usaf_ret

Hello again everyone...and a special hello to TJ and Chevvy!
I am working on niece's Gateway pc.. OS is win98SE.. if that isn't bad enough, she has aol 9 installed on it too..... when trying to browse ANYPLACE on the web i get an error stating something about "IE has caused a page fault error"...can't recall exact wording right now but can get it.. I downloaded and installed a new copy of ie6/sp1, to no avail.. It will go to aol with no problem, just no place else.. If I uninstall aol, and ie, will i be able to reinstall 98SE over the one that is already there?? Is there a "fix it" option when i attempt a reinstall?? I don't want to format the disk if there is an easier way out... Not sure what is valuable to her so don't know what i would need to back-up....
THANKS to any and all helpers!!

donkey42

yeah, no problem, just boot from a bootdisk (obviously one with CD drivers) and reinstall 98 over the top of itself (that way no data will be lost)

BTW you may have to reinstall some programs and drivers (to reload all the registry settings)

usaf_ret

thanks donkey.............in the beginning will it give me an option to repair or install?? Could i just back-up the reg to a cd and reinstall it to keep the programs/drivers that are already there??
thanks again!!!

donkey42

no, 98 dosn't have all the bells and whistles that XP has, it will just install over itselfin theory - yes, in practice - maybe not, because you will also be putting crap in your new registry from you current system, i think also - the larger the registry is - the slower the system will be, just reistall your software and drivers

usaf_ret

THANKS AGAIN donkey.. i notice some programs on here that she does not have disks for that were downloaded and installed.....also her pictures, music, documents, and things like that...can i do a backup on those or any of them and put them back after installation.......?? I have a backup program that i am going to put on it for this purpose.. I don't think she has the .exe file for those that she downloaded and installed though...

donkey42

you don't need to backup anything (obviously except C:\Windows (and all subdiretories) and you'll find it much easier if you (as you said) backup your registry (to extract only the entries you want, extract from the old .reg file you backed up before you reistalled 98) unless you format the drive (which needs doing about every year or so)some programs will just work, then if a program wont work it'll tell you why (in the best way it can) just replace the missing files (obviously overrighting older versions only) and also putting in the registry entries required

BTW: your best option is to export your current registry as a text file (regisrty.txt, probably over 20Mb) then copy the entries you want to keep to a new text document (regisrtynew.txt) then rename it registynew.reg and add it to the new registry

usaf_ret

GREAT and detailed instructions donkey---thank you!! I am gonna give it a try and see what happens.... will post again later today....thanks again.....

donkey42

good luck, hope it goes well

Geekgirl

Hi usaf_ret hope all is well with you.....

I never need to boot to the Win 98 cd, just place the cd in the drive while the system is booted up, and install the O.S. over top of itself.

You should not lose any of your programs or settings but you might need to install some Windows Updates (SP1)




You might want to try and Run the System File Checker first

Go to the Run box on the Start Menu and type in:

sfc

This command will immediately initiate the Windows File Protection service to scan all protected files and verify their integrity, replacing any files with which it finds a problem.


In all likelihood you will be prompted to insert the Windows 98 CD.

donkey42

good, cos the 98 CD is not bootable (by default)
if you say so, never heard that, but a most of what i know i've learnt by doingprobably

Geekgirl

My bad, I should have made this clearer, I didnt think someone would pick apart my words...
you need a 98 boot disc in order to boot form the WIN98 cd


donkey42, you have never heard of the System File Checker, and your giving advise .......

donkey42

sorry, i thuoght you meant boot from the CD, it's clearer when i reread it, sorry

never needed it, i used to find my own way around things i come up against, do you think maybe i should just read the posts for now, instead of posting what i would do, if i were in the same possition ?

Jlp1928

Hi, You got great info here already. The only thing I can add is that I have loaded 98se over itself many many times. You will not lose anything if things go well, but it is still a good idea to backup personal data, pics etc. You will pick up some Windoze junk that you may have dumped previously, but that can be dumped again.

Good luck, Jim

usaf_ret

THANKS to each and all!!!! The details were so easy to follow and everything went to perfection except a little trouble finding a driver for a ethernet card i had put in for temp use downloading aol9.. I don't know how anyone lives with dial-up (and aol).... I'm spoiled I guess! Anyway, the machine is repaired and is going back to the little gal today.. Thanks again!
Oh---glad you are still with us TJ, you are usually the first to jump on these posts of mine... This item can be closed, still don't know how to do that...

Geekgirl

Glad you got it resolved and I am happy to help


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