CAN I REINSTALL 98se OVER ITSELF WITHOUT LOSING FILES AND DIAL-UP SETTINGS?

[Slaughter]

Granted that this a 2 1/2 year old home-built system, I get "insuffient memory" messages on startup. I know the memory exists, but not if it is corrupted.

1. How to test for memory? (memory scan at startup shows all memory OK)

2. Can I reinstall 98se over itself without losing documents, files, and dial-up settings.

3. If none of the above, what next?

[Panama Red]

Follow Gary's instructions here paying particular attention to renaming the win.com file and not installing to the Windows.000 file.

[Slaughter]

Panama Red: I looked at the link you suggested; with all the strange happenings reported, is it still correct to follow Gary's advice? This will result in no loss of files or settings?

Thanks;
Slaughter

[HAL9000]

You might want to try a repair install. When you are at your DOS prompt to do the install, instead of just typing in SETUP, use SETUP /P F

Either way you will retain all your settings. The /P F option will rewrite system files which may be corrupt. If I remember correctly, using that option doesn't prompt for an install directory as it is repairing the existing install.

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by Slaughter Panama Red: I looked at the link you suggested; with all the strange happenings reported, is it still correct to follow Gary's advice? This will result in no loss of files or settings? Thanks; Slaughter

I've done two over the top installs with SE recently using that guide and had no issues at all. Both machines were originally 98 First Edition.

[glc]

Before you reinstall Windows, you need to do comprehensive virus and spyware scans, and examine all your startup items. You are running out of "virtual" memory which means there's a LOT of stuff running that shouldn't be - and a reinstall over the top will NOT fix that.