Can't re-install Win 98SE

[BUGNUT]

I was getting a lot of fatal error messages from from my pc. Being the computer wizard I am, I decided to re-install Win 98SE.
The CD disk half loaded then an error message "can not read disk clean and retry". I cleaned it, but it still would not load. Back-up disk to the rescue, Wrong!! Back-up disk loaded 99% then an error message "can not find cab files" the option given was retry or skip. I skipped. What a mistake. PC now boots up but hanges while loading win 98 logo on screen. The PC will run in safe mode but I don't know what to do.

I borrowed Win 98Se from a friend and tryed to load again. I installed the start-up floppy and start the PC. Start up is OK but I then get the following error message

Please wait while Set-up initializes.
Scanning system registry..
Cannot create a temporary directory.
If you have HPFS or NTFS installed on your hard drive,
you will need to create an MS-DOS boot partition to setup Windows.

What does this message mean? How can do what it asks?

If anyone has a fix please put it in simple terms that this "Wizard" can understand.

Note: When I upgraded to Win 98SE from Win 95 about 2 years ago using the same disks all went very well. No problems at all.

System, Packard Bell P166 O/Ced to 200
Master HD 20 gig, slave 2.1
128 meg EDO ram (4 x 32)
16x CD rom

The best most stable PC I've ever owned..... untill now.

Regards

Bugnut

[bailey]

when you say you cleaned it, do you mean that you did a complete format ?

[ktkendall]

I assume you meant you cleaned the CDROM disk. Anyways since your screwed up anyways and sounds like you werent concerned about saving anything, go ahead and use boot floppy, do FDISK, and delete partition, reboot with floppy, redo partition, reboot, and reformat and reload clean and fresh!! Sounds like there was enough remnant from the old load to screw up this new load!

[Cricket]

Hi BUGNUT,

Return the CPU speed back to 166MHz.

Try changing the IDE cables.

Go to the hard drive manufacturer's website and download the drive diagnostic utility and test the hard drive.

Try swapping out the RAM (if you can find any).

:) Cricket

[gladiator]

Hey Bug When you reloaded win98SE was is over the top of the old files or was it a new install after you formated the HD.

I just did the same thing I tried to reinstall over an existed installation , I got a bunch of error messages.

So I somehow got back into normal mode(wasn't easy) and exited to msdos mode .

I ran SCANREG/RESTORE which will restore the old regristry that worked, Before I learned this command I used to reformat and reinstall the OS.

Remember this command!!

[BUGNUT]

I'll answer a few questions:

Hard drive format not done.
I tryed to reloaded Win98SE over top of the old Win98SE files.
Ram replaced with ram known to be good, nil fix.
New IDE cables swapped in, nil fix.
Hard drive test done a few days ago. Test OK.

I can't format the drive because I need the files. (company records)

I believe there is no problem with the hardware. The problem is the Wizard that sits in front of the PC.
Hard drive backup you say.....yea right. Wizard strikes again.

Note: When I installed the second hard drive I had to use the Maxtor install utility disk so that the PC would see the whole 20 gigs of the new drive.

I tryed the command "scanreg/restore" at the dos prompt but all I get is the message Bad command or file name.

Regards

Bugnut

[ktkendall]

You have to leave a space after scanreg.
ie. scanreg /restore, just in case you didn't do that!
You may not have a good one to restore from though as this is kind of a new load and has never worked right but then again it may work, there is also:
scanreg /fix
that has gotten me out of a bind!

[ressler76]

bugnut did you have any restore programs on the computer like wildfire backup or restore if so than thay contain TSR programs that need to be removed befor you reload even after fdisk that will not get rid of them.