Win98 re-install

[1zman]

Trying to fix an OLD Toshiba 133mhz for a youngster. This kid has all their school work on it. Windows deceided to stop responding, so being the nice guy I am (pat pat) I said I would re-load windows for them.

I guess they removed several programs through Explorer and the registry is having a fit about it. It will not allow windows to finish loading or run.

My question. In the old days we had DOS tools that we could navigate the computer with to fix "problems" Since I can not get windows to run, is there a registry repair program that will run in DOS. Also, what is the syntax for the long file names in DOS. I thought it was quote marks

Thanks all
1Zman

 

[JennITChick]

I can answer the syntax question... if the file or folder name is longer than 8 characters, the DOS version is abcdef~1 It also takes out spaces, so c:\Program Files would be c:\progra~1 and c:\weird thing would the c:\weirdt~1 If there's more than one folder that would have the same 6 letters, the number on the end in the DOS version goes up. Jennifer Sigman
STILL unemployed...

 

[1zman]

Thanks Jennifer, But how do I navigate in DOS with Long File Names? cd C:\Progra~1 will not allow me to get there. If I use cd C:\"Program Files" (using the quotes) on my XP machine I can do it. But that 98 machine will not allow me to get there.

1Zman
unemployed also

 

[JennITChick]

Huh... cd c:\progra~1 doesn't work?

Try doing a dir from the dos prompt to make sure the folders are there. Jennifer Sigman
STILL unemployed...

 

[bygeek]

If you can boot to dos with a win98 boot disk, you should be able to to run scanreg /fix to repair the registry, or scanreg /restore to restore the registry to a saved (and hopefully uncorrupted) prior version.

--Barry

 

[1zman]

Thanks bygeek;
Found it and ran it. But it said all was well. Restored to an earlier date and it still has a problem. I will fiddle around with it some more.

Thanks again
Zman

 

[JennITChick]

Sounds like at this point you need to try either a repair installation or a full-fledged format and reinstall. Jennifer Sigman
STILL unemployed...

 

[1zman]

Very True. I am going to mark this one closed. I was able to copy the "school work" the kid had on here and am right now in the process of reloading Win98. The rest they can reload or find new junk to put on the computer.

And I am very sorry, I was able to access the directories as you told me cd Progra~1. thumbsup I must have had fat fingers or my head was stuffed in a dark hole. I tried it again, as I was getting ready to format.

Thanks all for the help
Zman