Win98 broken! Can I fix registry from command prompt, and Can I install Win98 SE over Win98 FE without losing programs?

[timswim78]

I uninstalled Norton AV 5.0 on a friend's computer in order to install version 8.0. When I uninstalled 5.0 and rebooted, Windows would not restart, even in safe mode. I keep getting errors about all of these missing vxd files. So, I restored all of the vxd files that I could from the recovery CD, and I was still getting the same error messages.

So, I guess that this is probably a problem with the registry? Is there a way that I can fix the registry from DOS?

Also, the computer is running Win98 First Edition, and the recovery CD requires a format to reinstall windows. I do have a copy Win98 SE, and I was thinking about installing it overtop of her current installation. If I do this, will she be able to keep her currently installed software?

Thanks a bunch.

 

[Jolt2]

You can try to restore an earlier version of the registry. Win98 by default keeps 5 backup copies of the registry. Here is a link:

TextWin98 restore registry

As a last resort you can try this. I have never had to do this so I do not know if it works, but this is some info I picked up of somewere and you could try this......

"What are the commands(in order) for the six steps (DOS Commands) to
RECONSTRUCT the WIN98 registry?


posted June 04, 2001 05:21 AM
| IP: Logged

you should thank Tech666 for this file...

1. take the following lines and and past the to a file called cleanreg.bat.

2. put it in c:\

3. run cleanreg.bat windir (e.g. : cleanreg.bat C:\windows)

---------------------------------------------
Cleanreg.bat
---------------------------------------------

attrib %1\system.dat -s -h -r
attrib %1\user.dat -s -h -r
pause 'press a key to continue or ctrl c to end'
cls
copy %1\system.dat %1\system.jjh
copy %1\user.dat %1\user.jjh
pause 'press a key to continue or ctrl c to end'
cls

regedit /l:%1\system.dat /e %1\system.jbk
pause 'press a key to continue or ctrl c to end'
cls

del %1\system.dat
pause 'press a key to continue or ctrl c to end'
cls

regedit /l:%1\system.dat /c %1\system.jbk
pause 'press a key to continue or ctrl c to end'
cls

regedit /r:%1\user.dat /e %1\user.jbk
pause 'press a key to continue or ctrl c to end'
cls

del %1\user.dat
pause 'press a key to continue or ctrl c to end'
cls

regedit /r:%1\user.dat /c %1\user.jbk

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

this fdoies take a long time (hours) but can restore a dead registry.."


As for coping 98SE over 98, I know if you search around (Google) you can find a way to do it. I think there are two files you need to delete and Windows will install with out a format but I do not remember the file names right now. I believe you will have to install all programs again but will not loose data files.

 

[redbeard1]

To install any of the win9x products over the top, you have to rename win.com to win.old (it can be renamed to anything you want, I usually use .old). Then the full version of windows will install over the top of the existing install, instead of having to use the upgrade version, using the old settings. Though I've had very good luck doing this, occasionally the damage to the old install was bad enough, that it wasn't able to fix it.

Here is a more detailed post from the archives that explains this procedure in more detail.

Thread

 

[timswim78]

Thanks for the information guys. I ended up backing up everything to a spare hard disk and doing a clean install because most dos commands would not work. So, I'll be spending another evening installing office, SAS, SPSS, etc.