Re-format an upgraded computer

TFR1959 · 11-23-2004, 11:40 AM

I have an old computer networked to a newer Windows XP computer. The old computer was Originally windows 95. I upgraded to Windows 98Se. I also added a cdrw drive at a later date. The computer has all kind of problems. Everytime I start up the registry editor pops up. All of a sudden I am unable to to get online, I can't acess the control panel, etc., etc. I think the best option is to re-format the computer and start all over. I am not sure exactly what I need to do. I do have all of my original disks. I asume that the computer will go back to windows 95 and I will have to upgrade it to Windows 98se. Will I also have to reinstall the cdrw drive? I would appreciate any help and/or advice.

Thanks so much!

Terri

black_car · 11-23-2004, 06:54 PM

sometimes the best overall solution for time and ease is reformatting yes.

Even if you just updated from 95 to 98 and it's having problems, doing a fresh 95 install, then an upgrade to 98 so that things are new may work out better for you and yes I'd try that.

You won't need to reinstall the drive physically but if 98 doesn't recognize it via plug-n-play then you may need to reload drivers for it yes.

**Detah** · 11-28-2004, 06:02 PM

You could have an item in your autoexec.bat that says open regedit.exe during startup. You could have a virus that is opening/editing/writing to your Registry during every startup. I don't know what kind of internet connection you have, but your computer may have been taken over by a remote source. In fact, I can think of a half dozen things that could cause what you describe.

I recommend you post a HiJackThis log in the Security section of this forum to rule out hijacking and virii before you reformat. Wouldn't it stink if you reformated, installed Win95, upgraded to Win98 and found that you had the exact same problem still? Go to Security, rule out the badguys, then come back here if necessary.

You may want to post the contents of your autoexec.bat and config.sys for the Security techs along with your HiJackThis log.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TFR1959

Everytime I start up the registry editor pops up. All of a sudden I am unable to to get online, I can't acess the control panel, etc., etc.
Terri

11-23-2004, 11:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
TFR1959 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1 OS: XP	Re-format an upgraded computer I have an old computer networked to a newer Windows XP computer. The old computer was Originally windows 95. I upgraded to Windows 98Se. I also added a cdrw drive at a later date. The computer has all kind of problems. Everytime I start up the registry editor pops up. All of a sudden I am unable to to get online, I can't acess the control panel, etc., etc. I think the best option is to re-format the computer and start all over. I am not sure exactly what I need to do. I do have all of my original disks. I asume that the computer will go back to windows 95 and I will have to upgrade it to Windows 98se. Will I also have to reinstall the cdrw drive? I would appreciate any help and/or advice. Thanks so much! Terri Last edited by CTSNKY; 11-23-2004 at 12:02 PM.

11-23-2004, 06:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
black_car Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 9 OS: xp	sometimes the best overall solution for time and ease is reformatting yes. Even if you just updated from 95 to 98 and it's having problems, doing a fresh 95 install, then an upgrade to 98 so that things are new may work out better for you and yes I'd try that. You won't need to reinstall the drive physically but if 98 doesn't recognize it via plug-n-play then you may need to reload drivers for it yes.