Computer problems

[ButterflyBlood]

I'm typing this in the school comp lab now. Basically, on Friday my comp froze up and I couldn't even CTRL-ALT-DEL. So I had to cut the power and turn it back on. I've done this before with no problems, but now Windows won't load, it only goes to safe mode (and this is Windows 98 by the way, it's a fairly old comp but I heard XP sucks ass anyway)

anyway I found my Windows 98 disc so I'm wondering if just reinstall it if that would work or if I could do that in safe mode. Or will I have to take it to the repair shop?

[LTR]

1. How bogged down is it?

Do you clean out the temp files on a regular basis?

Also check your startup menu. There might be too much stuff running at startup.

Do a spyware scan with AdAware or Spybot.

I'd say go back in safe mode, backup any important files, then FDISK and reformat. This will start everything from new.

BTW: XP is MS's best OS, IMO. But it will be a hog on older systems. For an older computer, Win98 is the best.

[ButterflyBlood]

4. I don't think I can do a spyware scan in safe mode

but yeah, I may just end up doing that. Do you go run and then type FDISK to do that?

[LTR]

5. Safe mode? Probably not

But I would install both programs after reformatting.

I beleive you type FDISK to format once you're back in DOS.

Make sure you have the Win98 serial number handy.

[dweller]

8. correct me if i'm wrong

but safemode is still in windows (98etc) and she should be able to run any program installed from there too, from the start menu.

why reformat and lose all personal files etc, if the problem can be rectified from safe mode?

dp

[ButterflyBlood]

15. hmmm

I know some programs are disabled, but not all are since I can access some functions.

When I get back I think I'll see if I can scan everything.

[dweller]

2. is it displaying any error messages during startup?

recently mine wouldn't boot, and was giving me a KB_ _ _ something or another message. I found out the keyboard had fried, and then replaced it and all was well.

are you entering safemode and seeing an enlarged version of windows?

dp

[ButterflyBlood]

3. yep, that's safe mode

no error messages though, it just shows the Windows loading screen and doesn't move past it.

[dweller]

6. so you aren't seeing your regular

but fattened sized windows desktop?
just the startup screen?

dp

[ButterflyBlood]

7. no, I see that in safe mode

but if I try to enter in normal mode (hold CTRL while starting up and you get a menu of what to load), nothing simply loads.

[dweller]

10. do you have Norton AV?

and if so, you should have made boot disks for this purpose.

hate to see you have to reformat and lose all personal files. I run my diskfrag and other programs thru safe mode all the time, so you should be able to run other programs from the start menu in safe mode.

dp

[ButterflyBlood]

16. yeah, I have Norton

and all I have on my computer are a bunch of school assignments I've already handed in, a bunch of MP3s I can easily replace and programs like AIM which are also easily replacable. I got this computer from my aunt and I still have a lot of her junk on it, so I actually would like to trash all the stuff I don't need. I have less than 100 MB of hard drive space left.

[TreasonousBastard]

24. It's not CTRL...

it's F8 that gets you into the boot menu.

This happens to me at least once a month with 98SE. There's a 99% chance nothing's wrong now if it actually booted into Safe Mode.

Hit F8 while it's booting, and you might have to try this a couple of times to make sure you get it soon enough. Choose #1-- normal, and see what happens. If you get a whiny message about it not loading properly the last time, ignore it.

If there are still problems with it loading normally, choose the step-by-step mode, and see what's hanging it.

[dweller]

28. yes, that's what i was thinking

and i'm beginning to think hardware, not software/windows as the culprit. Have to see what ButterflyBlood reports back in the long run.

dp

[nini]

9. try booting from the Win 98 disk and reinstall

then once you get up and running - run adware, clean up the hard drive etc..

[Gman]

11. XP is an incredibly stable OS

compared to 98. Win2K Pro is just as stable. If your system has the minimum requirements, I highly recommend upgrading to XP. I've been using both Win2k Pro and now XP for the last 4 or 5 years (since 2K came out) and have never again had the problems I had with 95 & 98.

98SE (second edition -- much more stable than the original 98) was a great OS at the time. But that was a relatively long time ago now. You really need to upgrade to XP if your system can handle it.

[salvorhardin]

14. Agreed

I am a Linux person and even I agree that Win XP is pretty darn good. I wouldn't even mind paying the Microsoft tax if it wasn't for the inherently bad security and all the DRM BS.

[Deja Q]

21. Try Win2k first, it uses fewer resources than XP...

Far fewer system resources... Half the hard disc space and half the RAM, to say the least... XP is a filthy pig of a hog.

XP's stability comes at a cost of far greater system resources.

And when Steve Ballmer rolled around saying XP is what Win2k should have been, we should have been given discounts, not price hikes.

Linux is far better, no matter which way one looks at it.

