My old Windows 98 SE freezes on startup at the screen showing the Microsoft logo. I ran scanreg.exe /fix and at 79% complete, the computer churned out: <Windows found an error in your system files and was unable to fix the problem. Try deleting some files to free up disk space on your Windows drive. If that doesn't work then you will need to install Windows to a new directory.> I have no idea what that means. HELP!! Then, I ran scanreg.exe /restore. That also failed miserably since all restoration options are after the problem. And to add insult to injury, I'm actually not allowed to reformat because of my mother. HELP!! What should I do now?

First, see if the HD is near full and preventing scanreg from working. ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

at the logo, hit the escape key, read that page, see whats hanging the boot process.

Nothing is ever certain but scanreg errors are very often due to RAM problems. If you have more than one stick try them one at a time in first position. You could also clean their edge connectors with a clean rubber pencil eraser. DerekW

Try booting in Safe Mode. Repeatedly press the F8 key while booting - don't hold it down - starting very shortly after the beginning of the boot. A menu should pop up - select Safe Mode, and see if it will boot all the way into Windows. ...... If that doesn't work..... Check your hard drive. See the latter part of response 1 in this: http://www.computing.net/windows95/... If there's nothing wrong with the hard drive, "....I'm actually not allowed to reformat because of my mother.".... you don't have to re-format. Maybe this would be acceptable to your mother; if it isn't you'll have to spend some bucks and take it someplace to have a so-called professional diagnose it - just don't let that person take the easy way out and install Windows from scratch, or re-format the computer, without your permission. Your existing personal data can often be saved somewhere first even if that must be done, and restored to the hard drive afterwards. Doing the following takes a little less time than a regular Setup. It will not harm your existing Windows installation, but it can only fix things Windows detects as wrong, and/or replace corrupted or missing Windows files that are on your original Windows CD. You can run an "overtop" Setup and you won't lose anything that is already on the drive. I'm assuming your drive is not too full, and you do not have a brand name computer that has it's original software on it, and you know what the Product Key for the Win 98SE CD is. With the Windows CD in a drive, start the computer with a 98SE Startup Disk floppy, let it load CD drive support, and when it finishes loading, type: setup (press Enter) at the prompt. Install Windows in the SAME directory it is now in - usually that's C:\Windows - in order to not lose anything already in Windows. It will proceed pretty much the same as a normal Setup except your drivers and settings are all already installed, you will be asked very few questions, and usually you don't need to even supply the Product Key for the CD.

Just a general point. I see re-install has been mentioned. This might ultimately prove to be the necessary answer but may I suggest that, provided the HD is not full, you try the RAM suggestion first. My thoughts are that if it did happen to be a RAM problem, which is the most common reason for these particular symptoms, then this could result in a bad install if done with faulty RAM (or its contacts) and risk the loss of your data. DerekW

Why not try scandisk to at least somewhat verify the integrity of the HDD.