Windows 98; Need Help

bil_drk · 06-25-2009, 03:11 PM

Have an old IBM with win98 on it, my cd drive recently burned out of it and i had an old one still with me. i pluged it in, and it still worked but windows would not find it. i found out i am missung the file APPS.INF. I have the file, and if i put it back on my computer would this help Windows recognize the cd drive? any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Geekgirl · 06-25-2009, 08:47 PM

Yeah put it in C:\windows\inf and see if that helps

bil_drk · 06-25-2009, 10:14 PM

thanks geek girl; i'll give it a try. will post back with results to let ya know.

bil_drk · 06-26-2009, 10:31 PM

need more help; i went to find my INF folder in the windows folder on disk c, and it was not there. i went to tools, folder options and clicked view all files, but the folder wasn't there. can i just make a new empty folder and name it 'INF' and it work, or do i have to do something else?

kenny111111 · 06-27-2009, 06:10 PM

hello

no just naming a folder will not work.
that being said win98 has a system file checker (a wonderful feature)
its been a while since i used 98. here is a link
http://www.worldstart.com/tips/syste...t-sysfiles.htm

best of luck

bil_drk · 06-28-2009, 02:52 PM

i tried system file checker; it couldn't find anything missing! i even booted the computer in DOS mode and searched the directory; i still couldn't find the folder. what can i do now?

Geekgirl · 06-28-2009, 03:01 PM

There is probably more than the current issue at hand involved, missing system files and folders is not a good sign....

If it were me, I would do a repair install. With the Windows 98 system booted up, pop in the windows 98 cd and install. Reboot.

bil_drk · 06-28-2009, 03:06 PM

i can't do a system reinstall, because i do not have a CD Drive; thus the whole mess at hand

Geekgirl · 06-28-2009, 03:12 PM

I'm sorry I forgot

I have done this in the past, and it has worked but unsure if it might work for this situation. Place the hard drive as a slaved drive in another 98 machine and copy over the inf folder.

Try this too:
If you can't get it copied via windows, then use 'msdos prompt' to open a dos box and with the file on a floppy disk in the a: drive type:

copy a:\apps.inf c:\windows\inf\

and enter. That should copy it to the inf folder--assuming it's still there. (It probably is, otherwise you'd be getting all kinds of unknown hardware errors.)

kenny111111 · 06-28-2009, 03:14 PM

do you have a win98 disc? is this win98se?did you look in C: > windows > Inf > App thats where mine is. mine is win98se .

bil_drk · 06-29-2009, 10:41 AM

kenny 111111, my problem isn't that simple. my problem is i'm having trouble finding the INF folder in the windows directory

kenny111111 · 06-29-2009, 11:37 AM

yes i understand i was just giving path to where mine is.

it seems to be a catch 22 with the disc but no drive its a no go.

im not sure if 98 supports flash drives? or if theres a way to copy & upload the INF file you need. if there is i would be happy to help. i know theres a site to upload and download stuff like this i will look into it.

do you have a 98 disc??

kenny111111 · 06-29-2009, 12:20 PM

ok i found a free upload site created an account. not sure how to upload Inf folder to it. i have drug the Inf folder to desktop. anybody know what to do from there?

here is the site. you may need to create a free account. not sure.
www.mediafire.com/

kenny111111 · 06-29-2009, 01:39 PM

if you click this link this is where the apps.INF file is uploaded.
http://www.mediafire.com/?n2wjjvmd2md
should be able to download to desktop. drag into Inf folder. if you can find it.
good luck

bil_drk · 06-29-2009, 03:28 PM

windows 98 doesn't support USB, i think 98se supports USB though?

**OldGrayGary** · 06-29-2009, 04:36 PM

Hi all

Just curious - is it certain that the old CD drive is in good working order? (The one you are trying to use as a replacement). Test it in another working PC to see if it's still good (this can save time - if it turns out not to be a missing file). Most CD drives shouldn't need such a file if they are standard IDE/ATAPI drives. The support for CD drives was built into Windows 98. The apps.inf file is for apps originally written for Win 3.1, and enables them to use some of the 'newer' features in Windows 95/98.

Also - see if you can round up another used CD drive to try. If need be, they are about $8 on most local craigslist listings.

Best of luck
. . . Gary

robmm76 · 07-02-2009, 10:00 AM

It may not have the information for your drive. You should be able to get it from the manufacturer's web site. There are also several free sites with device information - Google "device information." Add their file to your system and point to it from the ADD HARDWARE application.

06-25-2009, 03:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
bil_drk Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 46 OS: Windows XP Service Pack 3	Windows 98; Need Help Have an old IBM with win98 on it, my cd drive recently burned out of it and i had an old one still with me. i pluged it in, and it still worked but windows would not find it. i found out i am missung the file APPS.INF. I have the file, and if i put it back on my computer would this help Windows recognize the cd drive? any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

06-25-2009, 08:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,186 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Re: Windows 98; Need Help Yeah put it in C:\windows\inf and see if that helps __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!*

06-25-2009, 10:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
bil_drk Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 46 OS: Windows XP Service Pack 3	Re: Windows 98; Need Help thanks geek girl; i'll give it a try. will post back with results to let ya know.