[dweller]

12. realizing that you said you were at a school complab

perhaps the helpdesk there would be able to supply you needed disk to rescue boot and put you back up and running to clean up your hard drive etc.

just a thought.
gotta go run errands, but will check back and see if you've gotten this worked out,
good luck!
dp

[starroute]

13. Or boot in safe mode and try the troubleshooting routines

Start menu - Help - Index - Troubleshooting - with Windows 98 Troubleshooters.

It will run you through various sets of questions and tests. It doesn't always help, but it's worth a try.


On edit: When I have problems like that, it often turns out to be a corrupt registry. The answer to that is to reinstall from a backup -- but you have to know whether you have a registry backup, and then you need someone who knows the ropes to tell you how to restore.

[MichaelHarris]

17. Lets back up a bit

Is it Windows 98 SE? Its possible to boot into safe mode and click START RUN and type MSCONFIG in that panel we can disable start up things that may be causing this. This is very important, DO NOT reinstall windows with anti-virus software running, especially Norton. By running MSCONFIG in safe mode we can determine what VXD, DLL, or app is causing it to boot into safe mode.

On edit: I saw where you said you have Norton, sorry for not reading. Its veery important not to reinstall Windows with that running. Using MSCONFIG we can disable Norton at boot, If that doesn't work I can walk you through the registry settings. If you can get to safe mode we can fix this. Not to start a Norton flame war but the #1 issue in MS tech support, before they went to India was Norton/Symantic installs. At one point we actually discussed a class action lawsuit against symantic, like the one filed against AOL a few years back. Not to get to techie what Norton does is protect changes to system files, which is a good thing unless the changes you are trying to make are intended to fix things, like a reinstall of Windows. If you haven't started yet let me know.

[ButterflyBlood]

18. I don't think Norton runs unless I open it though

aka it's just basically dormant now. So is it OK?

[MichaelHarris]

20. If

when Norton was installed using the default settings it is running in the background. I would like to see you uninstall Norton in safe mode before you go any farther. I have seen instances where Norton would never uninstall. I can't stress enough the evil Norton is. I'm gonna get flamed huh? Decide if you want to try the uninstall route or the disable route in safe mode. I'll help you every step of the way.

Michael

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

19. Things to consider BEFORE jumping off the cliff

Do you have irreplaceable files that haven't been backed up? Word docs, Excel databases, Outlook Express Address Books, Outlook databases, a well-stocked My Pictures folder, and so on?

Booting into Safe Mode may or may not solve a major system problem-- a corrupt driver, or a scrambled system file (common in '98 after an unexpected reboot), etc. Using the MSCONFIG utility will only help you if you have experience in using it. Running FDISK can delete your entire partition in a moment if you don't know how to use it. Guessing at what key to press or which button to push can get you into major trouble if you have things that cannot be replaced.

My response is, yes, take it to the reapair shop. They can pull your hard drive and back up your files. They can track and replace system files you know nothing about. And if it's time to wipe and reinstall they can do it the right way, and save your data in the process.

It's worth the expense. I know-- I do it for a living. I've recovered and saved many priceless bits of data for people, and I've never had anyone mad at me for doing it. And I've always been paid by smiling clients.

[ButterflyBlood]

23. I'd rather lose...

a bunch of old school assignments, rather easily replaceable MP3s, and some porn than have to spend $50 getting it fixed.

But it turns out that might just be easier anyway.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

26. Good luck, whatever your choice.

I know such a service can strain a pocketbook. I hope you don't need to have it fixed.

[dweller]

22. just checking back in

glad to see the voice of experience, esp. Prisoner#6 here.

tossed around your situation in my head while away, and wanted to also point out another possibility, that it could be hardware, ie. the hard disk. You have noted it's an older computer, I run win98 also and am fairly happy with it. But i have had to replace more hardware than software along the way.

Be prepared to, or even preemptively consider purchasing a larger hard drive (up to 60-80gig) and have your system transferred over. You did mention being down to your last 100mbs of space, time to upgrade!

dp

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

25. Thanks!

A couple things to consider if you add a hard drive to an older computer-- the computer will possibly (probably?) not support the full speed of a new hard drive (no big deal, as it will access it at the same speed as the original drive). And if it's a REAL old Win98 machine the bios may not even see the hard drive's full capacity!

Win2000 or XP overcomes that by directly reading the drive parameters, so an upgrade may be in order so you can take full advantage of a large hard drive on an old machine. (This may not in fact be relevant with your machine. It depends on when it was manufactured.)

On an older machine I would probably upgrade to Win2000 in lieu of XP, for various reasons-- memory needs, install size, and so on. Someone else's opinion may differ. Cool beans.

[dweller]

27. You deserve the praise!

You've provided many threads with help to me, and others along these veins.

I know about the hard drive constrictions w/ win98 machines having one myself, which is why i recommended up to 80gigs, about what mine can handle. Nowadays, 120-180gigs are common, and my beater can't even see it. I'm hoping to add a secondary 20gig, totalling 60g on mine soon. Hard to find the smaller units tho these days.

keep up the good work P#6!
:thumbsup:

dp