Need help for friend w/WIn 98SE

[bootaz]

Hi,
I'm new here & I hope my friend & I can get some help!
I rebuilt an old Emachine someone else gave her. She paid for upgrade on the RAM (258 mgb's?), I reformatted the hard drive & did a clean install of Win 98 SE.

It has been running fine till just a few days ago. Her boyfriend somehow deleted some .dll's & now it shows the win.dll is missing, along with some others. I hate to have her completely wipe her drive & reinstall Windows. She is a REAL novice at this. I'm not an expert. Is there a safe way to recover the dll's? If not, can she do a non-destructive reinstall of Windows 98, with out losing all her pictures & files?
I am using Windows SP Home & am not real familiar with 98. Though my hubby says if I can help her fix hers, then I get to work on our old Compac w/98.
Thanks!

[bookworm]

Originally Posted by bootaz

Hi,
I'm new here & I hope my friend & I can get some help!
I rebuilt an old Emachine someone else gave her. She paid for upgrade on the RAM (258 mgb's?), I reformatted the hard drive & did a clean install of Win 98 SE.

It has been running fine till just a few days ago. Her boyfriend somehow deleted some .dll's & now it shows the win.dll is missing, along with some others. I hate to have her completely wipe her drive & reinstall Windows. She is a REAL novice at this. I'm not an expert. Is there a safe way to recover the dll's? If not, can she do a non-destructive reinstall of Windows 98, with out losing all her pictures & files?
I am using Windows SP Home & am not real familiar with 98. Though my hubby says if I can help her fix hers, then I get to work on our old Compac w/98.
Thanks!

Have a look at this from M$ on running the System File Check for Win 98
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;185836


Hope this helps

[Miz]

If System File Checker doesn't fix things, yes, she can install Windows 98 over top of the existing installation without losing any data.

That said, there's always a risk that data will be lost but I've done over-the-top installations of Win98 and never lost anything (but the time it takes to do it, that is )

[bootaz]

Thank you, old timer, Miz, & bookworm for the great advice you each gave.

Old timer, I'll have her look there, but doubt if the files are there. The boyfriend thinks he "knows more than her" because he works on XP. He's ok, but not even near as good as her.

Bookworm, I didn't think of System File Checker. I'll get in on our 98 & look at it. Thanks for the link!

Miz, pardon a stupid question, but how do you install over an existing Windows? I have done it with XP, but never tried it on our Win98.

Thanks again!
bootaz

[harry12]

With boyfriends like that! - why idn't he back-up her pics before deleting things.....grief! What was he doing deleting things? Arrgh!
(Doesn't she burn pairs of CD's representing every week/month of work?) Why she rely on such an old PC if it's her life's work...or are we talking about some fuzzy old family pics that have little value to her? All a bit odd.

Unless there is an Expert about, pressing the keys, I suggest she takes the PC to someone that knows about such things ( Data recovery Co)- it will be an expensive lesson but fiddling about is only going to make it worse. Then reinstall the OS and handcuff said boyfriend, if he's still about.

The danger is that whatever you do (to resolve the issue) - -er, doesn't because the original "deed" went further than he's admitting......
...and if you make it worse then the "blame" will be shifted to your door and that might affect your friendship........ be lucky.

[tomo222]

Basically Win98 is Old unreliable and causes loads of errors and isnt very stable on PCs running 512meg , it looks absolutely awful and runs crap on modern pcs.

System Requirements
Min Processor Type Intel 486 or higher - 66 MHz
Min RAM Size 16 MB
Min Hard Drive Space 120 MB
Peripheral / Interface Devices Mouse or compatible device, CD-ROM

Can Any 1 See my Point ?

[Miz]

Before you start the reinstallation, make sure you have the product key. If it's not on a sticker on the computer's case or it's been lost, you can run Magic Jellybean's Key Finder to retrieve it. If you don't have the product key, you cannot complete the installation and things will be worse than when you started.

