Hi there,
First of all my apologies for the long post, but I really need your help. I am a novice to intermediate at best.
I use 98SE and have been for years now. I was using my PC and got a lock up, rebooted, and was asked for user information and then cd key.
I typed that in, and got an explorer error when I got to the desktop followed by the screen freezing.
I reinstalled 98SE over the old version (full installation since I don't know any other way) and managed to get to the desktop. However, I noticed that several non windows programs were no longer functioning and the add / remove programs list was completely empty. I tried installing some of the programs again and it said they were are already installed.
I tried looking for the updates (including I.E. 6 and O.E. 6) they weren't at the MS site so I used one called Softpedia autopatcher (
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/Auto-patcher-for-Windows-98SE.shtml)
When I installed the auto patcher and it gave me various missing dll messages (including several in the Catroot folder) but continued installing. Now IE and OE work fine but I still have several programs that don't, they aren't listed in the add / remove list so I can't remove them to reinstall them.
I also don't know what to do about these missing dll's and other files the patcher couldn't find.
I ran my anti virus and it found a couple of viruses. I really don't want to reformat and would prefer to find another option.
My question to you guys is should I either:
1) remove the patcher, install 98se over the old one again, add the patcher again and hope for the best
2) Try and find a way to add the missing dll's and other files that are missing.
3) I have another older PC with the 98SE on it. Could I take the missing files from that computer to the other one? (I don't know where to put them though).
Even my keyboard is not working right, the @ is where the " should be (and visa versa) and the hash mark doesn't work. I also seem to have an older version of word (instead of the usual Word 97 version), despite having updated everything.
Computer Stats:
98SE
40G Hard Drive
512 ram
512 Nvidia Graphics Card
Avast anti virus
Many thanks,
Joe