Reinstalling Windows 98

[Doug17_2005]

I have a windows 98 installation cd and i want to reinstall windows on my pc cause my pc has some sys files missing and now it is all messed up. It copied the files ok but then it goes to restart and it says error unsupported data configuration

can anybody please help me

[Cricket]

Post your complete system specs and let us know if this is a name brand computer or a home built one.

With Win98, you shouldn't have any expansion cards installed in the PCI or ISA slots. Remove all the cards except the video card.

If you have more than 1 stick of RAM, try removing all but one (unless you must run the sticks in pairs) and then do the install.

Cricket

[GaryRouth]

. . . and while we wait for system specs, & all:

The "unsupported data configuration" error is often a symptom of driver troubles (in fact, sometimes video drivers. But it can be any number of drivers = sometimes even two instances for only one device [double entries trouble]).

If you have good backups, you might want to just start over with a clean install.

Might want to check the hardware out, too = since anything from virus infections to hardware trouble can cause corruption in the system files. MemTest86 ( http://www.memtest.org ) can test the memory. A diagnostic from the hard drive's manufacturer's website can test the drive.

If you want to try an over-the-top reinstall, be sure to make sure the drive is clean first. You'd want to run an online scanner like HouseCall ( http://housecall.trendmicro.com ), and an antispyware program like AdAware ( http://www.lavasoft.com ) or SpyBot ( http://www.safer-networking.org )
. . . and a fairly detailed step-by-step for an over the top is here at http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=70846

Remember that whether you install clean or reinstall over-the-top, you'll be vulnerable till all Security Patches are up-to-date. So have your antivirus and firewall on before reconnecting to the Internet - - and visit Windows Update as soon as possible just after.

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[. . . and Welcome to the PC Mechanic forums! . . . ]

[. . . and Hi There, Cricket = my folks had too much fun in Hawaii, they're still walking around with that happy post-wonderful-vacation look on their faces . . . and it's been 3 months since then!]