Win98 Startup- Save me from a nervous breakdown!

[colin72]

While installing digital camera software on my desktop, it hung and I had to shut it down. That's when all hell broke loose.

Now when the computer starts, it gets to the desktop and does not display anything, no icons, no taskbar, just a background. I can move the mouse but not click anything (there is nothing to click anyway). At that point, I also can not bring up the start menu with the windows key. Starting in safe mode results in the same thing.

I can start to Safe Mode Command Prompt and Command Prompt.

Here's what I've tried:

I went to Microsofts site and went through their instructions for startup troubleshooting. They ask if I can start in Safe Mode Command Prompt, I answer yes and they suggest running a virus-scanning program but I have no clue how to do that in MS-DOS. I know bascially NOTHING about MS-DOS. Can anyone tell me exactly how to do this?

Microsoft also suggested restoring the registry in MS-DOS. I did this multiple times to dates before I tried installing the camera software but no luck.

Microsoft then suggested then suggested checking to see of the regisrty was damaged (no luck) and suggested restoring the original registry (again, no luck).

They then suggested running Scandisk. After 6 hours of scanning, my bloodpressure rose as once again- no luck.

The great and powerful Microsoft then says to, "Run Windows 98 Setup again to replace any files that are missing or damaged." Well, first, I have no idea how to do that. Second, I don't have the original Windows disk, product key, etc. I don't think the computer came with one. Everything was installed when I bought it new.

If anyone can walk me through the steps Microsoft suggested that I couldn't do, I would appreciate it.

 

[1101001100110101]

when you boot to safe mode do you still get no desktop icons or start menu?

If you do have icons, have you tried going into device manager and deleting the camera you tried to install. Along with any software it may have installed.

Also you can run sfc from the run command in safe mode to check for missing/corrupted system files if you have access to the start menu.

 

[colin72]

No, when I boot to Safe mode, there are still no desktop icons, taskbar, etc (I don't have access to the Start menu).

I can only get into Safe Command Prompt and Command Prompt.

Any ideas?

 

[micker377]

Even SFC won't run without the Win 98 CD. Can you borrow a Win 98 CD to run SFC from the command prompt?

 

[TekTippy4U]

when you ran Scanreg /restore did you choose a known "started" backup that predated the camera install?
If not, try again (use Safe mode command prompt and run the command).
I suspect your Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files have statements that should not be there - from the borked install. - hence the reason possibly why it won't boot into safe mode.

--------------------------
from here on - I suggest you NOTE (write down to paper all the changes you try..you'll easily forget, especially when confronted with all sorts of MS curveballs out of right field when going through these procedures)
----------------------------
If you can get to Command Prompt Only...type
SCANDISK
then reboot to Safe Mode and run the real Scandisk from within windows. (Start > Run SCANDSKW if necessary)

If you can NOT still get to Safe Mode, boot to safe mode command prompt and Type (and press enter after each line)
START C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
START C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE
SCANDISK
....once done
WIN /d:m
....this is to get to safe mode directly hopefully

If still only Safe Mode Command Prompt accessible
RENAME both files (below) if necessary (win98 doesn't NEED the entries in thee 2 files necessarily, to boot).

From C:\>
REN CONFIG.SYS CONFIG.XXX
REN AUTOEXEC.BAT AUTOEXEC.XXX

if she still no boot into Safe Mode, rename them back to originals from SafeMode command prompt.
THEN try a Step by Step confirmation boot....and load all, but Windows drivers (last listed)
use the procedure outlined here;

http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/10d8a.htm

halfway down the page at
"Using Step-By-Step Confirmation Mode"

go above that area on page
"Identifying Incompatible Startup Items" and notice the WIN.INI file possible Snags and how to alter them using Semi-colons in front of LOAD=; and RUN=; statements, to keep whatever is listed from loading (this requires
EDIT WIN.INI from command prompt)

Boot into safe mode command prompt and
EDIT CONFIG.SYS
look for entries related (post the file contents if you have trouble)...place a semi-colon (;) in front of suspect entries.
ALT+F (for File menu) then S (for Save Changes)

EDIT AUTOEXEC.BAT
Do the same for Autoexec.bat - except place two colons (::) or a (REM) in front of entries that only appear to be from camera install...
(ex; REM LH C:\CDROM\MSCDEX.EXE /d:mscd001)
ALT+F then S for saving changes

TT4U

Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs

 

[acebaby]

This happened in XP version of windows.I did the alt+cntrl+delete thing and went to new task and put control panel in the dialog box and puufff the Icons are back and all.But this is just a quick fix.