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Win 98 SE Constantly Locks

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by msimone69

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Hello all -

There is a Win98SE PC here that constantly locks with user.exe, kernel32, msgsrv, explorer, etc. errors. And I do mean constantly - copying a file, deleting a file, opening a file. I tried to re-install Win98 and it locked up. Thelocking also happens in Safe Mode, although I have deleted a .lnk file in DOS successfully. I would just throw out the hard drive and start over, but there are apps without surviving installation disks and data that was only ever saved on the localdrive. I'd use something like PC Relocator, but I doubt I'd be able to install the software on this machine. SInce this pc is used by the boss's wife I'd like to be able to save this data if at all possible.

Thanks in advance for any direction,

Mike Simone

7 replies

by ann777

From what you say, a reinstall of win98 on top of the current "should" have resolved... but as we both know... it doesn't always work.

If I were you, I'd purchase a new hdd, set this one up as secondary and use the new one as boot. Format and install Win98SE, and reinstall any applications that you do have the cd/floppies for. Then just copy the specific apps over to the new drive.

Test run the specific apps that you do not have the installs for... and as Windows reports missing files, locate them on the old hdd and copy to the same directories on the new. You may also have to locate specific registry settings and recreate them on the new drive. Ultimately, it is a pain in order to get apps running from a previous configuration hdd, but it's possible with patience and persistance.

Good luck.

by mlafleur

I've had success in situations like this using Symantec Ghost to image the bad drive to a new (or used if you have something around) drive.

Ghost can be forced to make a sector to sector copy of the drive, and is usually able to work around hard drive problem and give you a workeable machine in the end.

They provide a trial version I suggest you try... check out the following web site:
http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/content/productlink.cfm?
and go down to administration products.

by mdelyea

Sorry if this sounds obvious, but have you tried to do a search for viruses (virii?)? AVG offers an excellent antivirus download free of charge (in fact I've dumped my NAV and am only using the free AVG antivirus now, it has email protect, autoupdate etc.). If you have done a COMPLETE surface scan (yes, I know it can take a long time) and no bad sectors shown up then I would suspect a virus.

by msimone69

Yup, I did a couple AV scans and a couple thorough surface scans - nothing turned up in either one.

Thanks for the help,

Mike

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