Windows Forum

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Booting up Windows 98

0 helpful
8 replies

by computerusageco

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
When booting up Windows 98 the Manufacturers logo flashes on the screen followed by a black screen followed by the Windows 98 screen then a black screen. Everything seems O.K. until now. The next screen is a dos c: prompt. You can use dos but cannot bring up W98. It does same thing in Saft Mode. Disk has 1,156.80 MB free space. Can delete file from disk but free space does not seem to get larger.

8 replies

by fred07

I would start with my rescue disk set and if not available I would boot to Norton System Works 2003 which would do an auto virus scan. You do not mention that you had incresed ram or changed any hardware so I will assume you did not.
Next I would run my data lifeguard from western digitals site as I only use WD's. With that much available space. I would wait for more answers and then if no other fix works. I would boot to my 98 disk and do a repair or reinstall or complete install. Then Iwould run my 2003 Sys Works in win doctor and see where it finds the problem. I would not delete any files untill I had
completed the above.

by computerusageco

Thanks, after checking as much as I could I reloaded win98 and it fixed the problem. It now looks that the modem went out and in the process corrupted some system files....and that is only a guess.

by thechas

You may have a virus that has corrupted one or more system files.

Or, a critical file may have been deleted.

Since you have W98, boot from a W98 startup disk.
(If you do not have one, you can create one on any working W98 PC from the add/remove programs menu.)
(Or, you can download an image from www.bootdisk.com or www.madboot.com)

Insert the W98 CD, and run setup from the DOS prompt.

Your files and settings will be intact, but you may need to re-install some updates.

As soon as you get things running, run your virus scanner.

Chas

by computerusageco

Thanks...both you and number 1 put me on track to resolve this problem; but, he was first. Much thanks for taking your time to respond.

by zlitocook

Get a good Win95/98 boot disk, with scandisk, fdisk on it. Try running scandisk from the floppy, you may have to set it up in the bios. If it promts you to fix/update or replace the MBR do so. Also try fdisk /mbr and rebooting. If you can get to a dos prompt, try to get a zipdrive or a external cdrw to install from dos. So you can copy out the stuff you need. Then after you move needed things you can try to remove any virus scanning software. I say this because all new virus software will look to boot up then software loading and then the O/S as it loads. It will stop or slow down the whole loading sequence.

by zlitocook

If the things I suggested do not work, please after you reload your computer use a partition to load your new setup. Like first partition 4 gig Win98. Second partition 2 gig for loading a copy of win98 and all important Docs. Use any other partitions to save any files and info to. And be sure to buy the best virus/trojan scanners.

by computerusageco

Thanks for some good suggestions. I have resolved this problem with suggestions from number 1. I do appreciate you taking the time to help.

This discussion is closed to new replies.