Hi there,

First of all my apologies for the long post, but I really need your help. I am a novice to intermediate at best.

I use 98SE and have been for years now. I was using my PC and got a lock up, rebooted, and was asked for user information and then cd key.

I typed that in, and got an explorer error when I got to the desktop followed by the screen freezing.

I reinstalled 98SE over the old version (full installation since I don't know any other way) and managed to get to the desktop. However, I noticed that several non windows programs were no longer functioning and the add / remove programs list was completely empty. I tried installing some of the programs again and it said they were are already installed.

I tried looking for the updates (including I.E. 6 and O.E. 6) they weren't at the MS site so I used one called Softpedia autopatcher (http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/...ows-98SE.shtml)

When I installed the auto patcher and it gave me various missing dll messages (including several in the Catroot folder) but continued installing. Now IE and OE work fine but I still have several programs that don't, they aren't listed in the add / remove list so I can't remove them to reinstall them.

I also don't know what to do about these missing dll's and other files the patcher couldn't find.

I ran my anti virus and it found a couple of viruses. I really don't want to reformat and would prefer to find another option.

My question to you guys is should I either:

1) remove the patcher, install 98se over the old one again, add the patcher again and hope for the best

2) Try and find a way to add the missing dll's and other files that are missing.

3) I have another older PC with the 98SE on it. Could I take the missing files from that computer to the other one? (I don't know where to put them though).

Even my keyboard is not working right, the @ is where the " should be (and visa versa) and the hash mark doesn't work.

Computer Stats:

98SE
40G Hard Drive
512 ram
512 Nvidia Graphics Card
Avast anti virus


Many thanks,
Joe

Welcome to techhelpforum.

I reinstalled 98SE over the old version (full installation since I don't know any other way)

First, did the new install go to the original C:\WINDOWS, or C:\WINDOWS.000?

To be honest, I have no idea. I just put the cd in, rebooted and followed the instructions.

Open My Computer or Windows Explorer and see if there's only a C:\WINDOWS directory, or are there any other C:\WINDOWS.000 type directories.

No, I only see the Windows folder there, not Windows.000.

How did you perform the reinstall? From within the Windows environment? If so, I suggest installing from DOS. You'd start the install the same way as a fresh/clean install. Boot the machine with a Win98SE Boot Disk* choosing "Boot with CDROM Support". With your Win 98 CD in the drive, type setup at the A:\> prompt.

The installation will check for and find your existing registry and utilize it for the install. When it gets to the point of where to install, it will come up with C:\WINDOWS.000. Change this back to C:\WINDOWS.

Any MS Windows Updates will have to be reinstalled, however your programs/personal files will remain intact.

Here's IE6/OE6 for 98;
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en

Post back with your results and any further questions.



*The above bootdisk image file is a self extracting file and has to be executed (run) from a running Windows machine in order to create the actual startup diskette on one of your floppy disks. (This image file produces the same bootdisk which 98SE creates.) This downloaded image file will format the floppy disk to ensure its integrity, write the files to the disk, then verify the file write, so it'll take a minute or three to create the bootdisk.

Ensure the floppy drive is set as the first boot device in the bios.

NOTE: When you boot a machine with this boot floppy, it creates a RAMDRIVE in system memory to contain DOS system tools/drivers. Thus it will move your "normal" CDROM device/drive letter "up" one level. (If your CDROM is normally E: it will be F: when booting with this bootdisk.)

The path to the found CDROM will be set with the bootfiles, so entering (example) A:\>f:\setup is the same as entering A:\>setup at the A:\> prompt. There is no need to include the cdrom drive letter. The path dictates the instruction (command line input) will look at the CDROM for Setup before it looks elsewhere. The CDROM device letter will be assigned near the end of the floppy boot process, right after MSCDEX is loaded.