Desktop

When trying to update a partitioned drive from Fat16 to Fat32 using the MS Fat32 converter, it stopped and produced a memory error and would not continue. While the whole drive (it has 3 + 2 gig partitions on it) continued to work, I moved on with my tasks and installed the latest MS Update.
Then Win98 crashed and would not boot after applying the patch. After getting it all up and running again, I once again applied the patch and the same thing happened. This time, it affected the MBR of the same drive. Finally all is working again except for the one partitioned drive. Now the message says its in use by another program and is inaccessible.
Except for the FAT conversion problem, this PC was running just fine before the latest patch was applied. Interestingly, the installed patch list shows the patch both installed and not installed. Any suggestions besides doorstop material to repair the partitioned drive? I am also afraid to install any more MS updates.