Possible to do repair install with win 98 cd

As retarded as this may sound!!!! Keep in mind that I didn't become a potential computer geek until XP and/or 2000 were the mainstream!! that being the case...i'm curious if you can do a repair install from the Windows 98 install cd like you would with XP or 2000, so that it will repair windows but not touch anything else (other applications) on the hard drive!!!!?????

Is that possible or is that something that didn't become available until Windows 2000??

Roger

 

Maybe I better clear this up a bit!!!!

What i'm asking is in order to repair an existing windows98 install!! I didn't mean, using a windows 98 cd to repair XP or 2000!!

Just wanted to make sure you understood what I was saying!!

Thanks
Roger

 

Just reinstall win 98 right over existing install. I've done this several times.Programs usually work ok. Some settings will need to be reset .
Some drivers may need to be reinstalled , mainly usb devices.

 

That's basically what a repair in XP does, reinstalls Windows over itself.

Just don't format and you won't lose any settings.

 

Ok...so just to make sure I understand what you are saying...I just do a regular install on the same partition as the pre-existing windows, and as long as I don't delete any partitions and/or format anything... it will just overwrite all the windows files, but leave everything else as is and operable (won't have to reinstall all the programs)!!!!????

I kind of figured that was what XP and 2000 did, but, like I said...I'm not as firmiliar with 98!!

So if you can just let me know if we are on the same page here...I greatly appreciate it!!!!

Roger

 

Hi There
I dug deep for this but it may be the way to go if I understand your problem correctly
QUOTE
Fixingw98 without reinstall

"Got problems and don't want to reinstall... Don't wanna lose any of your
settings or software? There's a command line option that'll get you back on
your feet in no time. Boot up your PC with a Windows 98 boot disk, pop in your
Windows 98 CD, and once you're at the command prompt, type your CD-ROM drive
letter immediately followed by a colon. So, if your CD was set to "D" you'd
enter D: and then hit ENTER. At this point, type the following command: SETUP /pf. This switch will restore all of Windows critical files to their factory
state, and in 99% of situations doing this will fix whatever problems you were
having in Windows 98." - From the free Tips download at http://www.x9000.net/.
UNQUOTE
Cheers
Robert

 

Thanks Robert...I appreciate the effort!!! I'll have to try that and see if it works!!

I'm working on a friends computer, and I'm trying not to run the risk of loosing all of her stuff she has on there now!! I've cleaned gobs of spyware and a couple of viruses off there, but in the meantime, when i'm trying to utilize a program that is required in order for me to complete this project...it appears as though there are some missing and/or corrupt OS files that won't let me install things like Spybot S&D!! And in order for me to compete my mission, I need to be able to use these necessary programs!!

I'm actually better than average when it comes to working on comuters (not meaning to brag) but unfortunately...My experience comes with XP and 2000!! And being that she has 98, I was just looking for reaffirmation, before I tried anything risky like a repair install!!!!! Being that she has Win 98, with NO updates (can you believe that!!) I figured I would just repair windows instead of fighting each and every individual problem!! Then I might be able to complete my mission!!

If anybody has any other suggestions, I'm all ears!!!!

Thanks Again
Roger

 

I hope Roger didnt give up and got things working!

Im having the same problem on my 98se and I wanna get it back working!!

I tried loading the boot disk and then going to D: and then I tried E:\ as it said the tools were loaded to drive E

Then I typed setup /pf and it said invalid (setup)

I did get it a litle further this time when I tried to bootup. It said on a blue screen "VFAT cannot find a resource or device needed" .. SYSTEM HALTED

It doesnt say what is missing..

This 98se sems to be quite unstable. Its always deleting files for no reason.. It seems like 98A and not 98B!! (I got it from a computer repair shop years ago)

I guess Im gonna have to send it for repair unless you guys have something I can try??

Im glad this site is still here to reply to this thread!!

Thank you

 

I cant edit my reply above to add this in.

I did some looking around online and it said if the MSDOS.SYS file isnt in C you might get VFAT errors so I looked and it wasnt there so I created it and just put 3 paths in the file to see if it worke and I can get to desktop again!


Ill keep everyone updated.....

 

Well I corrected the msdos.sys problem and now I can get to windows again but my display problem is still here

Like I said before IN SAFE MODE the display is correct........

Heres a picture......These are supposed to be 3 CHECK BOXS (The black boxs) and in safe mode they are! (uugghh) and the title bar text looks like it should also.... (MS Sans Serif (Western))

http://img86.pixhost.to/images/483/562959601_capture.png

Anyone have any ideas??

 

Safe mode uses basic generic drivers . With display issues I would uninstall your video drivers, then reinstall and see if that helps. Sometimes a fresh install of the OS is necessary. Windows 98 was, and still is a finicky OS. Make sure your hard drive is in good condition, if it has bad sectors windows will lose data from time to time. Doing a full format is a good test, if it fails, chances are your HD has issues. I would use memcheck and make sure ram is still ok as well, I would imagine it is well past its use by date.
Oh yeah, check cooling fans on cpu is in good working order, heat makes a pc do crazy things, and win98 will keep running till it lets the smoke out, it has little to no safety support like today's pc's.
Keep the hard drive defraged too. If it gets heavily fragmented it can cause errors.
Windows 98 takes a lot of work keeping it working right sometimes. So many things can cause issues. It is very primitive compared to today where everything is automatically done in the background.
Hope that helps, if not maybe someone smarter than me will have a better idea and will share it.

 

Old advice for any era, make a backup image of the drive first.

https://community.spiceworks.com/t/imaging-software-to-image-windows-98-nt-xp/655182/12

 

You mentioned that you booted from the W98 boot disk and then tried D: and then E:

Can we assume that you followed the second part of the process and inserted the W98 CD after booting from the floppy?

As A1phaG33k said above, it might be time for a complete reinstall of the OS...after checking that the hardware is up to snuff.

 

Thank you everyone....... Thay might be the problem....I didnt have the CD after using the boot disk.....

Im gonna try to re-instsll my video drivers,thats a good idea A1phaG33k,thank you!!

YES 98se ISNT EASY TO KEEP HAPPY IS IT??

 

But it was so much fun!

 

Yes it IS fun. 98se is a beautiful OS!!

I dont wanna sound stupid but where would be I find my video drivers? Is it in device manager?

The display adapter says SIS530V and it says its working properly... I dunno,im very confused!

 

Is there anything stored on the hard drive that you cannot live without? If yes, make copies...on another medium, of course. Identify your hardware, such as sound and graphics; search for, download and save (on another medium again) the last version of the drivers. Reinstall Windows 98.

As has been mentioned previously, there were times when this, the so-called nuclear option, was the only option.

 

Yes in device manager. Click it to uninstall it. Reboot, then reinstall it. I do not know if you have the driver handy, but I believe this is your driver, check it to make sure. https://theretroweb.com/drivers/46
Good luck, I hope that fixes it, and maybe you will not have to do a full reinstall.

 

Thank you... You guys are very kind!!


You wouldnt believe how much I get cut down cause I like 98se so much