Author Topic: Windows 98 help (Read 656 times)

Heater · « **Reply #15 on:** February 16, 2004, 10:33:01 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by ravells
Thanks for all your help. But I'm shrecked, arn't I?

Where do I find a bloody Win 98 cd rom and boot floppy in 2003? The British Museum?

I'm fast begining to think that the only way is a reformat of the hard disc and bringing my dear father in law into the 21st Century with XP.

Perhaps he'll forgive me the loss of the data on the basis that he has a zippy new OS.

Ah well.

Ravs

Ravs,

DO NOT format the disk,
if you are going to install XP, install over the top of 98.. (i.e. Upgrade) Normaly this is not the way to go but if you need to save his data it will still be there after the upgrade. as this point you can save off his data etc...and format the disk and do a clean install of XP you will be better off in the long run.

Cheers

AKS\/\/ulfe · « **Reply #16 on:** February 16, 2004, 10:38:24 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by SLO
NEWS FLASH!!!!

Win98 is NOT supported anymore.....

since you already have an EXCUSE.....try installing a more recent OS

Its still supported, the support has been extended by MS.
-SW

ravells · « **Reply #17 on:** February 16, 2004, 10:49:47 AM »

That is very helpful thanks.

I have the XP discs for my machine. I can install that at least so that he can recover his data and then do a clean install as you advise.

I only hope that the laptop has the minimum required specs to run XP

Thanks!

Ravs

NUKE · « **Reply #18 on:** February 16, 2004, 10:56:02 AM »

Im no pro, but notebook manufacturers usually have custom versions of Windows installed on them.

If you just load standard XP onto it, a lot of things may not work.

I would try to get support from the manufacturer if that's possible.

AKS\/\/ulfe · « **Reply #19 on:** February 16, 2004, 11:06:18 AM »

A regular install of XP will work fine on laptops so long as they have the minimum specs - memory, HDD size and CPU speed.

Its just a matter of getting the proper drivers (XP compatible drivers) for any hardware that doesn't have drivers on the XP disc, however, since that is an older laptop - all of its devices should have drivers on the XP disc. What isn't there can be downloaded.
-SW

ravells · « **Reply #20 on:** February 16, 2004, 11:44:27 AM »

Sorry, just one last question...

Is it possible to get the specs of the laptop (Hard Disc size, RAM and Processory speed) through DOS?

cheers

Ravs

AKS\/\/ulfe · « **Reply #21 on:** February 16, 2004, 11:50:01 AM »

When you first turn the computer on, you get what is known as a post. This will display the information you want. CPU type with speed followed by a quick mem test where it counts the memory and will leave you with the amount in kilobytes. If its 5 digits long, the first two will be megabytes. If its 6 digits long, the first three are the megabytes. 64xxx, 128xxx, 256xxx, etc.

Hard disc size can be found in DOS by typing simply dir

It will show a list of directories and files, at the end will be a summary of used space and how much the overall drive size is.
-SW

qts · « **Reply #22 on:** February 16, 2004, 03:52:12 PM »

What exactly was the error? Methinks now's the time for you to learn the intricacies of System.ini.

ravells · « **Reply #23 on:** February 16, 2004, 05:43:31 PM »

I'm getting somewhere.

I can get to the dos command prompt line now and have managed to copy his most important documents onto floppy...so that worked.

Going into safe mode still gives me a blank screen (proper colour background) and a cursor but no toolbars and icons.

Cntrl+Alt+Del works...but as it's 98 the only thing that task manager lets you do is close individual processes or shut down the computer.

I didn't have time to try Chairboy's idea of reinstalling from the /cabs directory. Will give that a go.

I've downloaded a boot disc from the internet - but I get a 'non system disc' error when I reboot with it in the drive.

Do you think it's worth restoring the autoexec.bat and config.sys files to the default ones on the boot disc?

I have a feeling that IE6 overwrote something in the registry which is why windows is only starting up part of the way.

Ravs

JB73 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 16, 2004, 06:04:58 PM »

well i used IE6 for about a year and a half with win98se...

trick is se IIRC. not 98 patched.

you can get an exe to create a win98 boot disk from http://www.etplanet.com (WARNING there some non child friendly things burried on that site... but some useful resources like the boot disk things.)

as far as "fixing" win98... its tough. i found it easier to re-install.

just a quick question... when youi are at the "blank desktop" what happens if you hit the windows key? does the start menu appear?

if so goto programs/accessories/system tools/system information

if you get that to run there is a system file checker that can possibly repair some files.

man i JUST upgraded to XP otherwise i could work though some ideas (i work better actually "doing" it).

like i said i just upgraded... might sell yas my win98se for $20 if it comes down to that lol.

you might try and find a copy of norton system works....

if you get to the "blank desktop" and put a CDrom in does it autostart? you could run "win doctor" from the CD that way... i found that program invaluable to keeping win98 running properly.

good luck sir.

AKS\/\/ulfe · « **Reply #25 on:** February 16, 2004, 06:10:08 PM »

Its guaranteed that without the Windows 98 setup disc, that setup of Windows is hosed. Installing XP is your only bet since W98 uses IE for its interface, which is why even Safe Mode won't work.
-SW

ravells · « **Reply #26 on:** February 16, 2004, 06:11:28 PM »

Thanks JB 73

Nothing happens when I press the windows key

There is no win 98 disc...thanks for your offer, but the sooner I get the danged thing off his system the better.

I'll go to the site you recommended and download the boot disc exe file from there.

Gawd...I remember getting to know win 98 inside out many years ago when I had to fiddle with it to get games to work. It's amazing how quickly you forget.

Ravs