Upgrade questions

[Guest]

I currently run 98 and had to reformat h.d. Now, 98 cannot find anything --
USB drivers, multi-media drivers, communications devices, cd rom, etc. I
have the disks for most of this, but for some reason, computer cannot find
them even when it asks me to put in the CD - even the WIN98 cd.

Would upgrading to XP Pro provide the needed drivers for most of my "old"
add-on hardware? By the time I pay a tech person to fix the old stuff, I
could invest in XP pro -- IF it mught solve the problem.

Thank you very much for your time.

Sue

 

[Raymond J. Johnson Jr.]

| I currently run 98 and had to reformat h.d. Now, 98 cannot find
anything --
| USB drivers, multi-media drivers, communications devices, cd rom, etc. I
| have the disks for most of this, but for some reason, computer cannot find
| them even when it asks me to put in the CD - even the WIN98 cd.
|
| Would upgrading to XP Pro provide the needed drivers for most of my "old"
| add-on hardware? By the time I pay a tech person to fix the old stuff, I
| could invest in XP pro -- IF it mught solve the problem.
|
| Thank you very much for your time.
|
| Sue

You should not attempt an XP install until you have your problems with 98
worked out. Why did you feel the need to format and reinstall to begin with?
You're most likely having some sort of hardware and/or driver problem, and
installing XP isn't going to help.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

I would suggest purchasing a "Retail Upgrade Version" of
Windows XP Home Edition and perform a "Clean Install"
You do not necessarily need Windows XP Professional.

Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Windows XP Comparison Guide
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/choosing2.mspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I currently run 98 and had to reformat h.d. Now, 98 cannot find anything --
| USB drivers, multi-media drivers, communications devices, cd rom, etc. I
| have the disks for most of this, but for some reason, computer cannot find
| them even when it asks me to put in the CD - even the WIN98 cd.
|
| Would upgrading to XP Pro provide the needed drivers for most of my "old"
| add-on hardware? By the time I pay a tech person to fix the old stuff, I
| could invest in XP pro -- IF it mught solve the problem.
|
| Thank you very much for your time.
|
| Sue

 

[Raymond J. Johnson Jr.]

| I would suggest purchasing a "Retail Upgrade Version" of
| Windows XP Home Edition and perform a "Clean Install"
| You do not necessarily need Windows XP Professional.
|
| Clean Install Windows XP
| http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
|
| Windows XP Comparison Guide
| http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/choosing2.mspx
|
| --
| Carey Frisch
| Microsoft MVP
| Windows XP - Shell/User
|
| Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
| http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

How would installation of XP help to solve the OP's apparent hardware
issues?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

The currently available Windows XP w/SP2 installation CD
has vastly superior Plug & Play hardware and driver support then
previous versions of Windows. The installation should be smooth.

Windows 98 is over 7 years old now and cannot natively install
drivers for newer hardware in many cases.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

:
|
| How would installation of XP help to solve the OP's apparent hardware
| issues?

 

[null]

I currently run 98 and had to reformat h.d. Now, 98 cannot find anything --
USB drivers, multi-media drivers, communications devices, cd rom, etc. I
have the disks for most of this, but for some reason, computer cannot find
them even when it asks me to put in the CD - even the WIN98 cd.

Would upgrading to XP Pro provide the needed drivers for most of my "old"
add-on hardware? By the time I pay a tech person to fix the old stuff, I
could invest in XP pro -- IF it mught solve the problem.

Thank you very much for your time.

Sue

First, remove all hardware from the PC that isn't absolutely needed for
bootup. That means, remove the CD drive (although you may need this for
installing drivers), sound card, modem, printer, scanner, NIC, and other
unneeded hardware.

You must have the keyboard, ram, cpu, hard drive, and video card
installed. The floppy drive will be optional - it's probably not causing
your driver problems, but disconnect it if you want. The mouse is also
optional, although you'll have some difficulty navigating Windows
without it (it IS possible, though, but a pain in tha a**).

Now, does the PC operate normally? Once you've got it working ok,
download Win98 drivers for your other hardware to CD or floppy (using a
different PC of course), reinstall each piece of hardware one-at-a-time,
rebooting and fixing any driver issues with each piece of hardware
before reinstalling the next piece.

