Hello!

I'm currently trying to reinstall the updated version of Windows 98 on a Compaq computer. I follow all of the steps in the manual, and I believe that I own all of the nessecarry CD's and Floppies to install it, but I'm having a few problems.

First things first, when I run scan disk, I get the "long file name" error that scandisk cannot fix. I would fix it myself, except that 1) I don't know which file it is. and 2) Windows 98 is not even installed yet. However, this does not seem to effect the setup... or at least, it doesn't seem to tell me directly that it does.

Also, about every other time I try to install the operating system, I get a few mroe errors on scandisk that I let scandisk fix. Even when it fixes these errors though, the next screen says that setup cannot countinue until the errors are fixed. I don't understand why it says to do this since I selected fix on the scandisk screen. When this happens, I just hit the restart button on the computer and go through setup again.

If the only the long file name error occurs, I can hit enter and the setup continues. However, this is where the major problem begins. I hit enter and it says that it is beginnning to copy files essential for Windows 98. The computer makes industrious noises for a minute, then falls silent and hums like it's sitting idle. Nothing furthur happens and no error messages are displayed.

What can I do to get past the copying files step? Any help is super appreciated!

Thanks!

Sounds like you have a harddrive problem. are you using a floppy to boot from and do install?

I boot from the floppy and then use the Windows 98 (updated version) CD.

It's not a new computer - when it was operable it was infected with viruses. I did a system restore using the Compaw Restore disks, but somehow I have this feeling that it didn't work 100%. Still, it deleted the operating system, so I thought it was passable. Could that be the problem -a not fully restored Hard Drive?

What do you mean by "Windows 98 (updated version)"? It doesn't sound like you've wiped the drive. Do you wanna do a clean install or are you attempting a repair?

http://stingrays8.tripod.com/format...

Apparently there was an update to Window's 98. At that time, the computer broke down and we took it to a computer repair store. The repair store guy reinstalled Windows 98, but also gave us the CD he used - which had all of the updates on it.

So, I'm trying a fresh install of Windows 98, but with this CD that I'm assuming has Window's 98 plus all of the patches and updates on it. However, this CD seems to work just fine, until that one point.

I'll try wiping the drive again and I'll tell you how that goes. Before, when I was wiping it, it would just stop at the parts where it asked me to switch the restore disks (there were two disks) and not move. So, in frustration I just skipped those parts and let it continue the restore without putting in the other CD. It was this way that I got to the point that I am now - without an Operating System.

I don't know how you're going about wiping it, but everything you need to know is explained in detail in the link I supplied in my last response.

You should be booting off a Win98 boot floppy, then running FDISK from the DOS prompt. You should delete the existing partition & create a new one. Once you've done that, you can format the drive. After it's formatted, reboot again & use the FDISK /MBR command to delete & recreate the master boot record. After completing all that, THEN try installing Win98.

Thank you very very much! I'll try it right this instant! This is like the best advice I've gotten so far, and it seems like it will deffinatly work.

I'll keep you posted.

Alright, well, I followed the advice on the link and reinstalled Windows 98. It works... sort of. Let me explain. The whole tool bar and start menu is birght blue for some reason. It won't display the My Computer Icon picture, or the Recycle Bin picture, and a few others.

Whenever I start it up, it gives me a list of programs that are nesecarry for Windows to Operate but are not on the computer or are not working. It asks me to reinstall these programs - but I'm not sure how to do it without messing everything up.

Any advice?

After a few data purges and reinstallations, I got it to work. Thanks for your help!

Perseverance pays off! Glad to see you finally got it working.