For the 'over the top' reinstall just boot up with the floppy bootdisk. At the A:> prompt type the ren c:\windows\win.com win.old and enter. Then, make sure the 98 cd is in the cdrom and type setup and enter. If you get a 'bad command or file name' error, type E:\setup and enter, where E: is your likely cdrom drive letter since the ram drive has bumped it up by one letter. You can also check the assigned cdrom drive letter when the bootdisk is booting up. The last message should tell you what the cdrom drive letter is. That should start the installation. It should be fairly straight forward. Just make sure you change the installation directory from 'c:\windows.000' back to just 'c:\windows' I want a star too! "I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!"

0

Daveincaps, I renamed it and restarted the laptop and got this error message "cannot find win.com, unable to continue loading Windows". Any oother suggestions? Thanks

0

Yeah, you're booting from the hard drive and not the floppy drive or cdrom. You MUST boot from either a bootdisk in the a: drive or a 98 installation cd in the cdrom. Check in cmos/bios setup and make sure the drive you want to boot from is first in the boot order. I want a star too! "I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!"

1

check cmos/bios setup order? Not sure how that is done but I usually get A:ditve if I use the floppy and C if I use the CD rom to try and do a start up. I did the last suggetion yesterday to ren Windows.com so when I did it again as you said I got a bad command error message. I went ahead and did the set up from C and got a error message "bad command or filename". Did the E:\setup and got error message "invalid drive specification". Any other suggestion. Thanks

0

When the bootdisk boots up, the last few lines that show on the screen before the final a:\> prompt will tell you the cdrom drive letter--UNLESS the cdrom drivers on the disk don't find your cdrom or it doesn't have cdrom drivers on it. Regular OEM bootdisk bump up the drive by one letter. Some bootdisk files you download will, for some reason, place the cdrom at R: But all you really need to do is watch the screen as the bootdisk files load. You need to pay attention to what the lines say as they'll show any error messages too. Just hit PAUSE if things scroll through too fast. The 'missing win.com' message is because that file has been renamed to facilitate the reinstall. You can just rename it back to it's correct name by typing ren c:\windows\win.old win.com and enter at the dos prompt. That will allow windows to load as before but nothing will have been fixed as far as your original problem is concerned. But you'll need to rename it again if you intend to do the over-the-top reinstall. I want a star too! "I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!"

1

The key to open cmos/bios setup should show on the monitor when you first boot up. Usually DEL, F1 or F2. It's F10 for a compaq. Then one of the setup pages will have the boot device priority (or words to that affect). I want a star too! "I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!"

1

when I hit the DEL KEY or F1 or F2 I get a page that I can get help by ytping in help and enter. I did that and came up wiht a scree with title File-Edit-View- Options Help Option Help. I used the Help and came up with a blue screen. It says at the top: "What's New for the Windows 98 Startup disk? It shows information about Multi-config Start Menu, Multi-Config Start Menu, Real Mode CD-Rom supportEBD.CAB file and many more. I do not see where to look for the order of the drives. Would that be the screen for the CMOS setup? The only way I know to pause the scree is to type "/p" is there another way to pause the screen?

1

Getting into cmos/bios setup occurs BEFORE the operating system starts to load. You turn on the computer. Somewhere on the initial screen will be something like "press DEL to enter setup" (maybe not DEL but some other key). You press that key. The setup utility opens and you look through it until you find the boot priority menu. If the operating system starts to boot up from the floppy, cdrom or hard drive then it's too late to enter setup and you have to reboot and try again. All this would be explained in your system or motherboard manual. When I mentioned hitting the pause key, that was to pause the scrolling of items loading from the bootdisk--it has nothing to do with cmos/bios setup. Your keyboard has a PAUSE key. It'll probably say PAUSE/BREAK. That's what I meant when I said 'hit PAUSE'. Now, it's not going to do any good to hit PAUSE if everything is already loaded up because there's nothing more to pause. The purpose in using PAUSE is to allow you time to view the messages that come up as the bootdisk is loading its files. You hit PAUSE and the scrolling stops and a message comes up 'hit any key to continue'. After you've viewed the messages you hit a key and the loading will continue. Again, at the end of all that it should tell you what your cdrom drive letter is. Help me Jebus!

1

I see the that on my desktop not the laptop that I am haveing the problems. when I do a Ctrl/alt Del with the cdRon it goes directly to the to C\> prompt and the error "cannot find WIN.COM. unable to continue loading indows" If I do the dmae thing with the floppy it shows the splash screen that say "Windows98" and went directly to the c:> prompt with the same error message came up. What next can I try? Thanks, Val

0

If you end up at the c:\> prompt then you're booting from the hard drive and not the floppy or cdrom. You MUST go into cmos/bios setup and change that. You cannot do the reinstall by booting from the hard drive. Either check the manual for your motherboard or system manufacturer (if it's something like a Dell or HP) or post back the system model number or motherboard model number and we'll see what we can find out about it. What I don't understand is, up in response #1 you apparently successfully booted from the floppy bootdisk. Can't you just do the same thing you did then? Help me Jebus!

1

Lets put this a different way. To boot from a floppy (A), you power off, put the floppy in the drive then power up again. As often as not your hard drive (C) will be set ahead of the floppy drive in BIOS so it will boot to that instead. You therefore have to set the BIOS so that the first drive it sees is your floppy. To get into BIOS you need to know which key to use (watch the screen from the outset). It might call BIOS "Setiup". As already said, it can be the Del key or one of the F keys. This key has to be tapped very early, before Windows tries to start. The BIOS screen is a full page menu (usually blue) and you have to use your keys to find the booting options. some other bloke...

1

Unfortunately i bought the laptop used form a refurbishing dealer. Not manual included/ Mfr is Compaq. I have as model number "Armada 7400 6300/T/6400/D/M/1". I think that is what I did when I stated that back in Response #1. But I will turn off now and boot back up and see what happens. Ok it took me to the Start Up menu to make a choice of start up (CDROM or wihtout). I hoose without so as to use the Startup disk. It took me to a:\> prompt. above the A prompt are the following statements: Preparing to start your computer. This may take a few minutes please wait... The diagnostic tools were successfully laoded to drive D. To get help, thpe HELP and press enter. Re: Response 17. If I type HELP at the A prompt now I will get a blue screen. I think I mentioned this screen previously I do not recognize anyting relating to Bios. Since I never did this before I would not know how to reset the bios so the floppy is seen first. Can you type what the words are in the Bios so I recognize it when I see it. Thanks val

0

Forget about the 'help' option. It's useless. OK, you booted up with the floppy bootdisk and from the options chose 'start computer without cdrom support'. When you do that the cdrom drivers don't load and you don't have cdrom support. You need cdrom support in order to do the reinstall. So reboot using that same floppy bootdisk. Choose 'cdrom support'. Watch the screen as the items load and see if you can determine the cdrom drive letter (using PAUSE if necessary). At the a:\> prompt AND WITH THE 98 CD IN THE CDROM try typing SETUP again as I'm not sure what cdrom option you chose when it didn't work. If the setup starts then just follow what I mentioned above about making sure it install in the right directory. If SETUP gives the 'invalid command or file name' then use the drive letter given the cdrom when it was booting up (where you may have had to use the PAUSE key). It'll probably be E:. So, again making sure the 98 cd is in the cdrom you type E:\setup and enter. Or, if you observed on the booting screen that the cdrom drive letter was something else, use that letter in place of E. The 98 installation should start. Oh, and the key to get into cmos/bios setup for a compaq is F10. BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO CHANGE ANYTHING THERE IF YOU ARE NOW SUCCESSFULLY BOOTING FROM A FLOPPY DISK. Let's don't make things worse. Help me Jebus!

1

Hi Each Apologies if I poked my big nose in and added an unecessary complication. some other bloke...

0

Dave, I have tried your suggestion before stated in response 20 but I will try it again to see what happens. Here goes........ 'PREPARING TO START YOUR COMPUTER. THIS MAY TKAE A FEW MINUTES. PLEASE WAIT... THE DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS WERE SUCCESSFULLY LOADED TO DRIVE D. DEVICE DRIVER NOT FOUND: 'MSCD001' NO VALID CDROM DEVICE DRIVERS SELECTED TO GET HELP, TYPE HELP AND PRESS ENTER. A:\> That is everything on the page screen. I am feeling this will be up and running in the next couple of responses. Val

0

Derek not to worry thanks for trying. Val

0

At the A prompt and CDrom in the drive I typed "Setup" then "Enter" . got an error message same as before "Not ready reading drive A abort, retry, fail? Rebooting to get to drive "a". at the prompt I insert CD Rom and typed E:\setup and hit enter. Got error message: "Not ready reading drive A. Abort" Val

0

Maybe I should explain how my problems got started. Previously I had used the laptop (HD 2GB) to access the Internet using a router. Then it got too small and I switched to the Desktop and use the laptop just for accounting. I disconnted the router. After several years I decided that I may need the laptop for mobile work. I tried to cannoect the router and it would not read the CD rom drive. Unable to read DC Drive. I figured the CD rom drive is bad so I bought a new one. It worked and when it ased to insert the CD Rom while read the drive the power shut off. The installation had 30 mintes more to complete when it had shut down. It did that twice and I tried to restart within one minute or so. It did start for about 30 seconds and shut down again before I realize the power cord was not connected. Even after connecting the power cord the battery was not holding. I could not get it to install after that session. Hope this helps.

