Keinark

So I have this old HP Pavilion that used to work, but after downloading some updates, I've had nothing but problems. I purchased a Win 98 Boot-CD Fix disk from ebay, in the hopes it would replace dll files, etc. Problem is, when booting the computer, it tells me to press Enter to boot from the fix it disk. At that point, the keyboard isn't recognized, so it defaults to the system boot. It gives me the "drumming" window updates icon. After a little more than halfway through the updating process, I get a screen full of vertical stripes and everything locks up.

Any ideas?

spike2me

First browse to C:Windows\Options\Cabs folder in that folder do you see a "Setup.exe" Icon? if so you have your Windows 98 setup disk in this folder. You don't need that CD. Now go to Start/Run and type SFC. The System File checker will start. If you loaded Windows from the cabs folder, System File Checker will look for missing Windows files and load them from the Windows Setup folder. Also, if you have a 98 Boot floppy, boot with that and when you get to the Command Prompt, type CD Windows (the command prompt should say C:\>Windows), then type CD Options (should say C:\>Windows\Options) and then CD Cabs (now should say C:\>Windows\Options\Cabs) type Setup. This will run the Windows 98 Setup. It will leave all of your files alone, only reinstall the Windows OS.

Keinark

Well, that would be possible if I could get to a browser or start button of any sort. It never finishes the boot process. The keyboard isn't recognized. Thanks though.

wrench97

Win98SE or plain Win 98?

Keinark

I think it is plain Win 98, but not sure. Found it at a garage sale for $5 lol. I thought that if I could get it running, I could use it for music storage.

wrench97

Do yo have the cd key?
If it is a OEM version it may not legally work.

Keinark

I have nothing for it.

wrench97

Time for a new plan.

OldGrayGary

Hi all


Keinark ---

It sounds like your repairs have been complicated by not being able to use the keyboard in the Bios screens, or when booted to the repair CD, or in DOS.

If you've been using a PS/2 keyboard, try things with a different PS/2 keyboard.

I'm going to guess, though, that up to this point you've been using a USB keyboard, which currently isn't available except after Windows loads. Usually, this means that a setting the PC's Bios isn't enabled that allows use of the USB keyboard in the Bios (and in DOS, and in situations where the operating system hasn't yet loaded). To enable the setting in the PC's Bios you might have to borrow a PS/2 keyboard long enough to change the setting in the Bios.

1. Power off the PC.
2. Replace the USB keyboard with a PS/2 keyboard.
3. Power on the PC, and immediately press the function key or key combo mentioned in the Bios banner message or splash screen: "Press F1 (or F2, F10, DEL, etc.) to Enter Setup".
4. Search for an item in the Bios menus "Legacy USB Support" or "USB keyboard support" or similar = and set it to "Enabled".
5. Choose "Save Changes & Exit".

You can then power off & reattach the USB keyboard. On reboot, you should now be able to usethe keyboard when booting from the repair CD you acquired. You can also try the in-place reinstall mentioned earlier, if an undamaged set of installation files are on the hard drive in a \Windows\Options subfolder (the title of the subfolder can vary by vendor).

If your repair CD has hard disk & memory diagnostics, run appropriate tests.

Should the PC pass it's hardware diagnostics, but you cannot get a working set of Windows installation files for repair purposes, another option is to try a version of Linux for older PCs (such as "Xbuntu") -- Linux is open-source and free, and is a bit safer for visiting the Internet than Win9x/Me nowadays (since Win9x/Me antimalware tools are dwindling).

If your current repair CD doesn't have diagnostics included, you can download and try the free open-source UBCD, which includes many such tools --- http://www.utimatebootcd.com

Best of luck
. . . Gary

Keinark

Thanks! I'll try that this weekend.