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June 5th, 2000 02:00
Windows Reinstaled
My computer completely crashed on me today, and it was impossible to use without reinstalation, so I reinstalled windows, and now I am having problems with programs working, such as OutLook Express (it comes up with a error claiming it can not find a file, but the file IS in the OutLook express folder), and some other programs. I can't even get onto the Microsoft Update page.
Right now there are two windows folders. Win98, and Windows (win98 was created from the reinstalation). I want to know how I can get this all fixed without fdisking my computer. I have really important files that I can't burn to cd, because they are to big.
Thank you for your help.
Right now there are two windows folders. Win98, and Windows (win98 was created from the reinstalation). I want to know how I can get this all fixed without fdisking my computer. I have really important files that I can't burn to cd, because they are to big.
Thank you for your help.
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Dan Manley
1.4K Posts
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June 5th, 2000 03:00
It's difficult to tell what all is corrupted as a result of the problems and subsequent overlay of Windows. I know you don't want to hear it but, in your case, I suspect a Format C is going to be the easiest way for you to go and certainly, the best way.
It would be a long and exasperating process for you to try and troubleshoot all the problems in a piecemeal fashion. As far as your data, surely you don't have files too big to fit on a CD, do you??
Dan
KayH
1.1K Posts
0
June 5th, 2000 03:00
Hi,
Given the errors you are getting, it would be my advice to boot to DOS and delete Windows: this will remove all files contained in the folder C:\Windows. Anything you have saved in any that folder or any subfolder within it would need to be copied to another location on your hard drive first. In addition, you would delete the second Windows directory you have which was created as a result of the installation of Windows on top of itself.
Given your result, I am assuming that you run Win 98 SE--it does not install over itself well.
Should you decide to delete all your Windows folders and reinstall once, you will want a boot disk with CD-ROM support, so that you can install Windows from the CD. You will need to locate your drivers; that is best done ahead of time. You will need to have your ID number for Windows. All other Windows programming will need to be reinstalled, in order to restore the files to Windows which were put in there at the time of the original installation. Any ID numbers for them will be needed also, in the event that you need to uninstall them first, then reinstall them--It isn't always successful to install software over itself, either.
This method is not the cleanest of all the methods, but it will save your data which is not contained in Windows folders and subfolders. If it is contained in folders of programming which needs to be reinstalled, then I cannot guarantee its safety--it would be much safer for you to work in DOS and move that data to a safe place: create a directory and copy files you want to save to that directory. That way, if reinstalling programming over itself is not successful, you will still have the data saved elsewhere, so can uninstall, then reinstall the programming.
Should you decide to do this, post back if you happen to need the commands for working in DOS, and either I or someone else here can give the syntax to you.
Good luck,
Kay