To reinstall 98 over top of the existing installation, boot with a Windows 98 boot floppy choosing "With CD-ROM support." Once all the whirring and clicking has stopped and you see the A:\ prompt, type X:\setup (where X is the drive designation for the CD drive, usually E because the boot floppy make a temporary D drive) and press the Enter key on the keyboard.

If everything goes as it should, the Windows 98 installation should proceed.

[bootaz]

Thanks to you all for all the information you have given my friend & me. Her partner finally decided (sadly) not to buy her a new eMachine with XP, but had her take it into a computer shop recommended by one of his fellow workers. The gentleman there said it was "not the worst, but 2nd worst defraged computer he had ever seen!" She said I never told her how to degrag. I thought I did. Oh well.

Again, thanks to you all. We have an old Compac w/Win98. So all the advice will be helpful for me to "get it running?" again. No, it's not our only computer. We use a HP Pavillion with XP home. WIsh it was XP PRO!

bootaz

[harry12]

Glad it's sorted!
However, it begs the Q. Why Defrag isn't "routine" (ie behind the scenes) - SAY: a pop-up says "the HDD needs attention, when is it convenient to waste an half hour" - you can get on with work and leave the PC to clean-up over lunch ( etc ). [[having pulled out the internet lead]]
Don't you get the impression that the lads at Microsoft really aren't trying? Grr.

[bootaz]

I think I told her how to defrag. But as I said before, the last computer she had ever worked on was a Commadore! She is more than a bit out of the loop on this.

The guy who worked on it showed her how. Now she has a scheduled time to do it. At least she is trying to learn.


I don't care for Microsoft either! But, am not experienced enough to branch out just yet. Linux looks interesting!

[harry12]

Oldtimer:
I've caused you some confusion ...I was suggesting that the OS could tell us Users when Defrag is needed, the reason for pulling the Internet is to avoid interuption, lightning strikes etc....I should ahve said the PC would operate in Safe-Mode for best results when Derfagging, don't you agree?
It was "I wish" - it doesn't happen.

Bootas:
So it's sorted eh?
=- and you want to try Linux....head need examining? Time to waste?

The low-down from my perspective:
1) Go for Ubuntu....try the Live CD (which runs slowly, but doesn't affect yr HDD.). You can enter your ISP details and it will surf the internet just like IE...some say better under Firefox. There is an OpenOffic program that replicates "Word" and spreadsheets etc. several games maybe a waste of space, but many will like them. It's not Windows...but it's close enough.

IF you Like it, then consider a new HDD...this avoids all issues with your Working PC. Install the regular Ubuntu (dapper Drake, currently) and it should partition alowing you enough room for a Win install later.
It will set up your ports, usb's and all manner of wonderful things.......BUT.....my experience of earlier versions...it won't let you "click to install" Java, which finance sites need for moving prices...and you can't easily install a .PDF reader......so many "help mauals" are not available.......
Experts say it's easy - but take them the machine and they will fiddle for hours and still not achieve it.....after 6 months I reverted to Wiin98SE - at least I could print out my photos. (Linux has an issue with non HP-Cannon printers, IMHO)....mine is an old Lexmark and there is scant support so it doesn't work except in text-mode (Arrgh!).
The "Win partition".... (you did get one? The partitioning tool is a nightmare, IMHO) ---load yr Win98SE for all those familiar programs and your PC is free to use Linux and other stuff...as you like it.

When/If Ubuntu gets Java/.pdf/Lexmark printers sorted, it's great.
1) it's free (just a dollar for the disc)
2) it's not MS
3) it's virtually virus/trogan/malware free, because YOU control the core, not the OS.

[[Note there was an issue with Java applets I think, but this was resolved. Firefox should be v1.5 or later, to fix another issue but I forget the details.]]
Plenty of Ubuntu-Forum sites, but nothing like as easy (like this one!) to navigate...and most folk talk complete gibberish. You have been warned.

Let me know IF/When your take....H.