Reinstall Windows 98 [Archive]

crig48

11-13-2001, 09:10 PM

I have a Sony PVC-314 DS(U) desktop. I deleted some files that shouldn't have been removed. When I boot my computer the Desktop looks like it's in the SAFE MODE, but only it don't say SAFE MODE in the corners of the screen. Neither the keyboard or mouse will work. Is there any way that I can reformat the hard drives and reinstall WINDOWS 98 to get my computer to working again. I have the Sony System Recovery disc and Windows 98(Second Edition) Upgrade disc. There aren't any programs or files on the hard drives that I care about loosing. I tried inserting the SONY SYSTEM RECOVERY disc in the CD drive and restarting the computer like the manual said that come with my computer, but it doesn't start when the computer reboots. And since the keyboard and mouse don't work, I can not do anything with it. I'll appreciate any help that I can get. Thanks

highrisemech

11-13-2001, 09:15 PM

Do you also have a floppy that came with this? If so boot the machine with the floppy first.

crig48

11-13-2001, 10:04 PM

I have a Windows 95 floppy that come with the computer. I started the computer and tried to start the floppy in A drive , but my keyboard or mouse will no t work. Can I use the floppy in the SAFE MODE.

highrisemech

11-13-2001, 10:12 PM

No now I'm confused as to why you got a windows 95 with the machine.
Usually you get a recovery floppy, you boot the machine with it then it will access the recovery command for the recovery cd. If this is not the case just try to boot the machine with just the recovery cd and I think this will get you where you are going at this point we are just going for a full system restore. All old files will be lost.

highrisemech

11-13-2001, 10:13 PM

highrisemech

11-13-2001, 10:18 PM

I would also like to point out that your system is proprietary which basiclly means that this computer uses special manufacturer commands and files. You can not use typical boot disks you have to use disks provided by the manufacturer.

crig48

11-13-2001, 10:32 PM

I rebooted the computer with the SONY SYSTEM RECOVERY disc in the CD drive like the manuel says to do, but when the computer starts back up it has what looks like the SAFE MODE on the Desktop. But there is no SAFE MODE in the corners of the screen. The Recovery disc that I have are the ones that come with the computer when I bought it new. The floppy that I have is a Windows 95 Moniter Information disc that came with it also.

highrisemech

11-13-2001, 10:37 PM

Are you at a windows desktop and do you now have keyboard and mouse control?

crig48

11-13-2001, 10:44 PM

I do have Windows 98 SE on my desktop computer. I'm using my laptop now to get information on how to fix the Desktop. When I start the desktop computer, it has what looks like a SAFE MODE screen on the Desktop. The keyboard and mouse will not work on it.

highrisemech

11-13-2001, 10:49 PM

The screen is gray because somehow you erased all the drivers. This is why the mouse and keyboard are not working as well.

crig48

11-13-2001, 10:56 PM

I done a LOGGED(BOOTLOG.TXT)yesterday and you can view the failures on the POSTING of MY COMPUTER yesterday. Are there anyother way to start and run the RECOVERY disc.

highrisemech

11-13-2001, 11:05 PM

Tell you what try this go to http://www.bootdisk.com make a windows 98 boot disk. boot the computer with it choose start computer with cdrom support you will then get to an A:\ prompt. Type D:\ Then you will have a d:\ prompt with the windows 98 cd installed type setup.exe

So it should look like
A:\
D:\setup.exe

lets see if you can access windows set up but DO NOT SET IT UP hit cancell.
Then let me know if you were able to access the setup. The idea being if you can then we can proceed to reformat the drive.

crig48

11-13-2001, 11:12 PM

Should i download the boot for the 98 or 98SE

highrisemech

11-13-2001, 11:14 PM

98se

highrisemech

11-13-2001, 11:23 PM

I do have one question for you. Did this machine originally have windows 95 and was upgraded to windows 98 se? If so do you have the windows 95 disk? If it is on the recovery that is ok as well as long as you have the disk and the licence code for it.