0

Re #23 Pop the floppy in and out a few times then try again - maybe the A drive is a bit rickety (or the floppy itself). some other bloke...

-1

Derek, as alway another voice is always appreciated. My signature change was kind of a plea for additional input. The "DEVICE DRIVER NOT FOUND: 'MSCD001' NO VALID CDROM DEVICE DRIVERS SELECTED" explains it. The cdrom drivers aren't loading, either because they're the wrong ones or the cdrom is bad or not connected or jumpered right. If they don't load you have no cdrom support. Yeah, the a: drive error message is odd. If you're successfully booting from it then it should be good and typing a command should either cause the command to run or you'd get the 'bad command or file name'. Or did you take the floppy disk out? You want to leave it in until the 98 setup has started. As part of the setup the PC will reboot once or twice. You definately want to remove the disk before then as you don't want it to boot to the floppy during the installation process. There's also a point in the installation process where it'll give you the option to create a bootdisk. You can skip that because it's not necessary but if you do choose to make another you should probably remove the existing disk and put in a blank one. Of course we haven't gotten that far yet. If you're uncertain about the bootdisk you have I can send you the one I use. It'd come as a file. You'd run that file and it would create the bootdisk. Post back your email or send me a private message. Help me Jebus!

1

moonriver My standard words of WARNING. Don't post your email address on the internet (including on here) in open text without disguising it so that it fools the spammer search engines. Best bet is to PM it to DAVINCAPS as per his suggestion (quite safe). If you put it on here you'll get junk email forever - voice of a very bad experience I once had LOL. some other bloke...

1

Derek, thanks for the warning. Val

0

Dave I am certain the CD Rom is fine because as I said I bought a new CD rom drive. No I never take out the CD rom or the floppy when it is running. I will try that and take it out when it goes to the second boot. althought I am not certain at what point I should take it out aince you said not to take it out. Here goes......Nope do not understand because you said not to take it out and to take it out. Cannot do both. Please give more details.

0

Derek, I have put in this CD Rom and floppy so many times I do not think it is the real problem. However I will do what you say. Here goes........ Done it and same unsuccessful results. I ended up with the A prompt. Thanks, Val

0

It should be there. Sorry it took so long--I had to leave for awhile. Make sure you unzip the file and then run it. Don't just copy it to a floppy disk. I only asked about the disk because that's the error you get if there's no disk in the drive. Yes you do need to keep it in the drive until well into the installation process but of course you haven't gotten that far yet. If the bootdisk I sent doesn't see the cdrom then you need to check the cdrom connections and post back its model number--just in case it's some really old one that takes proprietary drivers. I believe you said this cdrom was working in that same computer? And you've made no changes to it since then? It's also possible the IDE interface the cdrom is connected to is disabled in cmos/bios setup. That's usually not the case with compaqs and I hesitate to ask you to check that as I fear it'll open another can of worms. So let's just see what happens with the new bootdisk. Help me Jebus!

0

It is a new CD rom. The computer could not read other CD rom and bought a new one. I told that before anyway I was fooling around trying to figure out how I can fid this thing by finding the setup and using it directly. Here is what I did. I decided to find all the DIR from the C prompt. I listed them and selected Win98 since the command should be there. I typed "cd win98" and enter. I then typed "dir" at "win98 " and there it was "setup" I then typed "setup" and enter and walla it stared installing. The software was Win98. Is Win98 Upgrade SE be installed as well. I would alos like to thank Derek for his input and good intentions to help but Dave had it under control. I want to thank you very much for the time and patience you had. You are worth a million "THANKS. I am up and runnig.

0

Thing is I do not have a full screen. Seem to be in safe mode. Also I cannot find the programs. Did I lose them? Thanks

0

Ther program are still her. How would do I extract them for usage. Thanks

0

You ran SETUP from c:\win98? Apparently someone had previously copied the contents of the WIN98 folder on the 98 cd into a similarly named folder on the hard drive. It's often done that way and you can do the install by running SETUP from that directory. Given the problems we were having I probably should have had you check that first. If you installed in the original directory--c:\windows and not c:\windows.000--the desktop and program access should be the same. I've done it more than once and not had any problems. The safe mode look is probably because you need to install video drivers but I think they should be intact if you installed in the correct directory. If you installed in the wrong directory then you may need to do it again. This time making sure it goes into c:\windows. Help me Jebus!

0

I am the only one here and I did not copy anyting onto the hard drive. Just so you know how to diagnose this. I installed it the way I described it to you so you know how to diagnose it. I will try to get to the prompt to c:\>windows and install at windows or should I use RUN on this little screen?

0

I am having a problem installing from C:\windows. I cd to C then CD to windows, I then type setup but I ger "bad command" error message. Can you give me the complete steps to get to c:windows for installing. Thanks

0

Oops. Must have accidently clicked 'submit follow up' before finishing post. So ignore this. * * * * * * * * I SAID, 'IGNORE THIS' !!

0

OK, first of all, when you did the succesful install you mentioned in #32 did you change the installation directory from C:\WINDOWS.000 back to just C:\WINDOWS as I mentioned in #3 and #7 above? From your new setup you can check that by going to START--PROGRAMS and clicking 'MS-DOS prompt'. Does the prompt show c:\windows> or does it show c:\windows.000>? If the prompt shows C:\WINDOWS.000> then it's a new install and I recommend you do the installation again. THIS TIME MAKING SURE YOU CHANGE THE INSTALLATION DIRECTORY BACK TO C:\WINDOWS. How do you do that? You go back to your C:\WIN98 folder exactly as you did in #32 above and type in SETUP and enter, as you did above. Some stuff will load and then it'll stop on a page that asks where you want to install windows. This time it should default to C:\WINDOWS.001 (because it sees you already have directories named C:\WINDOWS and C:\WINDOWS.000). So, click on the end of that line and hit BACKSPACE 4 times. (So you're going to delete the 1 then a 0 then another 0 then a period.) So now that line shows C:\WINDOWS Then click NEXT or whatever it is that will continue the installation. Help me Jebus!

0

I am taking a break off this. Will try again in about 2 days need to get some other things done. Val

0

Did suggestion in Ref #39 and I think I misinformed you in Ref #32 relating to finding Win98. Evidently I did not find it in the location c:\windows dir. but in C:\setup98, where I fould setup.exe. I relaize the misinformation when I could not do what you told me in the last reference #39. However when i finally did the reinstall c:\setup98>setup it again when through the setup and ended up as a miniwindow again. I changed the location to setup in C:\windows but during the install I got an error message after completing the win98 setup disk. The error read "generic installer error message SU99455 UP DATELNIS=PROCESSING ERROR (0X195). I am at the mini window again. Can I do a RUN setup from the mini window if not what else can I try. VR

0

SU errors are often associated with the ram. You may have bad ram or possibly too much ram. 512 should be OK but if you could drop it to 128 just to do the installation maybe it'll go OK. Help me Jebus!

0

I will try anything if you tell me how to drop the ram. Thanks

0

I have 64MB of Ram. I went to Safe Mode >> Run >>Browse. It showed what was on the floppy. If I were to click onExtract or Fdisk what would that do?

0

Cant do it from SAFE MODE. I would corrupt some files so I found a way to get to c:\windows on the mini screen. If I did a copy a:\ from C:\windows would it be the equal to setup? VR

0

Edit I didn't see #44. If you only have 64 meg of ram in the machine then you don't need to remove any. I was going by the 512 you entered in your initial posting. I don't know what you mean by 'mini screen'--is that the MS DOS PROMPT screen?. As far as I know you need to boot from the 98 bootdisk and start the installation by going to the directory containing the installation files.. I've never tried it, but I assume it can't be done from safe mode using full version files If you click on extract or fdisk from the bootdisk then you'd run those dos commands. Extract will pull a file you name from the ebd file on the bootdisk so you can use it. Fdisk is the dos partitioning software. Neither one will help you reinstall 98. Help me Jebus!

0

Since you seem to have 98 up and running but in the wrong directory do this: Go to START--FIND--FILES OR FOLDERS. In the 'Named' line type in precopy2.cab. In the 'look in' line make sure it shows the C: drive. Then click 'find now'. Write down the directory that file is found in. That directory will also contain all the other 98 setup files and that's where you'd go to run the installation. Then from the 'mini screen' (dos window?) what does the prompt say? Is it c:\windows> or c:\windows.000>? Help me Jebus!

