My Windows 98 SE install will not boot. Running fine and then when I tried to get back into it would not boot in either safe or normal mode. Ussually leaves the computer on but shut it off last night and it will not boot, the process freezes. Tried the registry fix C:\ scanreg /fix and scanreg /opt. I was able to get safe mode back up but still can not boot back up into to normal mode. I need the information off this disk and can not do a "fresh install" Anybody got any ideas on how to get it to boot in normal mode. Looked at the Autoexec and config.sys and everything looks fine. I have no idea on what to try now. Was thinking of trying to install 98 over itself but I need the programs that are there to work. Please help! any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!

You can install windows over itself without losing your data. Boot to a dos prompt and at c:\> type:

ren c:\windows\win.com win.old

and enter. This renames win.com to win.old to fool the setup process. Then install windows in the normal manner. If it tells you that you've already got an operating system and asks if you want to exit setup or replace the current OS, choose to replace it. Then during the setup process it will ask what directory you want windows installed in. It will default to 'windows.000' because it'll see you've already got a directory named 'windows'. Choose 'other directory' and change 'windows.000' back to 'windows' so that everything installs in your old directory.

no need to do all that ren.
just load win98 on top of 98.
it'll fix everything.
done it a jillion times