Computer is going psycho. Is there a way to install windows over windows?

[Mears]

I have windows on my c:, but I also have other stuff there as well that I don't want to lose. Something is really causing my computer to f%^& up bad.

Problems

My question is can I just boot off the win98 install disk and install over win98 or do I have to reformat my c: first?

 

[Wolfie]

When you boot of your CD. It will say that it found a windows OS already installed. You can tell it to reinstall over the old one. I have been told that you will not lose info. But I have never done it that way. I always fdisk'd and reformated... That way I know it's a clean install.

Wolf

 

[Mears]

Here is another update to my problem. I tried running a thorogh Scan Disc and it gave me an error that said that it had to reset 10 times because Windows or another program was writing to the drive even though I didn't even have anything else opened up. Does this sound like anything?

 

[Wolfie]

To me is sounds like there is something running in the background. Like FindFast or something.

Do a ctr+alt+del and shut down everything except Exporer and systray. Then run the scandisk.


Wolf

 

[Sephiroth_IX]

It's a bad idea to install over an install. I would backup the data to CDR's and reinstall

 

[superbaby]

It's not "bad" to do it but you might not get the best performance out of it, but if you just want it to work then you're fine.

Windows install just copys everything in the CAB setup files into the Windows folder, including registry and drivers. Basically you get a fresh install of Windows over a pile of junk. Sometimes this is bad because some drivers and other system files DON'T get replaced (because they are newer, but setup ALWAYS ASKS YOU! So just say "Yes" when you have to replace a file) and if those have compatibility problems then your system will screw up again.

 

[PowerJoe]

My article on the subject

-PJ

 

[jwg]

I did exactly that (install over original install) a couple weeks back (Win98). Did it after computer died with a registry error and wouldn't boot. The install went smoothly but I did have problems only one of which was quickly fixed. Several programs wouldn't function and had to be reinstalled (WinPoet For DSL Access and my Scanner Software).

The one big problem has been Outlook Express. It no longer works and I can't uninstall / reinstall it. I've tried for 2 weeks and can't get it back. I get the message "software may be busy or missing a component. check your installation" (or something like that).

I'll be doing a reformat / clean install when I get the time to backup everything. :frown:

 

[jblondi]

You sure can install over windows. Just put the windows cd in and type "setup" in the run window. I live and die by this. Cleans out corrupted files and replaces them with clean ones. Saves all your non windows files as well. Just have your driver disks handy before you start.

 

[MasterMind]

You can reinstall Windows but some files are not overwritten or deleted. You can delete Windows from DOS by typing deltree windows. Then just run "setup" off the CD.

 

[Danlz]

I read your problems from the previous 2 threads, and it smells like a corrupt registry. Concerning the installation of Win over Win: bah! Use the PowerJoe method, or boot into DOS and del Windows. Then, do the setup.exe. You don't need to reformat C, and you won't lose your files. But, you will have to reload the .exe programs from your CD's and some settings and preferences.
If you have folders on your desktop, just make a new folder on C named DesktopTwo and copy to it because Win will replace your desktop completely. IMHO!

 

[Mears]

I ended up dl'ing Norton and I had a virus! I have another thread circulating around here on it. I ended up reformatting and reinstalling.