the windows install files or not. HP usually uses an image to restore the drive, but that will wipe it clean before it starts.
Use a win98 startup disk and use CDRom support then have a look on the CD for the install files using Dos to navigate..
I'll bet a virus has done this to you, I ran into something similar a few months ago. I tried to fix it up but in the end had to format. I did however copy the drive to another one before I wiped everything to save the clients files.
If you have a second drive you could hook up and install windows on, that would be best, so you could go in and see what's left on the main drive, and save what you can.
Otherwise a format and reinstall of windows is quickest and easiest.
If you have the win98 install files you could try to reinstall over the current windows, but you'll have to clear those .chk files to make some room. Use a boot disk and del c:\*.chk (Run smartdrv.exe first or it will take forever). It will take a while regardlesss.
I don't know if the HP restore CD has the windows install files or not. HP usually uses an image to restore the drive, but that will wipe it clean before it starts.
Use a win98 startup disk and use CDRom support then have a look on the CD for the install files using Dos to navigate..
I'll bet a virus has done this to you, I ran into something similar a few months ago. I tried to fix it up but in the end had to format. I did however copy the drive to another one before I wiped everything to save the clients files.
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ballininthamix
- Member
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Fri Apr 26, 2002 1:01 am
ok, i deleted the .chk files and got scandisk to finish. using the windows 98 cd i ran setup but didnt get very far. about two minutes into it, it stops and tells me that there is already an os installed on the drive and that it cannot update it so it says i need the win98 upgrade. whats the best course of action? is there a way i can remove windows(or part of it) so that it will install over it??
thanks
thanks
HP Pavillion
500 mhz
celeron
win98
500 mhz
celeron
win98
If you delete (or rename) c:\windows\win.com the install should work. If the install sees that file, it figures you have windows already, and it won't even try to update it.
From the startup disk at the A:\> prompt type
del c:\windows\win.com
If you do the above, you will be able to save any files on the drive (any that are still intact that is) (documents, mp3's etc) but you will have to reinstall all your programs.
If you don't care to save anything, use Fdisk to remove, and recreate a primary partition, then format it, and reistall windows.
From the startup disk at the A:\> prompt type
del c:\windows\win.com
If you do the above, you will be able to save any files on the drive (any that are still intact that is) (documents, mp3's etc) but you will have to reinstall all your programs.
If you don't care to save anything, use Fdisk to remove, and recreate a primary partition, then format it, and reistall windows.
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ballininthamix
- Member
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Fri Apr 26, 2002 1:01 am
Hmmm, it always works for me.
Since you are basically doing a clean fresh install, there's no need to keep any files. You can delete what you like. Leave anything important to you.
In order to delete the entire windows dir (or any directory), you'll need deltree.exe on the boot floppy. Deltree.exe can be found in c:\windows\command
Copy it to the floppy and type:
deltree /y c:\windows
Again run smartdrv first or it will take forever.
I have reservations helping you work around this problem. So many variables I'd rather see for myself, know what I mean?. You may end up with more problems.
Note: Your Outlook Express emails and address book are kept in the windows directory (just one example)
If you were willing to lose all your files, an Fdisk, Format, Reinstall would be the way to go. A nice clean start.
Since you are basically doing a clean fresh install, there's no need to keep any files. You can delete what you like. Leave anything important to you.
In order to delete the entire windows dir (or any directory), you'll need deltree.exe on the boot floppy. Deltree.exe can be found in c:\windows\command
Copy it to the floppy and type:
deltree /y c:\windows
Again run smartdrv first or it will take forever.
I have reservations helping you work around this problem. So many variables I'd rather see for myself, know what I mean?. You may end up with more problems.
Note: Your Outlook Express emails and address book are kept in the windows directory (just one example)
If you were willing to lose all your files, an Fdisk, Format, Reinstall would be the way to go. A nice clean start.
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ballininthamix
- Member
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Fri Apr 26, 2002 1:01 am
i can probably figure it out but it may be easier to have you tell me(in my ignorance). how do i copy the file to the floppy? and do i just copy it to the bootdisk? i dont really think theres anything in the windows folder that i need. the stuff i would like to back up is all saved directly on the c drive. the program files folder isnt in the windows folder is it? bah. i think it is. but even if that is the case, the bulk of what i would like to back up is for sure on the c drive. i would really like to avoid a complete reformatting until i can get in there and back up some things, but i also realize that this may not be an option. i'm dumb.
thanks again.
oh, and while ive got your attention, since youre the dosmaster and everything, whats the command in dos that allows you to view a directory page by page? that would be a big help. that way i could at least see and write down what it is i want to back up since a lot of it is replaceable, i just have to know what to replace.
thanks again.
oh, and while ive got your attention, since youre the dosmaster and everything, whats the command in dos that allows you to view a directory page by page? that would be a big help. that way i could at least see and write down what it is i want to back up since a lot of it is replaceable, i just have to know what to replace.
HP Pavillion
500 mhz
celeron
win98
500 mhz
celeron
win98
Copying deltree.exe to the floppy.
