Nothing will install.

I'm running Windows 98 SE. I had got a flash drive, downloaded the driver, in hopes to back up my files so I could install XP. Well, that didn't install right. Then, I uninstalled all uncesscary programs (MSN, Yahoo, etc.) since I'ma be wiping everything out anyway. I tried to defrag the computer, but Windows defragger freezes. So, I downloaded a program for it, went to install it and it wont isntall. It goes through the extracting process, but stops there and doesn't fully install. Is this a problem with Windows InstallShield? Is there a way to fix it?

 

Give this a try. Dial-a-fix 0.60.0.24
It doesn't need to be installed, just extracted.
There is a tool in it to repair the installer.

 

Okay, I just tried that and this is what it said:

msiexc.exe is not a valid Win32 application

I hit OK, and then it said:

C:\WINDOWS\msiexc.exe was not found! Please extract this file from your installation media and try again.

 

msiexec.exe is the files name on an XP installation (about 77kb in size). Try creating and using another user account would be my first step. Haven't used 98 or 98SE in a while but that might help. On an older machine Linux would probably be the route to take. I have tried XP on Win 98 machines and was disappointed with its performance.

 

Well, I don't have much of a choice right now. Nearly every program I need to download isn't compatible with 98, which is why I want to put XP on here. Anyways, I'll try that! Thanks.

 

Do I have to run Windows InstallShield to get it to install?

 

NVM. I went there and put it on here, but it just does the same thing. It freezes, then I hit CTRL ALT DEL, and I am taken to the blue screen and told my system is too busy. I'm sure I have the worse virus in the world; all the more reason to wipe the thing out, but I can't do so until I get the files backed up. Should I start a thread in the malware thread?

 

I don't know, but I'll find out. Is it possible to hook it up to my laptop externally? (I know I can't network the two, cause this desktop doesn't have the right hookup)

 

Okay, well my mom got the computer to defrag. It's running better, but still nothing will install. I even tried re-downloading the stuff, in case it just didn't download right and it still wouldn't install properly.

 

Well, it used to work. This computers just getting so messed up nothing seems to work properly. Most programs close out on me, cause I get that illegal operation warning or this big white box telling me there's an error with the program.