0

If you can remember I told you I loaded the win98 but the screen came up the size of when SAFE MODE is in use. Not that I am in safe mode. I do not know the computer jargon to describe the screen so I call it mini-screen for this help session.

0

I do not have a DOS prompt unless I go RUN because I used it previously as you may know. When RUN is used and it is used again it will have in the box what was used previously. I had used it prviously to do a BROWSE. I can get it back to C:\Window but only on the mini-screen. If I can expalin the mini-screen again it it the normal screen when the computer is turned on and the START button is visible for use but I do not know if I need to be in other screen by using the F8 key? It is best for me to wait your reply on this before doing instruction #47. Thanks

0

I think your mini-screen might be a poor resolution screen (as per safe mode which runs on minimal drivers). In which case you 'might' be able to change it. You do this by right clicking the desktop then selecting Properties then Settings. If you have the right display drivers onboard then you should be able to move the slider as necessary to restore the normal look. Anyhow, this is just me thinking aloud, so by all means wait for DAVEINCAPS to return - I don't wish to spoil the flow on this post. some other bloke...

0

The flow here is so slow mosquitoes are breeding. I think the channel needs to be dredged. Go ahead and go to START--PROGRAMS--MS-DOS Prompt. That will open the dos window and you can see what the prompt is--either c:\windows> or c:\windows.000>. Then do the START--FIND--FILES AND FOLDERS search for precopy2.cab. Help me Jebus!

0

Ref #50 I had done last week on my inititive. The slider is was frozen and is still frozen. I did #51 when you suggested it in #47. You can stop the moquitoes from breeding whenever you want to if I understand your correctly.. Thanks

0

Just kidding around with Derek. But what were the results when you did 47/51? What directory is precopy2.cab in? What is the prompt when you open a dos window via START--PROGRAMS--MS DOS Prompt? Help me Jebus!

0

I thought I sent you results on #47 but here it is again. Results exactly: Name: In Folder: Precopy2 C:\Setup98\win98 Precopy2 C:\win98 The MS DOS Prompt is C:\windows.001> What is your professional title? Thanks

0

OK, we can try the installation again. Boot up with the 98 bootdisk the same way you previously did, which will leave you at an a:\> prompt. At that prompt type: ren c:\windows.001\win.com win.old and enter. That will rename the win.com in the new directory that resulted from your previous attempt. Then at the next a:\> prompt type: c:\win98\setup and enter. That should start the setup process again. I'll go over again about changing the installation directory since unless you do it right you'll end up exactly as you are now: At some point early on in the installation process it'll stop and ask what directory you want to install windows in. In this case it will probably default to C:\Windows.002 since it's now running in C:\windows.001. Click on the end of that line--the one that says c:\windows.002--so the cursor is flashing there and hit BACKSPACE 4 times. So now the installation directory line should show c:\windows If by chance that line was highlighted and when you hit BACKSPACE the entire line disappeared then just type in c:\windows It's important that it be exactly that way (well caps won't matter). Then click 'next' or 'continue' or whatever continues the installation. Also, it'll ask about making a new startup disk. You can bypass that but I forget exactly the steps. If you do it wrong you'll cancel the entire installation. So it's probably best to go ahead and make a new startup disk. Use a blank, floppy disk. You'll need to remove the startup disk before the PC reboots or it'll boot from the floppy disk. But if that does happen just remove the floppy disk and hit CTRL-ALT-DEL to restart the computer. It'll then boot from the hard drive and the installation will continue. Once all that's done and assuming you get it in the right directory--c:\windows--then everything should work as it's supposed to. The drivers should be there as well as all your desktop icons. Help me Jebus!

0

I will do it right. Program is checking areas of drive C: Ok it is at the point where is ask about the directory. I am stopping here becuase I have done this before and it did not allow me to backspace. It has two options currently: C:\windows.002(this has the balck dot in it. I can click NEXT or go to other directory. ( ) Other directory As I said I stop here because I did this before and wnat to refresh your memeory before moving on. Thanks. .

0

I will not sign out until this step is completed.

0

I need to mention that all my floppy has information on them. I have been using the same Startup disk repeatedly but I think the program overwrites the previous program.

0

I will say good night until tomorrow hitting the sack.

0

Yeah, you're right. It's been so long since I've installed 98 I'd forgotten the exact steps. You need to choose 'other directory' and then either hit the backspace or just type in the c:\windows whichever it is that specifies the new directory you wish to use. I was pretty sure the step to create a startup disk would overwrite any existing contents but wasn't positive. That's why I suggested a blank disk. But as long as using the existing disk works then that'll be fine. Help me Jebus!

0

My XP would not start up this morning and I went ahead with the laptop installation. I did not select "other directory" so it went in the wrong directory. Not to worry I know I will have to rename the direcory again. Just let me know what to rename it and you do not have to write out the complete instructions. Sorry about that.

0

You'd always choose to install it in c:\windows. Each installation attempt is creating a new directory while leaving the previous ones intact. So right now you probably have a c:\windows, c:\windows.000, c:\windows.001 and c:\windows.002 directory. You want to reinstall everything in c:\windows because that has all your hardware drivers and software links. So if you do it again it'll probably default to c:\windows.003. You'd then need to choose the 'other directory' option and change--or just type in--c:\windows Help me Jebus!

0

Did the backspace to c:\windows Preparing directory installed components and available space Estab Location: Selected United States NEXT PREPARING STARTUP DISK GENERIC INSTALLER ERROR Message SU99405 Program quit installation at this error.same as when i first t sent the message and Derek replied.

0

Forgot to tell you I did not get a defaut .003

0

this looks a lot of hassle for Win98! Vista nVidia Evolution SP2 Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E6550 @ 2.8GHz XFX GeForce 9800 GTx 4GB OCZ Platinum 1066 2x Samsung 1TB Spinpoint F1

0

As I mentioned above, SU errors are often associated with ram. Bad ram prevents the OS from doing whatever it's trying to do and it pops back with some kind of failure message. But it doesn't know that failure is due to bad ram, only that it can't do what it's trying to do. I don't know if that's the case here. From what I could find the error sometimes occurs when trying to update some .ini files, often those associated with office. Did you have Office installed originally? There is a hidden SETUPLOG.TXT file that windows setup creates as it performs each step. More information about what caused the failure should appear there, although it may not be any more helpful. So let's take a look at that file. Boot up with the bootdisk again. At the a:\> prompt type path=c:\windows\command and enter. That tell the OS where to look if it doesn't recognize the command you enter. Then type more c:\setuplog.txt and enter. The MORE command will scroll through that file one page at a time and works with hidden files. The SU error caused windows setup to fail so I assume the error will be at the end of setuplog.txt. So after typing in the above command and hitting 'enter', keep your finger on the space bar and the file will continue scrolling until you get to the end. The last few lines that show there should mention the SU99405 error and what setup was doing when that error occurred. Go ahead and post back the last few lines there and maybe we'll get lucky and figure out what the problem is. Help me Jebus!

0

Before I do anything let me reply to your question about Office. I did not install any Office program. But prior to I had an error message that the system.ini file could not be found. Then after that it went to vms32.vxd file could not be found. It was renamed and I have not had an error message on it since then. Hope this helps.

0

I imagine the error about system.ini was not that it was missing but rather that something being called by system.ini was missing. The other file was probably vmm32.vxd. If either of those was missing I don't think it would affect a reinstall, but without knowing more about the SU error I guess I can't say for sure. Help me Jebus!

0

Result from: A;\>more c:\setuplog.txt (fileQueque) GenInstall () ERROR! :GenInstall Section :SetupUpgradeWIN: with sub-section :SU.Up Date.Inis: ErrorCode=205, ErrorCode2=405 SUMB:Geeric Installer Error:Message SU99405 UpdateInis=processing error (0x195 Ok Restart= Failed (Dummy) That is all of it just as it is written on the screen. I think this computer is calling me dummy (laugh).

0

Unfortunately I can't translate the MORE results to anything I can understand. You might check here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/179756 and scroll down to 'SU99xxxx Messages'. It says those errors are sometimes the result of 'low conventional memory'. The only way I could see that would be a problem is if your bootdisk was messed up and wasn't loading himem.sys or was loading too much of something else. Let me put together a stripped down bootdisk and email it to you as I did the previous one (# 31 above). I'll send it tomorrow. In the meantime, try running the SCANDISK command it mentions there and see what happens with that. Just typing scandisk c: and enter at the a:\> prompt should get it started. Help me Jebus!

0

would that be a:\scandisk c: because I got a"Bad Command" error .

