Win 98 Corrupt Registryand DOS won't read my D:\

[Puma_SPNKr]

Okay, I have 2 questions, that both, one way or another, are needed to be answered (Or would greatly help) to help me fix my computer.

I'm not quite sure how this happened, but my Registry has been corrupted. Thus, the files for the Registry (System.dat, User.dat) have been corrupted... And because I've can still log onto Windows 98, the files System.da0 and User.da0 have also corrupted...  I've tried to fix this by replacing System.dat with System.1st (I renamed it, etc etc), and it still didn't work... Now my last option is this... Completely delete the Registry files (while in the command prompt), and reinstall windows that way...  But then I found out.... The command prompt won't recongnize my D:\ drive...  How can I get the command prompt to read the D:\ drive, so I can install Win98 with the cd?

I've had to reformat my HD before (or atleast I think I did... It's been a while), and I reinstalled Windows 98... However, I do believe that I installed it in the wrong partition, because the HD size is much smaller than before the reinstall.... Before it was 10GB (I know, not big, but I'm not buying a bigger one) and now it only reads like 3-4 GB for HD size.

Now for my questions...

1) How can I get my command prompt to locate and thus install Windows 98?

2) I think I installed Windows on the wrong partition... How could I install it back on it's original partition, as well as delete the Windows that isn't in the right partition....

P.S -- I have a JumpDrive, so I can back-up needed files, if need be... So if anyone could walk me through a reformat (if it comes to that), I'll still be greatful.  Thanks.

[2k_dummy]

Have you tried booting to DOS and using scanre/fix or scanreg/restore?
If you use an emergency boot disk it should be made with CD Rom support. When booting from a floppy your CD drive will likely be E: instead of D: because it loads a ram disk which comes in assignment order ahead of the CD drive. You can also go into the BIOS and set the CD drive as the first boot device and boot directly from the CD.

[Puma_SPNKr]

Actually, everytime I boot up my computer, it automatically does the fixing... It apparently fixes it every single time, but then I have to go through the 10 minute process everytime I boot up my computer.... I've also tried restoring a previous registry setting.. That didn't work either.

I have yet to create an emergency boot disk... If you go through the slight tutorial and explain to me how this would aid me in my troubles, I'd appreciate it greatly... Also, would I need to boot disk if I were to try in reinstall windows using just the prompt?  What exactly do I need to accomplish this?

Oh yeah, if I reformat my HD, can I still install Windows 98 with the CD (Assuming the BIOS is starting the CD Rom as the first device in the boot order).

[Fed]

Too easy
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000186.htm