crig48

11-13-2001, 11:28 PM

I bought the computer new with Windows 98 installed. I bought and installed Windows 98SE. I've downloaded the BOOT disk. How do I run it, since the mouse and keyboard don't work. Can I install it in the SAFE MODE.

highrisemech

11-13-2001, 11:34 PM

No shut down, install the disk turn on the machine and boot with it follow the instructions above use the upgrade disk in the cdrom. Remember at the A:\ type D:\ then hit enter then type setup.exe

Do you have the win 98 cd and the code this is important?

crig48

11-13-2001, 11:39 PM

I don't have the CD, but I have the Code number on the Windows book that came with the computer. I'm going to try the Boot disk now

highrisemech

11-13-2001, 11:42 PM

ok as long as you have an upgrade cd and the code for it. I think I can get you through this.

crig48

11-13-2001, 11:48 PM

Thanks! I put the Boot floppy in and started the computer. It still went to the SAFE MODE look screen and the mouse and keyboard not working.

highrisemech

11-13-2001, 11:52 PM

shut down. hit the del key during boot up. you should then be in the bios setup. change your boot order to A first then cdrom then c. let me know if you got into the bios and changed it just keep hitting del durung boot up.

crig48

11-14-2001, 12:05 AM

I started up hitting the Del key as it was loading. I loade some screen in Dos with a C:\, but the prompt was at the top and wouldn't move. After about 10 seconds it went to the same Desktop that I had before.

highrisemech

11-14-2001, 12:11 AM

There is only one other thing I can think of to help you and that is put the 98se disk in the cdrom drive shut down restart the machine and hopfully it will boot from it. If it does complete the setup through 98se and you should be back up and running. Outside of that I can't help without the machine in front of me.
Let me know if not maybe one of the other members can help.

crig48

11-14-2001, 12:30 AM

I got the BOOT disk to run in A drive in SAFE MODE, but when it asked for the Windows 98SE disk the CD drive won't run in the SAFE MODE.

highrisemech

11-14-2001, 12:45 AM

I need you to be able to boot to an A:\ prompt with the boot disk in order for me to help you. Or if you had keyboard and mouse in this safe mode I could help.
Otherwise maybe one of the other members more experienced than I could help you.

crig48

11-14-2001, 12:47 AM

I've got the Win 98 SE DISK runnin now. It has on the Menu the folling choices:add-on, cd sample, drives, tools, Win 98, auto run, readme, setup, and setup tip. Which of tese should I run and in what order.

highrisemech

11-14-2001, 12:48 AM

setup

crig48

11-14-2001, 12:55 AM

It started to run setup and then I got the following message: This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down. Now I've got that message pasted there and cain't get rid of it.

highrisemech

11-14-2001, 01:04 AM

You have to power down get back into it the way you did last time then try tools.
I'm not the best at doing it this way you are on the right track and may want to try getting help from one of the other members.

crig48

11-14-2001, 01:09 AM

highrisemech I sure thank you for your help. I'll keep plugging at it for a while and if i don't get it up, i'll try again tomorrow. nite

doubledragon5

11-14-2001, 02:09 AM

My suggestion is simple just re boot in dos and fdisk the whloe drive and reinstall all of your programs.Make sure you have all of the disks that came with your pc first. If your not sure on how to do this just have sony give you a step by step walk through or have some one e-mail you the instructions.

highrisemech

11-14-2001, 08:21 AM

For some reason he was not able to get it to boot to as dos prompt,
If he did I might have been able to help him. You may have the point though that Sony tech support may be able to help him. I am confident though that since he can now access tools in the 98se upgrade disk that one of the members
more experienced than I could help him. The problem got away from me because he
has no mouse and keyboard and the system is proprietary. Again one of the more experienced members should be able to help him.

glc

11-14-2001, 09:15 AM

If your keyboard and mouse do not work, you have a HARDWARE issue that needs to be resolved before you can go any farther. Shut the computer down and reseat the keyboard and mouse cables and make sure you don't have them reversed. If the keyboard responds, use the directed keystroke to get into BIOS SETUP and set the machine to boot from CD first - and boot to the Sony recovery CD.