I am having a problem mainly exe files ( kernel problem ) while runing any programs under win98 . Since there is a dual boot ( win 98 & win xp- sp2 ), can I reinstall win98 without touching or having any effect on windows xp. Will my win xp won't work after the reinstallation of win98 . Can you please give me advice on this ?

You have a '98/XP dual-boot; you want/need/are considering to re-install '98...; will XP still work afterwards... (Bear in mind that the XP boot/start-up files reside in the active Primary partition; as do those for ’98.) The answer is no...; regardless of where it (XP) is currently installed. However it can be made to again relatively simply. Presuming '98 is in c: ..., and you decide to reformat c: in the ’98 re-install process, then you will lose access to XP - as you will delete the XP boot/start-up files when you reformat c: . If you do not reformat c: you will still lose access to XP – temporarily. If '98 is elsewhere and XP is in c: then again you will (temporarily) lose access to XP following the re-install of '98, even though you would do not do anything to the c: partition in this latter situation… First: copy the ntldr, ntdetect.com, boot.ini - and critically - the bootsect.dos files to a floppy (presuming you have a floppy drive in this system). Lock the floppy - keep safe, handy; you may need it later, depending on where '98 is currently installed.... Then proceed with '98 re-installation. When you boot up you will have access only to ‘98… In the '98 re-installation process you will rewritten the mbr from the XP version to the dos/'9x version; thus disabling access to XP. Now… if you “did” reformat c: then you will need to copy back the contents of the floppy you made earlier to the c: root of the drive (where those files resided originally). (If you did NOT reformat c: then there is no need of copying those files back; but you could anyway…) Then run XP setup/repair routine (CD boot) and use the fixmbr option. Once complete you will (all things being equal) have access to XP – and thus your dual–boot - again. The critical file in this whole operation is the bootsect.dos…; this file (created by XP) is needed to allow ’98 to boot via the XP boot-loader; and without it ’98 will not boot from within the XP boot-loader environment…. If it is lost in the above exercise then you have to recreate it. This can be cone manually (you write it… - details at Doug Knox site and other similar sites) or you allow XP to (re)create it for you. However, by saving the current copy first (off the system), you can avoid the whole issue, as you can simply re-install the original (if needs-be) after you re-install ’98. This approach does require you re-install ’98 to its present location; otherwise the bootsect.dos may not be correct…; but I doubt you will re-install ’98 elsewhere…? You don’t elaborate on the exact errors/issues you’re having with ’98 at present…; possibly folks here with more savvy re’ 98 might be able to suggest resolutions that do not demand a re-install of ’98? Regardless, which way you go about re-installing ’98 (should it be necessary) depends on your own preferences. Some will advocate a total clear out of current version; then re-install afresh. Some will suggest an over-write of current version; i.e. re-install to the same folder as present. I can see benefits to both approaches; but a fresh/clean install may be better? All a matter or preference? A but detailed perhaps... but I feel it's useful to understand the whow/why etc. of a rebuilding a dual-boot... The possible pitfalls can be avoided with a little planning etc...

I am having four partitions Drive c: empty Drive D; Windows 98 directory Drive E: Win xp directory Drive f; empty Can I implement the above procedures in this situation or else if there are any other procedures Kindly suggest me .

Presumably you have only the one Primary partition on this drive? If this is the case, then in your situation, c: = the (active) Primary partition, and the other three (d: , e: , and f: )are logical-drives? c: has the ntdetect.com, ntldr, bootsect.dos and the boot.ini there? If so... then whilst it isn't essential to copy the files (as indicated in my previous post) to a floppy... it would nonetheless be wise to do so. Afterwhich simply re-install '98 to its present location. Then run the XP repair (fixmbr) routine. to restore the mbr to XP level and recover access to XP. If you reformat the d: drive/partition - fine; but it isn't essential to do so... If the only item in d: is the '98 folder etc... then you could: simply boot to XP; then delete the contents of the d: drive via XP Explorer. Afterwhich simply re-install '98 as normal. Or you can reformat d: from XP and re-install '98. Or you can do an overwrite of '98 without reformatting the d: drive. Regardless of how you go about re-installing '98... you will need to run the XP fixmbr routine afterwards. And again ensure you do perserve/save the current bootsect.dos (at least) first, if not all the files suggested; just in-case... Perhaps post back to clarify what the c: drive/partition is; and the other three as well?

Drive c & E belongs to one hard disk Drive D & F Belongs to second hard disk Drive c: empty Drive D; Windows 98 directory Drive E: Win xp directory Drive f; empty

c: is the (active) primary; the drive which boots the system; and it has the following file there? ntldr, ntdect.com, bootsect.dos, boot.ini - and quite a few other dos-based files that are part of the '98 boot/start-up files group? You have two physical drives installed, and the info. you post now confirms that c: is on one (the Master) drive and is a Primary; d: is on the second drive (a Slaved drive) and is also another Primary; e: is an Extended-partition/logical drive on the Master drive; f: is an Extended-partition etc. on the Slaved drive. Thus the above mentioned files will be in c: on the first/Master drive. Providing the above is correct... then you can simply re-install '98 to where it is now; then run XP repair/fixmbr routine to recover access to XP and restore the dual-boot. Remember that the fixmbr routine, after re-installing '98, is to allow XP to reset the mbr to the necessary XP version; otherwise XP will not boot... Again... copy the files I detailed earlier to a floppy; just to be safe - especially the bootsect.dos. And do NOT change the contents of c: - nor reformat it etc. Leave it as it is. Otherwise it's a very simple matter to re-install '98 and then recover access to XP. If you want any more input on how to re-install '98... post back?