06-26-2009, 10:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
bil_drk Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 46 OS: Windows XP Service Pack 3	Re: Windows 98; Need Help need more help; i went to find my INF folder in the windows folder on disk c, and it was not there. i went to tools, folder options and clicked view all files, but the folder wasn't there. can i just make a new empty folder and name it 'INF' and it work, or do i have to do something else?

06-27-2009, 06:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
kenny111111 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: central florida USA Posts: 111 OS: vista sp2	Re: Windows 98; Need Help hello no just naming a folder will not work. that being said win98 has a system file checker (a wonderful feature) its been a while since i used 98. here is a link http://www.worldstart.com/tips/syste...t-sysfiles.htm best of luck __________________ HAVE A GREAT DAY Kenny

06-28-2009, 02:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
bil_drk Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 46 OS: Windows XP Service Pack 3	Re: Windows 98; Need Help i tried system file checker; it couldn't find anything missing! i even booted the computer in DOS mode and searched the directory; i still couldn't find the folder. what can i do now?

06-28-2009, 03:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,186 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Re: Windows 98; Need Help There is probably more than the current issue at hand involved, missing system files and folders is not a good sign.... If it were me, I would do a repair install. With the Windows 98 system booted up, pop in the windows 98 cd and install. Reboot. __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!*

06-28-2009, 03:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
bil_drk Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 46 OS: Windows XP Service Pack 3	Re: Windows 98; Need Help i can't do a system reinstall, because i do not have a CD Drive; thus the whole mess at hand

06-28-2009, 03:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,186 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Re: Windows 98; Need Help I'm sorry I forgot I have done this in the past, and it has worked but unsure if it might work for this situation. Place the hard drive as a slaved drive in another 98 machine and copy over the inf folder. Try this too: If you can't get it copied via windows, then use 'msdos prompt' to open a dos box and with the file on a floppy disk in the a: drive type: copy a:\apps.inf c:\windows\inf\ and enter. That should copy it to the inf folder--assuming it's still there. (It probably is, otherwise you'd be getting all kinds of unknown hardware errors.) __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!* Last edited by Geekgirl; 06-28-2009 at 03:15 PM.

06-28-2009, 03:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
kenny111111 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: central florida USA Posts: 111 OS: vista sp2	Re: Windows 98; Need Help do you have a win98 disc? is this win98se?did you look in C: > windows > Inf > App thats where mine is. mine is win98se . __________________ HAVE A GREAT DAY Kenny

06-29-2009, 10:41 AM	#11 (permalink)
bil_drk Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 46 OS: Windows XP Service Pack 3	Re: Windows 98; Need Help kenny 111111, my problem isn't that simple. my problem is i'm having trouble finding the INF folder in the windows directory

06-29-2009, 11:37 AM	#12 (permalink)
kenny111111 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: central florida USA Posts: 111 OS: vista sp2	Re: Windows 98; Need Help yes i understand i was just giving path to where mine is. it seems to be a catch 22 with the disc but no drive its a no go. im not sure if 98 supports flash drives? or if theres a way to copy & upload the INF file you need. if there is i would be happy to help. i know theres a site to upload and download stuff like this i will look into it. do you have a 98 disc?? __________________ HAVE A GREAT DAY Kenny

06-29-2009, 12:20 PM	#13 (permalink)
kenny111111 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: central florida USA Posts: 111 OS: vista sp2	Re: Windows 98; Need Help ok i found a free upload site created an account. not sure how to upload Inf folder to it. i have drug the Inf folder to desktop. anybody know what to do from there? here is the site. you may need to create a free account. not sure. www.mediafire.com/ __________________ HAVE A GREAT DAY Kenny

06-29-2009, 01:39 PM	#14 (permalink)
kenny111111 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: central florida USA Posts: 111 OS: vista sp2	Re: Windows 98; Need Help if you click this link this is where the apps.INF file is uploaded. http://www.mediafire.com/?n2wjjvmd2md should be able to download to desktop. drag into Inf folder. if you can find it. good luck __________________ HAVE A GREAT DAY Kenny

06-29-2009, 03:28 PM	#15 (permalink)
bil_drk Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 46 OS: Windows XP Service Pack 3	Re: Windows 98; Need Help windows 98 doesn't support USB, i think 98se supports USB though?

06-29-2009, 04:36 PM	#16 (permalink)
OldGrayGary Mentor, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 2,240 OS: Windows 98se/2000/XP/Vista	Re: Windows 98; Need Help Hi all Just curious - is it certain that the old CD drive is in good working order? (The one you are trying to use as a replacement). Test it in another working PC to see if it's still good (this can save time - if it turns out not to be a missing file). Most CD drives shouldn't need such a file if they are standard IDE/ATAPI drives. The support for CD drives was built into Windows 98. The apps.inf file is for apps originally written for Win 3.1, and enables them to use some of the 'newer' features in Windows 95/98. Also - see if you can round up another used CD drive to try. If need be, they are about $8 on most local craigslist listings. Best of luck . . . Gary __________________

07-02-2009, 10:00 AM	#17 (permalink)
robmm76 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4 OS: ME	Re: Windows 98; Need Help It may not have the information for your drive. You should be able to get it from the manufacturer's web site. There are also several free sites with device information - Google "device information." Add their file to your system and point to it from the ADD HARDWARE application.