0

Got same error message at c:\scandisk a:

0

Try c:\windows\command\scandisk c: and enter Help me Jebus!

1

Since I already have Win98 can I go back and use or reload win95 without creating more problems?

0

I want to thank you again for all the time and patience in assisting me with trying to get this laptop to its normal screen of operation.

0

You couldn't overwrite 98 with 95. You could do a fresh installation of 95, as you've done several times with 98, but again you wouldn't have access to the original software you installed with 98. If you're going to do a fresh install I think you're better off sticking with 98. Help me Jebus!

0

Oh i did that from day one of my problem and it found no errors so I exited the scan.. Well I guess I will try the website you sent me. Thanks again for your time and effort. VR

0

I'm going to send the bootdisk file in a few minutes. You can try the reinstall again. When you use it to boot up you'll only get a message about himem.sys loading. None of the other stuff that a typical bootdisk has will load. It'll leave you at the a:\> prompt and you can redo the installation as you've done the other times. You should probably rename win.com again. I don't know if we're at the c:\windows.002 or c:\windows.003 or back to just c:\windows. To make sure type in the following: Ren c:\windows\win.com win.old and enter ren c:\windows.002\win.com win.old and enter ren c:\windows.003\win.com win.old and enter You might get some 'file not found' errors but that's OK. Just do all three to make sure. Then start the installation by typing the c:\win98\setup and enter. And again, change whatever the default installation directory is back to c:\windows If it doesn't work this time then I don't think we can accomplish an over the top reinstall. You'd originally asked about saving files before formatting. Assuming those are in the My Documents folder, we can save that folder and the WIN98 folder and delete everything else and do a fresh install of 98. You won't have any of your old software except for the contents of MY Documents and you'll have to hunt down whatever drivers are needed. But I think that's the best we can do. Help me Jebus!

1

The program are not so important as to the documents because Win98 will replace them and the excel work I have done, hopefully it will be there. The excell I am currently using to see if I can work out some numbers that prevent homeowners from future forclosure which would come out in about a year so i hope it is still accessible. Thanks again you are very kowlegeable.

0

Just did the 3 rename nd tried starting and got the error message Canot find WIN.COM. But this time I had the win98 starup floppy not the Original Windows98 SE. Could that make a difference. When I did the renames got a message unable to ren cannot find win.com. There was alos no .003 only .002 was valid to rename. I think I have to rename something here but not sure what.

0

Cannot get to the mini-screen anymore or I could do some work on my own.

0

If you're getting the 'win.com missing' message then you're booting from the hard drive and not the floppy drive. Are you using the file I sent to make a bootdisk? Help me Jebus!

0

I did not check the email I will check now.. How will I save that to disk to use it..

0

Before renaming those files I could do a ctrl/alt del without the floppy and it would go to the mini screen where the Start is accessible to use. Loading from the floppy will start the installation and will never go to the miniscreen that I need.

0

All done and saved to floppy.

0

I think we've established the 'mini screen' is the normal 98 desktop but is lacking the proper video drivers, giving it a 'safe mode' look. YOU CANNOT REINSTALL WINDOWS THAT WAY. You must boot with a floppy bootdisk and start the install from the white on black dos screen. As far as the file I sent, you have to unzip it with something like winzip. Then you have to run the file that is extracted. When you do that the FloppyImage utility will open and ask you to insert a blank floppy disk. Do that and click 'create floppy'. When it's done you have a bootdisk. If you don't do all that then the file I sent is useless. The purpose in trying that particular disk is in case the stuff on your bootdisk is taking up to much memory. Also, on one or two previous occasions I've found that all the ASPI drivers a bootdisk loads can cause problems on some machines. However, if for some reason you were starting the install from the 'mini screen' without booting from the floppy then maybe that's where the SU errors were coming from. Help me Jebus!

0

Reply to Ref 82. I was getting the Win98 screen before renaming the three files except that the screen was the same size to that of the Win98 screen when starting to load.

0

Just read your reply #86 ignore #87.

0

No i was not starting from the normal win98 screen. I used it one time but it would not allow me to backspace to C;\windows from the 002. But I go there to look around never to start installation.

0

floppy was already created when you wrote #86. Since it is already on floppy is it unzipped or I still have to unzip it?

0

When you say it was 'already created' do you mean you followed the steps to make the disk I mentioned in the second paragraph in #86? Or did you just download the file to a floppy disk and have done nothing else with it? The file I sent will fit on a floppy disk but it's useless unless you unzip and run it. If you made the disk correctly then you can use it to boot up the computer now. If not, you need to copy it back on your working computer, unzip it, and run the unzipped file to create the bootdisk. If all this is too complicated I can send the file without zipping it. That way all you need to do is run the file when you get it. Sometimes executable files like that are blocked so that's why files are often sent in zip format. But we can try. Edit Sometimes your email utility will extract (unzip) an attached file automatically if you have it configured that way. I can't possibly know if that's the case with yours or where an attached file is deposited when you open an email. I must assume you can find and use an attached email file. Edit again I finally read your email. Looks like you got the disk created OK. Just follow # 78 to try the reinstall again. Help me Jebus!

0

Tried loading immedialy yesterday after downloading and all it showed on the screen was "starting windows 98" and then to the "A' prompt. Maybe it still needs to be unzipped? I do not have the slightest idea on how to do that. Yes, all I did was download to the floppy. I have not deleted it so I can download again and unzip if you can tell me how.

0

It'll tell you to put in a formatted floppy disk. Do that and continue. It'll write the necessary files to the disk and after that you can use it as a bootdisk. did exactly as you stated. I did not see anything about unzip. Evidently it needs to be unzipped. I'll see if I can unzip it.

0

Got the last email stating it should go to the "A" prompt. I will not be concerned about trying to unzip.

0

Did the install and thought it would work because this time it showed 125 mins of installation instead of the 30 mins previously showed unfortunately I got the SU error message again and it went back to the prompt. I did a search and come up with this pointing to computing.net where someone had the smae error with win98 installation. Itried it but got error "Bad Command". Here is the excerpt what do you think of it? How to fix this problem: ======================= When you get the SU99405 error do the following steps. 1. Restart the computer and choose to boot at command prompt (without CD-ROM support) 2. Type "cd \" 3. Type "type setuplog.txt | more" 4. You will probably see an error that has to do with powerpnt.ini 5. type "ren powerpnt.ini powerpnt.bak" 6. Restart PC and try installing Windows 98 again

0

I came across that too. Other sites indicated problems with other .ini files could cause it too. But in your setuplog.txt file there was no reference to an .ini file being associated with the error so I figured yours was due to something else. Am I correct in saying that when you do the reinstall to a new directory--windows.001, windows.002, etc.--the installation goes OK and it's only when you install in the original directory--c:\windows--you get the SU error? Help me Jebus!

0

I never reinstalled to the any of those directory 001 or 002 and would not know if it would go ok. I did have a problem with the "ini" file before and I think it was renamed "old" but not certain about it.

0

Are theses installation decreasing the memory because I tried to do REf #73 to do scandisk and I got this message: Scandisk is unable to check a drive because there is no extended memory driver loaded on your computer. To check this drive, make sure that you have HIMEN.SYS file on the disk from which you are starting your computer. I think you know the rest. It is the floppy I downloaded the file to and I did nothing to delete the file and I am not connected to the Internet to get a virus..

0

You apparently had some successful installations because you were booting to the 'mini screen' (the safe-mode-looking screen) and couldn't do so when win.com was renamed. That means you were booting to windows. Also, when you forgot to change the installation directory back to c:\windows we got the c:\windows.001, c:\windows.002, etc. directories. I'm trying to make sure for 2 reasons. First, if you have successful installs in a new directory then we know it can be done and the problem has something to do with the old--c:\windows--directory. Secondly, if we go ahead with a fresh install we should pull the product key from the registry. I don't know but I suspect you haven't had to enter it in the previous installs because that number is being pulled from the registry by SETUP. But if we delete all the old installs there'll be no registry to pull the key from. We'd need to get one of the old installs to fire up to the 'mini screen' and then run a small program I put on the disk I sent to extract the key. Help me Jebus!

0

OK, I screwed up with that disk file I sent. I wrote a config.sys that loads himem.sys but didn't copy it to the disk before I made an image. So I'm going to fix it and send the file again. Help me Jebus!

0

I'm going to send it as soon as I post this. Do exactly the same thing with it as you did with the previous one--extract it and then run the extracted file. The file I'm sending and the extracted file it contains are the same name as I sent before. When you download and save it, you may be asked if you want to replace the old file with the new one. Answer 'YES' to that. You don't need to keep the previous one since it's defective. Help me Jebus!

0

I insert the disk as I did before and it is just sitting at the top of the screen blinking. Nothing happening. The previous download went thorught the whole process until time to contine after making a startup disk. Then the SU message came up. Until the last rename of windows.002 the message "cannot find win.com" started showing up. Remember I told I was feeling good that a couple more installation and it wold be running normal. That was because the Normal screen came up but nit in the normal size. I was booting without the floppy.

