[ZeRealBigBoss]

mjbyyz: to be honest, I have not found out that either, although I have spend many hours on trying. It seems that, if you install over an existing Windows, the presence of some basic, but essential, files is detected and then these files are not renewed. Only if you take Windows completely away by formatting you manage to get a really working system again. You can also delete the Windows directory, but that has to be done in DOS from a floppy and thus you will not manage to reach the complete depth of all directories. Required is, though, that you use a deleter that also wipes the hidden/system files, and that with DOS alone is not possible; there are some free DOS-based programs on the WEB that can do that. This also induces a completely new installation, but, as you still have all the loose junk on your disk, why then not better get rid of that too by formatting? That gives you the chance to partition the disk, too, and be a bit more secure for next time. However, one can do it this way if one does not have a second hard disk for a data back-up available; as the registry is deleted, all user-programs then will have to be re-installed as usual.

All of this of course is also valid for WinMX and Vista.

[mjbyyz]

ZeRealBigBoss (I love that name!)
It has been well over a year since I dabbled in Win98SE, as I inferred a while ago, but I found after many attempts - usually virtually futile - that Formatting was by far the cleanest way of starting over. Trouble is that all programs have to be re-installed and worked back up again to achieve what you had before, minus the crap that caused the headache (whatever that may have been) from making your system act up in the first place.
I have had my share of woes with Win XP as well (Prof Ed) and have ended up not only having to re-format and start over at least once, but also had to pay some $450 to get going again after several major failures. But to be fair, this was more than likely an inferior Hardware problem. (It involved the Power Pack, Motherboard and one of two 500Mb Memory chips. I was NOT amused, but only had myself to blame in not being able to claim replacements since I didn't send in the warranties. Live and (hopefully) learn!) I could have bought a new computer for that price!!!!
But returning to the subject problem, apart from using MS's Transfer of files, etc when starting up a new HD, exactly what files MUST be transferred, and which are the operator's own 'necessary files'? (ie: to make the various programs work as before, but cleanly). What need to be transferred when Reinstalling Windows?
Sorry to be so long-winded!
John - 070922-22:13EDT

[ZeRealBigBoss]

that it took me some time to get back.

The best solution is to make a complete installation of how-you-want-it and then make an image. There is one image-and-partition software on the net that is free and it works very well. If then later on you are fed up with the present deteriorated state, you just put the program CD in, copy the image back from another partition/HD and presto! happy once more after 5 minutes. Only then you will see that you forgot to switch off some annoying defaults in programs before you made the image, so you will have to do that again, but that is still better than re-installing. Here it is:

http://sysresccd.org/Main_Page

and some comment:

http://lifehacker.com/software/geek-...-cd-292972.php

For my programming I have a 10GB partition with Win98 and 10GB partition Suse Linux on my first hard disk, and I keep a copy of both partitions. W98 was installed first and then Linux; at start-up I can choose which one to start with the GRUB boot-loader. That works also with XP, but XP doesn't allow direct access to ports when running DOS, so there.

[monckywrench]

The SUSE install is a handy way to access the Windows partition in case of problems.

Of course, among the best ways to recover data from horked Windows installs is a Linux live CD. Everyone should have one (or several...) in case of emergency.
You can even surf without a hard disk to find helpful info.

SUSE flavor below.

http://iso.linuxquestions.org/suse/suse-live-9.2/

Since most 9x/ME boxes are old and slow,
http://damnsmalllinux.org/download.html
and
http://www.puppylinux.org/user/news_cats.php?cat_id=2
are good live CDs to use.

Burn all live CDs at the slowest possible speed setting.

Can't boot from CD due to ancient motherboard?
Make a Smart Boot Manager Boot floppy, or install it to your hard disk.
http://btmgr.sourceforge.net/download.html

[letestr]

Thanks for the information, but I just need to know how I would re-install my printer? Is there a back up on my hard drive that I can open up and use??

Letty

[ZeRealBigBoss]

Fir the installation of the driver you should have been given a CD with the HP driver software on it; run that one. In case you don't have that, search these sites:

http://www.free-driver-download.com
http://www.opendrivers.com
http://driverguide.com

You don't need the exact 5150 driver, one for the 5100 series is OK. HP has a pletora of models with all the same basics, so only if e.g. you design your own fonts you would need a more specific driver.

[rockykeithh]

i have a compaq presario laptop
with windows 98 on it can someone
tell me if i can put it on dsl without
upgrading it to me or xp.
tanks for any help

[ZeRealBigBoss]

Assuming you have an Ethernet connection in it, there is no problem at all. Run the network/internet connection wizard and configure the modem accordingly. In the control panel/network/TCPIP you will have to set the DNS if your modem does not automatically give that. The modem address (usually nnn.nnn.1.1) must be the default gateway.

[DaOneEnOnly]

This topic was GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And so where the links, very easy to follow and understand. Thank you for this topic.

[TechOutsider]

This is what I did:

Reboot in MS-DOS mode
typed C:\WINDOWS\format C:
"Y/N?" Chose Y
Inserted 98 installation disk and startup floppy
Installed!

I figured this out myself I'm so proud that I'm gonna buy myself Ice cream and candy and a new processor