Any way to restore 98?

[Chris]

Sorry if this isn't possible but I need to be sure...

I was trying to create a dual boot system, adding XP on a second
partition on top of the existing 98 on C:

Because I only had a recovery disk with my laptop PC I copied the i386
to the C drive and ran the WINNT32.MSI after booting into 98 (I think I
should have clicked WINNT32.exe).

I was expecting the option to install on a different drive but it just
went ahead and installed XP over 98 without any warning, putting XP in
the C:\Windows.0 folder and leaving the existing 98 installation in
C:\Windows

Now I can't get into 98 and XP hasn't got any of the software I
previously had installed under 98.

I would really like to revert to the 98 on the C partition as I really
need to use some of the applications that were on 98 without having to
go through installing them again.

Is there any way at all to restore the system to what it was?

I tried changing Boot.ini to point to the old C:\Windows but that
failed with the hal.dll missing error. and I've also looked at
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312569/ but I don't have an Undo folder
as I never got the option to make one. There's no option in Add/Remove
programs either.

I'm guessing I'm stuck but I want to be sure I can't do it before I set
about the very arduous task of restoring all my applications.

I have a 98 CD if that helps.

 

[Nepatsfan]

In (e-mail address removed) Chris
wrote:

Sorry if this isn't possible but I need to be sure...

I was trying to create a dual boot system, adding XP on a
second partition on top of the existing 98 on C:

Because I only had a recovery disk with my laptop PC I
copied the i386 to the C drive and ran the WINNT32.MSI after
booting into 98 (I think I should have clicked WINNT32.exe).

I was expecting the option to install on a different drive
but it just went ahead and installed XP over 98 without any
warning, putting XP in the C:\Windows.0 folder and leaving
the existing 98 installation in C:\Windows

Now I can't get into 98 and XP hasn't got any of the
software I previously had installed under 98.

I would really like to revert to the 98 on the C partition
as I really need to use some of the applications that were
on 98 without having to go through installing them again.

Is there any way at all to restore the system to what it was?

I tried changing Boot.ini to point to the old C:\Windows but
that failed with the hal.dll missing error. and I've also
looked at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312569/ but I
don't have an Undo folder as I never got the option to make
one. There's no option in Add/Remove programs either.

I'm guessing I'm stuck but I want to be sure I can't do it
before I set about the very arduous task of restoring all my
applications.

I have a 98 CD if that helps.

Haven't had to do this in a long time. Hopefully, the memory
hasn't gotten too foggy.

You need a Win 98 boot floppy. If you don't have one, go here:

www.bootdisk.com

Put the floppy in and reboot your computer.
Enter the following command at the prompt:

SYS A: C:

Hit enter.
Restart you computer

If that fixes your problem, post back and we'll move on to
getting XP on the second partition.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Guest]

Is there any way at all to restore the system to what it was?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assuming you're using FAT 32...
As a temporary method, will typing
sys c: [ENTER]
after booting from a Win98 boot disc help?, or try booting from a Win 98
startup disc (to load CD drivers) and run W98 setup from DOS.

 

[Plato]

Yellow Pages | Computer | Sales And Service

 

[Chris]

Thanks Nepatsfan.

That worked fine. I'm back to Win 98 with no boot options.

I don't actually need 98 anymore but don't want to risk having to
install all the apps again as some were a pain to get working so would
like to try upgrading to XP but reverting to dual boot if that fails.

I forgot that I did get the message "The option to upgrade will not be
available .... unable to load the file C:\I386\WIN9XUPG\W95UPG.DLL" as
the machine didn't come with 98 on though.

How can I safely try upgrading without jeopardising the chance to go
back to 98 as is with XP on a seperate partition?

I currently have a D: NTFS partition with some files on it and C: is
FAT32

 

[Chris]

After reading about the perils of upgrading from 98 to XP I've decided
I'll go with dual boot and gradually transfer my apps over as I need
them.

I've managed to get this running fine with XP on the second partition.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Nepatsfan]

After reading about the perils of upgrading from 98 to XP
I've decided
I'll go with dual boot and gradually transfer my apps over as
I need
them.

I've managed to get this running fine with XP on the second
partition.

Thanks for the help.

You're welcome.

Nepatsfan

 

[Plato]

After reading about the perils of upgrading from 98 to XP I've decided
I'll go with dual boot and gradually transfer my apps over as I need
them.

I've managed to get this running fine with XP on the second partition.

Same here. I have Win98SE and XP on separate partitions on the same
physical hard drive. Better bet tho, is to have each OS on a separate
HDD.