0

Did you extract it as you did before? Did you run the extracted file? Did the 'create a floppy' window open? I need to know if the bootdisk was successfully created. If it wasn't, just do whatever it was you did before to create it. Help me Jebus!

0

I did a ctrl/alt del F8 to get to the A prompt. I got error message: Bad Command or file name C:\Pathe=C:\WINDOWS.002;c:\WINDOWS.002\COMMAND;"C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM I got a second line with the same message with an extension. C:\Pathe=C:\WINDOWS.002;c:\WINDOWS.002\COMMAND;"C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM "C:\ProgramFile s\Mts

0

Yes I did everything as before until it came to the create disk whick I click on and removed it at Finish.

0

I then put it in the laptop floppy and turn on the computer and it frooze wiht the flashing icon.

0

I got it loading. Maybe I did something wrong but I am not sure. will follow up.

0

Got the SU99404 message. Install aborted.

0

OK, the messages you got in # 104 weren't coming from the bootdisk I sent. I didn't specify that path and there were no commands that would have given a 'bad command or file name'. Help me Jebus!

0

OK, we're going to try to get the product key. Boot up with my bootdisk. At the a:\> prompt type more c:\msdos.sys and enter. At the top should be a line that reads [Paths]. Post back what it says in that section. It's probably 3 lines. That will tell me which directory windows will try to boot from. Help me Jebus!

0

Answer to 104. I know it was not coming from your boot disk. I was trying to go back to look at the message that followed the scandisk. I wanted to check on "ini" file it had a error message. Except I could not get in again to find out.

0

(Paths) Windir=C:\Windows.002 WinBootDir=C:\Windows.002 HostWinbootDrv=C UninstallDir=C:\

0

Thanks for today's asistance. I am hitting the sack.

0

Laptop is showing Win.com cannot be found. But I do have win.bak and win.___. Maybe I cold rename win.bak to win.com

0

OK, we're going to set up the windows.002 directory to bootup by renaming win.old back to win.com. We may not need to boot to windows but we'll rename it, just in case. Boot up with my bootdisk again. At the a:\> prompt type ren c:\windows.002\win.old win.com and enter. If you get a 'file not found' error type dir c:\windows.002\win.com and enter. If it shows a win.com file then it wasn't renamed and should be OK. Then type copy a:\diag.exe c:\windows.002 and enter. That copies the program to read the product key into the windows directory. Then take out the bootdisk and do a CTRL-ALT-DEL to restart. BEFORE windows starts booting, start tapping F8. You should get a boot menu. Choose 'safe mode command prompt only'. At the c:\> prompt type c:\windows.002\diag and enter. That will run the program to find the key. (I've never used DIAG in a situation where windows is booting from a different directory but hope it works OK.) If you miss the F8 menu and it boots into windows 'mini screen' then go to START--RUN and type in DIAG and click OK. I'm just not sure it's going to boot to windows so would prefer to extract the key in dos. The DIAG program will show a screen-full of stuff. Pay attention to two lines--the product ID and the product key. The product ID will be of the form xxxxx-yyy-xxxxxxx-xxxxx. If yyy is OEM then you have an OEM installation. If it doesn't say OEM then you have a retail installation. You don't need to write down the product ID, just note if it say OEM or not. Write down the product key. It will show 25 letters and numbers in sections of 5. Make sure it's right. Don't, for example, mistake an 8 for B, or vice versa. Post back when you've got all that done. Help me Jebus!

0

NO, NO. Win.bak is a probably a backup of win.ini and not win.com. Win.--- is a copy of the original win.ini. You need to rename win.old back to win.com, as I mentioned above. Help me Jebus!

0

You boot disk is not booting so I used the Win98 start up. First step was good but copying the diag.exe c:\windows.002 file was not found. I think I told you about the cursor just sitting and blinking using the dis I created with the files.

0

Just to explain, the command: copy a:\diag.exe c:\windows.002 means copy the file diag.exe which is on the floppy in the 'A' drive, to the hard drive 'C' (windows.002). DAVE put diag.exe on his bootdisk so that it could be used to find the Product Key. I've no idea why this file wasn't found if you typed the path correctly. It will not be found on the W98 bootdisk because it is not on that one. Try the command again with DAVE's bootdisk just in case there was a typo. Ensure you type it "exactly" as it was given, with one space after the word 'copy' and another after 'exe'. some other bloke...

0

Derek I typed it exactly on first try. One space after copy and exe. Starting the computer with the disk in the floppy drive should take it to the "a" prompt. I do not think I should hit F8? I will do everything again.

0

So long as you see a DOS prompt (either A or C) it shouldn't matter what method you use, because DAVE has specified the exact locations in the command line he gave you. No harm having another stab at it though. I just thought I'd try to keep things going if possible until DAVE returns - I guess he deserves a break. Off to bed now (UK time zone). some other bloke...

0

It is weird because "diag.exe" is on the disk. Another thing is that it is not booting from but did before.

0

Am I booting incorrectly by having the computer off, insert the floppy then turn on the computer and let it work itself to the "a" prompt. Am I doing it correctly.

0

Ok redid the disk download and it copied diag.exe to c:\windows.002. (1 file).

0

Ok Derek thanks he does deserve a break. Have a nice night.

0

it OEM and the product Key I have all that information on the program when I first bought it. I recently stuck it to the laptop when I first tried to fix it on my own and reinstalled win98. It is the code to install. Anyway here it is D28T7-4DTPX-VJPC4-QJYQP-BG64Q

0

Glad you got the disk going. I had created a disk myself using the same file so I knew the file was good. I thought maybe you needed to redo it from the download because sometimes bootdisks get corrupted. I didn't realize you knew the product key already. Most people seem to lose their paperwork and don't know their key. I probably should have asked for sure before doing all that DIAG stuff. Just to make sure everything is where it's supposed to be do a dir c:\mydocu~1 and enter from a dos prompt. That should scroll through your My Documents folder. If it lists a bunch of files then you should be OK. Or, if you're in the 'mini screen' just open the My Documents icon and make sure all your stuff is there. Also check the WIN98 directory where all the 98 installation files are. You can do a dir c:\win98 and enter from a dos prompt. Or, from the 'mini screen' open My Computer, then open the C: drive and then open the win98 folder. There should be 70 or so files in there. Check that out and make sure everything is there. If so, the next step will be to delete everything on the drive except the My Documents folder and the WIN98 folder. Post back when you've verified those two folders are OK. Help me Jebus!

0

what is that symbol betwee the "u~1" I have it on the laptop but it will not be placed in the middle like yours but will be higher at the top. Don't want to foul it up so I will wait for your feedback.

0

Currenly I no longer get a mnin-screen you will know when I do.

0

After making sure everything is there then deleting everything on the C drive does it include the Excel files?

0

The ~ symbol is used by dos when it encounters long file or folder names and/or names with spaces. You can create a folder named My Documents in windows but you can't in dos. Dos is limited to 8 character for a file name. So when it encounters a long file name or one with spaces it reads the first 6 characters, ignoring any spaces, and then sticks on a ~1 or ~2 or ~3, depending on if other files or directories will have the same 8 letters. So in dos My Documents becomes Mydocu~1 What I plan on doing is deleting everything on your drive except what's in the My documents folder and the WIN98 folder. If the excel files you're worried about are in My Documents then they'll be OK. The Excel program will be deleted but documents created by excel will be OK if they are in the My documents folder. You could then reinstall excel once we (hopefully) get 98 installed. If the excel files are somewhere else on the drive then I'd need to know where so maybe we could save that directory or move them to the my documents folder. Help me Jebus!

1

This could be tricky especially if you're not 100% sure where the files are. Also, the command we'll use will delete each directory one-by-one and ask you first if you want it deleted. But if you mess up and let it delete something you want to keep then you're screwed. If you have any doubts and the excel files are important you should probably take it to a computer shop. In what part of the world do you live? Help me Jebus!

0

Under Win98 I have 101 files and 4 dir(s) and under dir c:\mydocu~1 278 files 12 dir(s). I cannot re-install Excel it is a program that was included when i purchased the laptop. It would defeat my whole purpose of trying to get back the normal startup to save the Excel program. Do you think it will restart wiht the normal size start-up screen?

0

I live in the United States and you?

0

I will take a guess you are in the United States according to how you write. It seems American.

0

As you previously said most people seem to lose their paperwork. I have tax documents on the laptop going way back to 2003. IRS can go back up to 7 years to do an audit on taxpayers in America if you are somehow not in America so you have some knowledge of what I am referring to as IRS.