Ok, this will only work if the file hasn't been corrupted or removed.
copy c:\windows\command\deltree.exe a:\
(notice the space after 'copy' and another one after deltree.exe)
Program Files is a directory in C:\, not in the windows folder
To see the directory listing in wide screen, and 'hit' any key to see the next page(s) here's the command..
dir /w/p
I had to go out on a couple of calls, sorry for any delay.
Good luck, hope you get to save your files.
If I can help further, let me know, and please let me know how you make out. (with this problem ya perv)
jk Gotta have a sense of humor or I'd go nuts lol
Ok, this will only work if the file hasn't been corrupted or removed.
copy c:\windows\command\deltree.exe a:\
(notice the space after 'copy' and another one after deltree.exe)
Program Files is a directory in C:\, not in the windows folder
To see the directory listing in wide screen, and 'hit' any key to see the next page(s) here's the command..
dir /w/p
I had to go out on a couple of calls, sorry for any delay.
Good luck, hope you get to save your files.
If I can help further, let me know, and please let me know how you make out. (with this problem ya perv)
jk Gotta have a sense of humor or I'd go nuts lol
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ballininthamix
- Member
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Fri Apr 26, 2002 1:01 am
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ballininthamix
- Member
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Fri Apr 26, 2002 1:01 am
I don't know.
I'm thinking maybe there's another windows directory, or another instance of win.com somewhere on the drive. I can't think of any other reason it won't install.
Try changing directory to c:, and then dir win.com
If it finds win.com make note of the path and delete it.
Deleting win.com has ALWAYS worked for me. Windows install searches for that file, and if it's ANYWHERE on the drive, install stops.
I'm thinking maybe there's another windows directory, or another instance of win.com somewhere on the drive. I can't think of any other reason it won't install.
Try changing directory to c:, and then dir win.com
If it finds win.com make note of the path and delete it.
Deleting win.com has ALWAYS worked for me. Windows install searches for that file, and if it's ANYWHERE on the drive, install stops.
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ballininthamix
- Member
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Fri Apr 26, 2002 1:01 am
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ballininthamix
- Member
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Fri Apr 26, 2002 1:01 am
when i type 'dir win.com', it doesnt find anything, but i dont think its looking in all the directories, only at whats directly on the drive. i searched for another file that i knew where it was an it didnt find that either, but if i type something like 'dir config.sys', it finds it no problem because it is in the root directory.
am i missing something?
am i missing something?
HP Pavillion
500 mhz
celeron
win98
500 mhz
celeron
win98
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ballininthamix
- Member
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Fri Apr 26, 2002 1:01 am
well, i'm in!
its a little wierd though. i actually noticed this earlier but thought it might have had something to do with dos. there a lot of folders in my c drive(like 70) and theyre all titled dirXXXX. some dont have anything in them but others are folders that used to be called something else. anyways, now all i need to do is get my burner workin and this baby is gettin the clean sweep.
thanks so much for all your help. i cant tell you how much of a relief it is to at least be able to access my stuff, even if none of the programs work. i'll let you know how everything turns out. thanks again!
its a little wierd though. i actually noticed this earlier but thought it might have had something to do with dos. there a lot of folders in my c drive(like 70) and theyre all titled dirXXXX. some dont have anything in them but others are folders that used to be called something else. anyways, now all i need to do is get my burner workin and this baby is gettin the clean sweep.
thanks so much for all your help. i cant tell you how much of a relief it is to at least be able to access my stuff, even if none of the programs work. i'll let you know how everything turns out. thanks again!
HP Pavillion
500 mhz
celeron
win98
500 mhz
celeron
win98
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ballininthamix
- Member
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Fri Apr 26, 2002 1:01 am
update...
ok ive got a new problem now. windows has been reinstalled. on the initial startup it asks me to install a few drivers. fine and good. but then on the restart, it gives me some sort of welcome screen with fields for my first and last names. ok thats fine. tyme in my name and then click next. nothing happens. nothing. i cant get off that first screen. ive tried several times. one time i got a fatal exception, but other than that, i dont have a clue. is there a way i can bypass the initial startup program or how can i fix this????
HP Pavillion
500 mhz
celeron
win98
500 mhz
celeron
win98
You could try booting into safe mode. Right click Network Nieghborhood and select properties. On the window that comes up, look for a drop down window that says 'Primary Network logon" and select Windows Logon from the drop down menu. Apply and reboot.
I'm just guessing at this point. Obviously there is a problem with your hardware. Most likely your HD or it's controller. Reseat the cables that attach to your HD when the PC is off.
Why don't you just slave that bad HD onto a system that is working, and get the files that way?
I'm just guessing at this point. Obviously there is a problem with your hardware. Most likely your HD or it's controller. Reseat the cables that attach to your HD when the PC is off.
Why don't you just slave that bad HD onto a system that is working, and get the files that way?
Just a quick thought. Were you able to get all of the files you wanted to keep on CD? If so why don't you just use the recovery CD and go back to the factory install? If that still doesn't work, try booting to a DOS disk, format c:\ then run scandisk with surface scanning to see if your hard drive is bad.
Sav
Sav