can someone please help me with windows 98 recovery?

[quaxo]

It's a normal tool for Windows 98. Microsoft refers to its use in Windows 98 here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/188867

[patio]

I'm aware of what it is and what it does...i was stating it is not on this install of Win98SE.

[quaxo]

I know you know what it is and does 

It's on my old Win98SE computer too, no idea why you don't have it though 

[WillyW]

...  Can run it via Start, Run, ....

Same.   And also as in attached screen cap.
Win98SE here.



[saving disk space - old attachment deleted by admin]

[Broni]

It looks like I got mixed up, myself.
I was thinking about "sfc", which as you say, exist in Win 98, but i said 'chkdsk". No harm done with chkdsk, but I was really thinking about "sfc".
In that case, running BOTH commands wouldn't hurt...hehehe (am I like Solomon, or what?...LOL)

[WillyW]

It looks like I got mixed up, myself.
I was thinking about "sfc", which as you say, exist in Win 98, but i said 'chkdsk". No harm done with chkdsk, but I was really thinking about "sfc".
In that case, running BOTH commands wouldn't hurt...hehehe (am I like Solomon, or what?...LOL)

But wouldn't it be wise to do what patio said -  slave the drive, copy/save, etc. -   first  ?

[soybean]

I'm aware of what it is and what it does...i was stating it is not on this install of Win98SE.

I found this comment in a forum thread via a Google find: "For Win 98SE: SFC.EXE is in Win98_46,CAB, SFCDLL,DLL in WIN_40.CAB and SFC.HLP in Win98_49.CAB.?"

If you can get into those CAB files, apparently you could add it to your Win 98SE system.

[Broni]

But wouldn't it be wise to do what patio said -  slave the drive, copy/save, etc. -   first  ?

Yes, sir.
I was just explaining my mix up.

[patio]

Found it in the appropiate .cab file and added it...ran it to test and got a blue screen   

After re-booting and adding it again and shutting down after a restart all runs fine.
I forgot how sensitive 98 is to adding components.I have no idea why it wasn't there in the full install. I just re-did that install back in June sometime as i had a 5 machine project for a small Law firm so i needed to refresh my lost brain cells for it.

Windows.

[WillyW]

...so i needed to refresh my lost brain cells for it.

They're in CAB 99.
Beware of rebooting brain after install though.


 

[crazee4celtic]

I appreciate everyone's input on this.  I learn more as each of you posts.  I understand what the slave stuff means and it sounds like everyone agreed that should be step one.  I have that same set up on this computer right now. I have a 40 gig as my master and another 40 gig set up as a slave.  Originally, it was a 13 gig with a 40 gig slave.  It was set up that way in 1999 right after purchasing the Dell.  In the past, I had copied the entire C: drive onto the D: drive when it was starting to act weird and didn't lose anything. This time, the crash came first.  Can someone please refresh my memory on how I'm supposed to do the slave process?  I think I remember needing a wide flat "cord" and also having to do some programming or run software or something.  That was a long time ago so things are a bit fuzzy.  Thank you everyone!
Nancy

[2k_dummy]

I'd start by running scanreg/restore from the DOS command prompt. Choose a date prior to the beginning of the problem. Reboot. If this doesn't work, you can do a "dirty" or "over the top" reinstall. You will need your original CD and and product key. This will reinstall windows without loosing all your data, although some changes/updates may revert to their original files, as this is what windows attempts to do (can you say, IE4? ) You may wish to retrieve your product key first, for safeties sake.

From the start menu, select "Command prompt only". Type this from a DOS prompt only (NOT start/run).

Find.exe/I "ProductKey" %winbootdir%\SYSTEM.DAT

 Carefully note and write down the product key. Restart and allow windows to proceed with the installation-----with one notable exception------. Windows will try to install to a secondary directory with a name similar c:\windowsII or other off the wall name. Choose the original windows directory. Provided there are no other major malfunctions, You should should wind up with an original windows installation, data intact.

[patio]

crazee,
You don't want to do this on your machine as your master is the one you need data backed up from.
You want to pull out your master and hook it up as a slave in another working machine ( preferably with a burner ) so you can grab the data from it.
There is no "program" to run at all. Power cable; data cable; and set the jumper on your drive to slave.
It should be connected to the middle connector on the IDE cable of the other machine either on their HDD cable or the CDRom cable...both will work.Then when you boot up the other machine and open Windows Explorer your drive will be there probably listed as D: with all your data and programs.
Simply copy and burn your info to a CD/DVD and you should be good to go.

At that point you can replace the drive in your machine and with a little editing we can attempt a repair install of Win98 to fix your issues...

Let us know if you have any further questions.

[Dusty]

Win.98 Repair Install.

1.  Boot from a bootdisk with cd support.

2.  Enter C:
             CD Windows
             REN WIN.COM WIN.OLD
             
3.  Insert the Win.98 OS cd into the drive then enter
               R:             (where R: is the drive letter for the cdrom.)
               CD WIN98   
               SETUP       (it is important to run Setup from within the Win98                                        directory.)

Follow the on-screen prompts until you get the option to install to the "Windows.000" or "Another Directory".  Choose to install in Another Directory and when prompted for the directory name enter C:\Windows then click Next.

Follow the on-screen prompts to do a 'repair' or 'over the top' install.  No data will be lost.

Is there any way to save "My documents" folder as well desktop items?  How about Favorites?  The re-install tutorial will delete all of those.

Folders and files which are outside the Windows folder are not affected by the Win98 Repair install above but I recommend that you backup anyway..

Good luck.

[2k_dummy]

One more for fun.
You will need a win98 boot floppy with CDrom support and your win CD. In addition, you will need to know the name of the missing or corrupted file and its proper location on the HD. Boot with the floppy and then insert the cd. You can use a utility called ext.exe. You want find this file searching the HD because it is compressed inside EBD.cab and is expanded to the ram drive on start up. Run EXT.exe from the DOS command prompt. Answer the questions (file name and where you want the file placed). EXT will search all the .cab files, find it if exists, and place it where you told it to. Very handy and fast when dealing with only a few files, and no scrambling through .cab files to locate it.

You can put away the hot iron now, You just flattened my last brain wrinkle.