0

I'm in New Mexico. I thought maybe you'd say, 'well I'm here in Albuquerque' and I'd say to just bring it over. But not likely I suppose. Excel won't run unless you can install windows in the original c:\windows directory. But we haven't been able to do that because of the SU errors. That directory has all the registry references and links and setup files for excel. When windows is installed in another directory none of the excel references are there. Well I guess I can't say for sure. You could probably copy all the files from window\system into the new directory--say windows.001\system. and leave the Program Files folder intact. Then maybe you could browse to the Program Files folder and find the command to start excel and have it run. But that's very 'iffy' Was your Excel part of Office 97, Office 2000? I have both of those and could probably send a copy. Help me Jebus!

0

If I guessed you lacation accurate I would be a genius at mental telepathy. Yah most like not. I am not certain as to what part the is Excel 97 0r 2000. But mor close to 97 I would think. I will check see if I can find it. I will be hitting the sack from here thanks again. Val R.

0

last reott before hitting the sack and it brought up the normal screen again but mini size. I think that is good because acces to other programs dir would be quicker and less difficult to correct. from the START button. Until tomorrow thanks again.

0

If the computer would read the D drive I think it would help solve my problem because I would have more flexibility with drives. What you think?

0

i shoud have waited to boot up before sending you that message. the computer just read drive "D".

0

It showed I had a drive D but whn I click on it got a message "D is not accessible. Device is not ready". Think it can be fixed?

0

was checking drive c: and found windows.000, windows.001 and windows.002

0

If D: is your cdrom then the message in 141 probably means there's no cd in it. If it's saying that with a disk in it then the disk is bad or the cdrom is bad. We originally had a problem with a bootdisk seeing the cdrom but didn't pursue that when I found the 98 setup files were on the hard drive. If it's the laptop it may need a proprietary driver from compaq. I could probably look around for that but I doubt that would change anything as far as the SU errors. I hate to ask at this stage but did we ever figure out if it would boot from the cdrom? It seems like it should if the cdrom is good. You'd go into cmos/bios setup using F10 when first starting it up. Then set the cdrom as the first boot device. Save and exit bios setup. Make sure the 98 cd is in the cdrom. (You may need to do a CTRL-ALT-DEL with the cd in the cdrom) You should get a boot option when the bootable cd is detected. It'll ask to either boot from the cd or the hard drive. Obviously you'd choose cdrom. You can check all that again if you want. Also post back about the office version. Help me Jebus!

0

Ref 143: cannot remembr what I did but whatever I did it showed all the drives and cdrom drive was D. It had a CD rom in the drive at the time. I tried to access it from the RUN box but was not accessible "Device not ready" was the error message. Since processing Ref 126 booting is now active from the CD rom when starting but cannot access from RUN box. So CD Rom is good. I prefer not to boot from CD Rom as the first boot only when I need to install a new program. Tried to bot wiht the CD Rom to process the cmos/bios bet get this message: c:\PATH=C:\WINDOWS.002 and so on. I sent this error message before. Office version of what I do not recall.

0

I can now get to C:\windows> from the normal mini screen that we could not get to before. You did say we have to install from C:\windows and not from .002 or any of those extensions.

0

It's not that you can get to a c:\windows> prompt but rather how you're doing it. If you're booting into the windows 'mini screen', opening a dos window and then typing cd\windows you'll get that prompt. But I assume you're not actually booting up using the c:\windows directory because you'd have to edit the msdos.sys file for that. I'm tempted just letting windows run from c:\windows.002 and not try to reinstall it. We could delete the other windows directories, find whatever drivers you need and I could send you the office 2000 disks and hope the excel on it will work OK with your saved excel files. I just want to make sure. When you boot up to the 'mini screen' it's showing a regular 98 desktop but it has a safe mode look to it? Help me Jebus!

1

Yes that is correct in ref to the safe mode look.

0

I do not think i wiould delete anyting until I have tried other avenues if you cannot get it going.

0

Well, we're not going to get it back like it was because we can't install to the original c:\windows directory because of the SU errors. That's why I think finishing the current set up by installing drivers and Office is best. As far as deleting the previous windows installations; you've got 3, maybe 4, windows installations on your drive, only one of which is being used. The others are just clogging up your drive. I don't know how much space you have left. But I guess nothing would need to be deleted unless you actually did run out of room. Are we talking about the "Armada 7400 6300/T/6400/D/M/1"? If so I can look for 98 drivers on the compaq/HP site. Help me Jebus!

0

DAVEINCAPS Just thinking aloud. Presumably the Windows folder with the latest date/time would be the one that was last loaded and now works. Having said that, the recycle bin can be temperamental on W98 if you put too many files in it at once. It 'works' but sometimes takes few goes and reboots. I concocted a batch file that deleted the the bins internal files/folders then restored it empty. some other bloke...

0

I have 000, 001, 002, maybe 003 now. I simply have too much important information to delete. Even though I think you are pretty good at this I am confident deleting anything will make this computer useles. I am kept it alive because of petinent information needed. If any can be deleted I think it should be all windows except 002. That is the one currenly coming up on START. I think I have about 6,400 MB left.

0

Thanks Derek, I think when you try to delete a massive amount of stuff, or the bin's almost full already, you get some message saying it won't fit and asks if you just want to delete it. My original plan was to delete all but My Documents and WIN98 with deltree as I'd included it on the disk but one mistake there and it's gone for good. I think I'll just hunt down the drivers and send an Office disk, if necessary. Best I can do at this point. Moonriver, if you've got 6.4 gig left--and not just a 6.4 gig drive--then you've got enough room. I'll post back driver URL, probably from compaq's site. It is the Armada, right? Help me Jebus!

0

This is the download page for the Armada 7400 series: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsuppor... Under driver Graphics you need to download the S3 video file. Under driver - Display download the set video utility. Under driver - audio download the ESS driver file. That will setup your video and audio and will probably be all you need to do what you want to do with it. The download files should all start with SP. When you download the file, write down the file name and what it's for. For example, the graphics download is SP13676.exe. Download the files on the computer you're on now or one that has a cd burner. Then burn the files to a cd Start up the Armada and when it gets to the desktop, put the driver cd in and open it. It's probably best to install the graphics driver first, then the display driver and then the audio driver. So double click on SP13676.exe and it will extract the files. I'm hoping it will also run the installation. If not you'll have to browse to the folder in which they were extracted and run the SETUP file in that folder. Do the same with the display driver and then the audio driver. After each installation it may direct you to reboot. Just follow the directions and hopefully it'll all work out. Help me Jebus!

0

Oh, and I think it may have a 6.4 gig drive in it so you wouldn't have 6.4 gig of space left. You can check that by opening 'my computer' and right clicking on the C: drive and choose 'properties'. Help me Jebus!

0

Yes it is the Armada. This laptop had 2 gig hardrive, now remaining about 6,400 mb free

0

I thought you siad that we needed to install from C:\windows> to be able to access all the files. I am at the c:\windows prompt.

0

Checked the hard drive profile. Capacity is 9.34 GB, uses 3.63 GB,5.71 GB.

0

Yes if we did an over-the-top reinstall we'd need to install to c:\windows. But we've already tried that several times and gotten the SU error and setup stops. Remember all the discussion about changing the default directory from c:\windows.000 or c:\windows.001 or whatever back to just c:\windows? You don't need to install windows from the c:\windows> prompt; you specify the directory during the installation. And as I mentioned in 146, it's easy to get to a c:\windows> prompt. But, just curious, what did you do to get to the c:\windows> prompt? If you want, you can try the install again, although unless you've made some mistake in all the previous tries it's not going to make any difference. Again, just make sure to change the default directory back to just c:\windows. Help me Jebus!

0

I think you siad the prompt have to be a C:\windows> on the black and white screen to load and make it work, if so I have it there now.

0

C:\Windows is where you go to when you "Shut-down to DOS from Windows on W98". Not sure how else you got it. some other bloke...

1

What I did to get to C:Windows? Inserted the Win98SE flopppy Restart with Ctrl/alt Del Tap F8 At A:\ typed "c:\ at C:\> tyeped cd windows Got the C:\WINDOWS

0

I will try to program the laptop for direct download. I was doing it when the power on the laptop was goingbad I did not know it and this problem started. I did it before and can doi it again from the mini window to perform #153. Should I do it now or wait to see if we can fix the primary problem?

0

Re #160 & 161. That's clear now - I thought you had somehow got directly to C:\Windows without typing anything (which puzzled me). some other bloke...

0

By 'direct download' do you mean using its modem or network connection? If so, you're likely to need those drivers before that hardware will work. If it's not one of those, are you talking about something like a Direct Cable Connection between your laptop and another PC? You can check to see what hardware still needs drivers by going to Device Manager. You can right click on 'my computer', choose 'properties' and then 'device manager'. Anything not set up will have a yellow ! or ? associated with it. Help me Jebus!

