i think i have a serious problem here. I was having trouble with my pc freezing up. I took it in to a computer shop, had the memory upgraded to i'm thinking 128. when I got it back home it pretty much was doing the same thing. the tech had told me that all the problems i was having was probably the os software and it should be reinstalled, but to take it home and try it out.

well my pc froze up on my so bad that I tried to do a restore(bad ideal) myself. Now when I try to use the 2 restore disc, the first one works, but when I put in disc number two it just freezes up. I kind of remember clicking on some Y's when maybe I should not have when I first tried to do the restore. if there is anyone who can help me i would greatly appriciate it.

You'll probably need to format the drive completely. Just repairing, especially with Windows 98, just carries the errors along with it. Use a Win98 boot disk and at the command prompt type "Format C:".

Once done, use your restore disks.

Also, never go to tech support, they're useless and try to rip you off. I know it's harsh, but some computer shops exploit people who have little computer knowledge.

What kind of PC is this? (Model and number)

Yup, more info and don't format yet.

In response to to ezwg
I have a compac persario 7478

Are you using a Recovery CD, or the Quick Restore CDs?

Compaq guidance:
The Compaq RECOVERY CD is a bootable CD that provides four utilities that enable customers to restore their system.

The Compaq Recovery CD contains some (.BIN) application files, which run when the computer boots to the cd-rom. It first looks for the factory.pqi file on the hard disk (usually the [D:] drive). If it is able to read the factory.pqi file, it copies the file back to the [C:] drive and reloads the operating system and additional software applications on the computer. If the Compaq Recovery CD cannot read the factory.pqi image file, the system will display an error and a Compaq Quick Restore will be required.
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Compaq Quick Restore CD(s):
The QUICK RESTORE CD(s) partition and image the hard drive so that it is exactly as it was after factory installation. This includes installing all software, drivers and writing the System Save [D:] partition information.

What do the CD(s) labels say?

ezwg, I have two quick restore cd(s)

Sorry it's taken me so long to reply but I can't post or reply to my messages. I have to use the computer at the library. It has something to do with my cookies.

Everytime I try to post or reply I am taken back to the login screen over and over.

anaya50,

Need a more specific explanation.

Right now you have a Compaq 7478 with W98 installed on it, and there are problems with it.

Question: Are you taken to the login screen no matter what you try to do, or is it basically when you try to use the Internet and/or get email?

If you think it is a cookie problem, try the following:

Start>Shutdown>Restart in MS-DOS Mode, or, if that is not possible, use a W98 boot disk, and boot to an A:\ prompt.

At the A:\ prompt, enter: C:
At the C:\ prompt, enter: cd windows

At the C:\Windows> prompt, key in the following, and press Enter after each line:
smartdrv
deltree tempor~1
deltree history
deltree cookies
exit (or Ctrl-Alt-Del, or win, to return to Windows)

For each deltree enter 'y' after the entry prompting to confirm deletion.

[If a boot disk was used, remove it before returning to Windows]

See if that works. If not, post back.

If you can use your system to a certain extent, try the following to get rid of the Windows Logon screen:

Step 1- Click Start>Settings>Control Panel, and then double-click Network icon.
Step 2- On the Configuration tab, click Windows Logon in the Primary Network Logon box, then click OK .
Step 3- Do not Restart Computer if prompted! Click NO.
Step 4- While still in Control Panel double-click Passwords icon.
Step 5- On the Change Passwords tab, click Change Windows Password, then click OK.
Step 7- In the Change Windows Password dialog box, type your current Windows password in the Old Password box. Leave the New Password and Confirm New Password boxes blank, (under user profiles tab select: All users use same settings box) click OK.
Step 8- Exit Control Panel
Step 9- Click Start>Search-Find, then click For Files or Folders and type in: *.pwl in the Named box, click Local Hard Drives in the Look in box, then hit ENTER.
Step 10- Right-click the .pwl file, click Rename, and rename the file with an .old file extension. Repeat for each .pwl file.
Step 11- Shut down and then restart the computer.