University of Turku

Under work 290905 !!!!

Windows 95 / 98 / 98SE

Windows 9x is still in everyday use and there is still problems. I try to collect here some solutions
Windows hidden commands
If you believe that some system file is broken, try command SFC It might reveal something. It is an awful exaple of Microsoft programming but still....
You got to set the parameters before you make a scan. It might find either none or about one zillion files changed. Very seldom it helps and in most cases it only makes you nervous.

Re-installing Windows98

In some cases the best thing to do is reinstalling Win98. Here is some advise. Here is many versions of the installation. Start with 1. and continue to the last depending of the seriousnes of the case. Let the installation go to the directory where the old version lays

Before you go any further, do the normal homework:

  • BACKUP !
  • Virus checking
  • Spy- and ad- check with Spybot, Adware or similar
  • Scandisk
  • Clean the system by Easyclean. Easyclean makes a copy of your registry every time you use it, so you might restore an older version, if you have used it regularily
  • Defrag
  • ( Scanreg ) If you have made a backup copy of the registry Database. Sometimes scanreg/FIX might help in simple cases
1. Simple case
This is enough in most cases
  1. Take the network cables out
  2. Remove virus checking program
  3. shut every possible program in windows
  4. Open the MSDOS-box by Start + Run + 'Command'
  5. go to the directory WIN98 at the installation media
  6. Give command 'setup /ie /iv'
  7. Boot and test.
2. A bit more serious
Go thru steps 1 - 3 as before then
  1. Copy the Win98 directory without subdirectories to your hard disk C:\win98
  2. Boot the PC to MSDOS (Boot and press F8, select command line)
  3. delete C:\windows\win.com
  4. goto C:\win98
  5. Give command 'setup /ie /iv'
  6. Boot and test.
3. Damned
This is what to do if anything else fails. For example if clicking 'My Computer' gives you no Windows but a error message. Make everything as in 'abit more serious' except when installation asks, where you want to make it. Give a new directory 'windows.new' and then:
  1. continue with the installation
  2. Boot and test. You can not see your own old icons. Thats OK
  4. Boot to MSDOS Copy from C:\windows.new to C:\windows:
    - All *.EXE, *.COM *.DLL and *.PIF - From subdirectories INF, PIF , SYSTEM, and SYSTEM32 all *.EXE, *.COM *.DLL and *.PIF to corresponding subdirectories.
  5. make command 'C:\windows\commands\attrib -s -r -h C:\msdos.sys'
  6. Edit in C:\MSDOS.SYS all text C:\windows.new to C:\windows
    If the editor declines to save the file, connect the hard disk to another PC either thru the IDE bus or thru a USB hard disk module and make editing there (see matopeli -explanation in finnish )
  7. Hope for the best and boot to Windows.
    Now you should see your old icons in windows and everything should be OK.

After all this you should reinstall the virus protection and check everything before you continue.

PTMUSTA at UTU.FI