0

Derek, Maybe if I was a magician. In that sense I would fix all my errors with a snap of the finger LOL. That would be nice.

0

I am think if I had am external HD I could transfer everything to it, format the HD in the laptop and tranfer back the filles from the external.Would that work?

0

If 98 sees the external drive. You may need to install drivers for that too. But I don't see how that would help restore the original configuration with working excel. It would still be a fresh installation, which you have now. Help me Jebus!

0

Actually i would reinstall the programs and files individually and after each tranfer restart the laptop. If I have a problem restarting it would mean the last insallation is the problem would delete the files and program if necessary. Does that sound logical to work?

0

What programs? I thought you didn't have the excel installation disk Help me Jebus!

0

I stated Excel on the HD I do not have a disk.

0

I did state that the programs are not so important but the Excel is since I am woking on something in it. Ref #79.

0

OK, just wanted to make sure. I think you're making this more complicated. Sure, you can copy stuff off to an external drive, reformat, reinstall 98, reinstall drivers and copy stuff back. But you still won't be able to run excel unless you reinstall it either from an excel disk or an office disk. That's because the excel on the hard drive now is only set to run from that original c:\windows directory--the one we can't seem to reinstall to. But if you just reinstall the drivers I linked to above you'll get the same results. You'll still have to reinstall excel in order to use it but you wouldn't have to go through all that other stuff. I don't know if anyone asked, but what exactly was the original problem that caused you to want to reformat and reinstall? Was 98 not working at all? Was excel working? I ask because if you had some problems but excel was working we can edit the msdos.sys file and boot up to the original c:\windows directory. That way you could finish whatever needed to be done with the excel files. And you could verify that whatever you needed was in the My Documents folder and you could check to see what version of office you were running. We might even be able to fix whatever the problem is, given that reinstalling is getting to be such a headache. Help me Jebus!

0

It is not that I want to make it more complicated but to be able to keep as many program as i can. They all have important information and if I have to buy a copy of Excel2000 I am prepared to do it. Somehow I feel we can reinstall to the original C:\windows with lots more patience and you have been very helpful but that is up to you. If all computers needed a version of office to function I do not know what version it is. If it did not need one I definately do not have a version of Office. Refer to #24 for info on how and when my problem started.

0

It seems like you're looking for a middle ground. There is none. You either reinstall 98 to c:\windows--which we've tried and gotten the SU error--and have full access to all the previoiusly installed software or you do a fresh install--which you've done--and have no access to previously installed software. Since you're concerned about the excel stuff then I recommend you install the drivers from the compaq site to your working 98 and then reinstall excel, either though Office or a stand-alone excel disk. If there's other software you're worried about then you'd need to reinstall that too. # 24 sounds like a hardware problem in that the battery and\or adapter couldn't keep the laptop running long enough to install whatever you were trying to install. Apparently that's not a problem now or you would have mentioned it when trying to reinstall 98. But you don't say there whether or not windows would boot up after that. I mentioned changing the boot directory back to c:\windows by editing msdos.sys and booting to your original directory. One thing we commonly try with 98 when a software installation screws up is to restore an older registry from before the attempt. We can try that if you want with the original c:\windows install. Maybe that's all it'll take. Help me Jebus!

0

I was thinking about the registry today because ifelt the problem could be in the registry but forgot to mention it in 173. Although I never touched the registry I would definately like to restore the old registry see what happens..

0

Boot up into windows 'mini screen'. Then START--RUN. Type in attrib -s -h -r c:\msdos.sys, then click OK. That will unhide msdos.sys so we can edit it. (There's a space between -r and c. It may not seem obvious the way the font is.) Then START--RUN and type in notepad and click OK. From the notepad pull-down menu click 'file' and then 'open'. In the 'file name' line type in c:\msdos.sys and click 'open'. We need to edit the first 2 lines under [paths]. They now are probably: Windir=C:\Windows.002 WinBootDir=C:\Windows.002 or maybe they're ending in 003 if you did another install. But whatever they are now we need to change them to: Windir=C:\Windows WinBootDir=C:\Windows So put the mouse cursor at the end of each line and hit backspace 4 times so you remove the .002 (or whatever it is). Also, remember what those 2 lines originally were in case we need to change them back. When the lines look right click 'open' again from the pull down menu and then 'save'. Then close notepad. Then go back to START--RUN and type in attrib +s +h +r c:\msdos.sys and click OK. That will rehide msdos.sys. (Again, a space between -r and c.) When all that is done, shut it down via START--SHUT DOWN and choose 'restart'. It should reboot from the original c:\windows directory. To backdate the registry, start tapping F8 before 98 starts loading. You should get a boot menu. Choose 'safe mode command prompt only' When it gets to a prompt it should be c:\windows. At that prompt type scanreg/restore and enter. It'll show probably 5 backups and their dates. You must choose a date from before the screwed up installation. Ideally it would be the one just before, but if you're not sure I guess use the oldest one. If it succesfully restores then reboot into windows and keep your fingers crossed. Help me Jebus!

1

I had deleted .000, 001 earlier. There were no .003. Everthing done right the woindows .002 is gone. Only error is Cannot find Win.com, unable to continue loading Windows. This was happening before even under the .002. I have it reading drive D from RUN. Did that before Ref 173. It still does not read D from the black and white screen This is good progress by your excellent effort.

1

I should be able to load win98 to C:\windows from RUN.

0

We renamed all the 'win.com' to win.old. That's why you're getting that message. We can always rename win.old back to win.com but I think it's best you don't boot into windows but rather start off with the registry restore from the dos prompt. You shouldn't be getting the win.com error anyway if you're using F8 and booting to command prompt. Scanreg only keeps track of the registries from the last 5 days you booted into windows. So if you boot into windows now it'll create a new saved registry and delete the oldest. And, who knows, it may be that registry you need to restore. So try the restore and see what happens. Help me Jebus!

0

I found this in a forum about WIN.COM but thought I would get your feedback. I will wait for your reply before going on to #179. "The problem has been fixed . I just added the line: @C:\WINDOWS\WIN.COM to autoexec.bat and now the computer boots to Windows without the error message. >>As to your problem starting windows, it sounds like something messed with your command path. Most likely some software you installed. A path statement in autoexec is the easiest and safest fix.<< I rember now that a couple of days ago I upgraded from MS Project 98 to 2000, and that 98 had put a SET PATH command in autoexec. When I was editing the file, I noticed that the command had been deleted. So I presume that this was the problem. Anyhow, thanks all for your help and input - good to know I can get a quick response!" [stealth]

0

It stayed in safe mode command prompt only for a few seconds and showed Windows.002\net start and went to C:\>. Should I do a "CD to Windows" a this prompt. THEN DO THE RESTORE?

0

Explanation to #174. The battery is not good it does not hold a charge. It will go dead in about 5 or 10 min when the power cord is not connected. I did not realize the cord fell out the computer socket.

0

Adding a path to win.com in autoexec.bat isn't necessary. It wouldn't help anyway since win.com has been renamed so it's not there. The 'Windows.002\net start' must be coming from autoexec.bat. You must have chosen 'command prompt only' instead of 'safe mode command prompt only' as 'safe mode command prompt only' bypasses autoexec.bat so that line wouldn't show. You can probably run scanreg/restore from either command prompt options. I prefer 'safe mode command prompt only' so that nothing at all loads from config.sys or autoexec.bat. I made an error in 176 when I said the F8 and then 'safe mode command prompt only' would leave you at c:\windows>. It will leave you at c:\>, which you got. So everything should be OK. So, once you get to the prompt via F8 and either of the command prompt options shown there, run the restore operation as I mentioned in the last 3 paragraphs of 176. Help me Jebus!

0

I started back at10-23-09 whicek was the last date. The message stated I have restored registry with no errors. But it came up with the error message cannot find WIN.COM unable to continue loading windows. I think we are close to solving this problem.

0

OK, now from any dos prompt--maybe the win.com error leaves you at a dos prompt?--type ren c:\windows\win.old win.com and enter. Assuming you don't get an error message from that, then do a CTRL-ALT-DEL and let it boot into windows. Help me Jebus!

0

Got message; File Not Found - C:\windows\win.old

0

OK, you still have the c:\windows.002 directory so we'll copy it from there: Type copy c:\windows.002\win.com c:\windows and enter Help me Jebus!

0

"1 file copied" Any specific way to restart now?

0

Do CTRL-ALT-DEL and let it boot into windows (hopefuly). Help me Jebus!

0

It seem to be frozen at the normal window98.

0

Frozen on the desktop or on the loading screen or?? Let it sit for awhile and maybe it'll keep going. If not, reboot and use F8 and choose 'safe mode' and see if it'll boot to that. Help me Jebus!

0

Frozen at the MS Win98 screen. Not the desktop.

0

Wait for a few minutes...windows might be doing something. If no go, try safe mode. Skip

1

Not opening in "Safe Mode".

0

Hitting the sack. I will leave on the pc until tomorrow.

0

I hoped if it booted to either safe or normal mode but still wasn't 'right' we'd try a reinstall from within windows and try to fool it into thinking it was an upgrade by renaming win.com. I don't know it it would have worked but I thought it'd be worth a try. But if it's not booting to either I guess that's out. I can't think of anything else other than to edit msdos.sys to boot to windows.002 again, install the drivers and Office or stand-alone excel. Any ideas? Skip? Derek? I'm going to bed too. Help me Jebus!

0

Yeah, bed. I gotta read this whole thread and maybe pickup something. Skip

0

Skip, thanks.

0

With nearly 200 posts and lots of activity this one has become really hard to follow. Standing back from things, it seems very likely that we now have a registry and a file system which are no longer a close enough match. There are some situations that don't lend themselves too well to help at a distance and this rather looks like one. I'm not normally defeatist but the idea of reformat and re-install seems very attractive. I'm not sure if you said you have a W98SE CD but there's a good chance there is one on eBay (also Excel 2000). I have both, plus the Windows updates up to their demise in 2006 but being in the UK is not so handy. Saving your own stuff would be an issue - has this machine got a floppy drive? Often Excel files are relatively small and less than 1.38M (which is about the true 1.4M floppy max). EDIT - Just seen post #2 which suggests a way to burn to CD using Linux. The other issue would be drivers - not sure if you have any of those tucked away because they would be needed before any thought of reformat. W98 drivers can be a bit hard to find these days. Or, be ultra defeatist and look out for a second hand XP laptop - must be really cheap these days. Excel 2000 runs fine on XP. some other bloke...

0

At this point I think the easiest thing for you is going back to the windows.002 installation. Install the drivers and Office or just Excel. Or you could take the drive out and put it in an external case or in a 3.5"/2.5" adapter and connect it to the PC you're on now or on another laptop as Derek mentions. I was thinking last night while watching the Leno show I recorded earlier that since .ini files are sometimes associated with SU error, maybe we could rename all the .ini files and then try the reinstall again in c:\windows. I don't hold out much hope for that but it wouldn't hurt to try. There are limits to what can be done remotely, as we are doing here, and we're certainly close to that limit. Help me Jebus!

0

Derek, Yes I do have a Win98SE CD and a floppy drive both works. I am not keen on getting another laptop. The laptop would be useless without the information on the current laptop. References, useful favorties, just too many that is needed. i would have to scrap my work. Thanks for your help.

0

DAVEINCAPS, Ok lets try to rename the .ini files.

0

What about post 180?

0

I responded to that in 183. There is a default path of c:\windows;c:\windows\command that will find win.com as well as the [Paths} section in msdos.sys. Whatever the situation was that was addressed in the post you found don't apply here. The lack of an extended path is not a factor. Besides it attempted to boot up after we copied win.com from windows.002. Boot up, preferably with the corrected disk I sent. At the a:\> prompt type ren c:\windows\*.ini *.aaa and enter. (Space between *.ini and *.aaa) That will change the extenstion of all the .ini files in the windows directory from .ini to .aaa so SETUP will ignore them. Then as we've done before, type c:\win98\setup and enter. When it gets to the screen about choosing the installation directory I'm not sure what it'll default to. But whatever it is, choose OTHER DIRECTORY and edit the line so it just shows c:\windows The SU errors seem to show just after the creating-the-bootdisk part so if we get past that then maybe we're OK. Help me Jebus!

0

I think this might work. It went to C:\windows without having to do anything. My fingers are crossed. It is still processing.

0

It went to c:\windows as the installation directory? That's odd. Oh, another thing, we forgot to rename win.com to something else. That might be OK. I can't remember for sure but I think one of the versions--retail or OEM--was OK with win.com being there. I guess we'll find out. Help me Jebus!

0

It's sitting at the Normal Start up screen but this time it has a message at the bottom that it did not have previously, "Getting ready to run Windows for the first time". It is a good omen I am confident.

0

So how did it go? Help me Jebus!

0

I got stuff to do early tomorrow so I'm going to bed. If we luck out and the install works, your screen may still have a 'safe mode' look. That's probably because it's not using the old system.ini file (since they were all renamed) where the video controller is spelled out. We'll copy the .aaa version over the new one but first I want to take a look at it to make sure it's not corrupted. Help me Jebus!

0

Ok and how will you take a look at it. It is still sitting. Signing out until tomorrow. It has no SAFE MODE.

0

Now that is is loading directly to C:\windos would it be a good idea to reinstall windows from the floppy?

0

The main thing to look at in system.ini is if all the sections are there and to make sure there's no gibberish. We'll get to that if it turns out the reinstall was successful. It shouldn't be hanging at the 'getting ready to start windows for the first time' for more than a few minutes. If it doesn't go past that just restart it. What's it doing now? Help me Jebus!

0

it is not doing anything just sitting at the win98 screen. yes I think there is a lot of gibberich that is keeping it form starting. If there is a way to look at a perfect complete win98 program and then look at mine to find where the gibberich is I think that would be a way to find the problem. I do not know if that is possible.

0

Which win 98 screen? The one that says 'getting ready to run windows for the first time' or some other screen? Did you reboot it? If so, what happened? No, there's no practical way to compare your 98 files with another installation. The gibberish I'm talking about is in the system.ini file. I've noticed it a few times. It's a text file but I've seen sometimes the last part of it is non-text nonsense. Other times it'll be missing the last part. I thought since it seemed to install when we renamed the .ini files then maybe one or more was corrupt and causing the SU error. It's system.ini and another--win.ini--that we'd want to use the old versions of, if they're good. But first we've got to get it to get to the windows desktop. Help me Jebus!

0

The screen that has the wording Microsoft Windows98 and a colorful emblem above it is just sitting. Would that be the startup screen? I reboot twice.

0

Probably the 98 splash screen. Sounds like it's doing the same thing as when we restored an earlier registry. Reboot and see what happens. If it still does it, reboot and use F8 to get the boot menu and choose 'safe mode'. Help me Jebus!

0

Reboot from the floppy, cd or hard drive?

0

Hard drive. Help me Jebus!

0

I have done that before but I will do it again. That is where it is freezing up and still doing it at safe mode also.

0

I think this is the first time we restored the registry.

0

I am signing off.

0

You restored an older registry in 184. You copied win.com from another installation to c:\windows so it'd boot up in 188. Then it froze at the 98 screen in 190. You apparently did a successful reinstall after renaming the .ini files but it froze again at the 98 screen in 205 to the present. That's why I said it seems to be doing the same thing as when we restored an earlier registry. I can't think of anything else to do to get your original install in c:\windows going. As I mentioned in 200 it's probably best now to go back to booting to the c:\windows.002 setup, install the drivers and whatever additional software you need to work with the files you saved. The files--excel and whatever--should still be on the drive. You just need to install the programs to work with them. Your other options are to remove the drive and attach it to another, working computer and work with the files there. Or take it to a shop where they can do a hands-on examination and maybe fix it. Help me Jebus!

0

If I remove the drive and attach it to a similar laptop top would I have the same problem or would it read all the programs normally What if I did a recovery would I have access to all the programs?

0

I am trying the install to .002 and I think it will work. Why I think that is becuase the install is taking very much longer to complete than previous installation. I recall you said that it will not access the installed program but It feels good to be able to access "programs" and see what is there. If it works and the program I am working on is a success you will be one of the first to know with an offer to use the service with a large credit. I will keep your contact email should this come to reality. I want to thank you again for the time, effort and assistance to get the laptop up and running. Val R.

0

If you attached the drive to another computer you would need to attach it as a slave or non-booting device and then use the OS that's already running on that computer to access the files. There is no 'recovery' with 98 as there is with XP. If there was we would have tried it long ago. I thought the windows.002 install was already OK so I wouldn't think you'd need to reinstall there but I guess it won't hurt anything. It'll be a fresh install so you won't have access to previously installed programs. I was going to suggest you rename config.sys and autoexec.bat in case all the previous installs of 98 and other software had rewritten its entries causing it to load, or attempt to load, stuff from the wrong places. I don't hold out much hope for that but it won't hurt to try. But first let us know how the windows.002 install goes. Help me Jebus!

0

Just finish and is at the desk top but the miniscreen. The programs are not accessible, it does go to "safe mode". I guess that's it but i will keep on trying on my own because i have to get to those programs even if I have to take classes. LOL.

0

The miniscreen-look is because you need to install video drivers. I linked to them in # 153. Help me Jebus!

0

This XP had a cd burner and I used it one time and do not see it anymore. Must have deleted it by mistake or the progam i have removed it because it has not been used. I am not too concerned about that it can aloways be done later if this machine can be fixed.

0