Good luck.

--
The reader should exercise normal caution and backup the Registry and
data files regularly, and especially before making any changes to their
PC, as well as performing regular virus and spyware scans. I am not
liable for problems or mishaps that occur from the reader using advice
posted here. No warranty, express or implied, is given with the posting
of this message.

 

[Raymond J. Johnson Jr.]

| The currently available Windows XP w/SP2 installation CD
| has vastly superior Plug & Play hardware and driver support then
| previous versions of Windows. The installation should be smooth.
|
| Windows 98 is over 7 years old now and cannot natively install
| drivers for newer hardware in many cases.
|
| --
| Carey Frisch
| Microsoft MVP
| Windows XP - Shell/User
|
| Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
| http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx
|
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
|
| "Raymond J. Johnson Jr." wrote:
| |
| | How would installation of XP help to solve the OP's apparent hardware
| | issues?

But she was concerned about *old* software and hardware. And what if her
original problem was due to bad hardware (not bad drivers)? She needs to fix
the problem before messing with XP.

 

[Guest]

My "old" hardware was working fine except for my relatively new (less than 1
year) Sony CD-RW. For some reason when I tried to use it to back up on a CD,
it said some type of aspc/psci/whatever could not be found. So it would not
work. A few days earlier, I had installed SBC DSL, replacing my cable
internet. There have been some problems with fatal errors and also that blue
screen saying something is wrong and to press any key to return - which never
works. I always end up having to reset/reboot. I also got a new card reader
and downloaded a new driver for it (Jump Trio). It would not work. After a
while of re-installing, un-installing, etc., my SanDisk card reader didn't
work either. I back up a lot on that disk because I can take it from
computer to computer with the work I do. I also recently installed a hard
drive/cd-rom external case to hold a hard drive for additional back up. All
these are USB's.

None of my USB hardware will work now. This is why I decided to reformat.
Just start new. I found out I do not need the SBC DSL interface software,
so I will not re-install that.

After re-installing WIN 98, when I reboot, It tells me there are misisng vxd
files. I cannot figure out what a .vxd file is, and how could it be missing
on a fresh install? The CD rom drive cannot find anything now so it does no
good to search.

I also wondered if my battery might need replacing. My computer is about 3
years old or so.

If I call the techs on wheels out here, I will pay as much for him as I
would purchasing the new windows. And XP Pro is what was recommended to me
because I make web pages and do a lot of work with powerpoint and stuff like
that.

Another problem I have with WIN 98 is when I am using my web page software,
after about an hour, my resources are so low it won't run the program any
more. Low resources is a BIG problem with that computer. I think I have
512K - not sure. Probably only 256K because of WIN98. Do have 1.2 gHz.

Forgive me for this long, long message. I do thank each and every one of
you out there for helping.

Sue

 

[Raymond J. Johnson Jr.]

| My "old" hardware was working fine except for my relatively new (less than
1
| year) Sony CD-RW. For some reason when I tried to use it to back up on a
CD,
| it said some type of aspc/psci/whatever could not be found. So it would
not
| work. A few days earlier, I had installed SBC DSL, replacing my cable
| internet. There have been some problems with fatal errors and also that
blue
| screen saying something is wrong and to press any key to return - which
never
| works. I always end up having to reset/reboot. I also got a new card
reader
| and downloaded a new driver for it (Jump Trio). It would not work. After
a
| while of re-installing, un-installing, etc., my SanDisk card reader didn't
| work either. I back up a lot on that disk because I can take it from
| computer to computer with the work I do. I also recently installed a hard
| drive/cd-rom external case to hold a hard drive for additional back up.
All
| these are USB's.
|
| None of my USB hardware will work now. This is why I decided to
reformat.
| Just start new. I found out I do not need the SBC DSL interface
software,
| so I will not re-install that.
|
| After re-installing WIN 98, when I reboot, It tells me there are misisng
vxd
| files. I cannot figure out what a .vxd file is, and how could it be
missing
| on a fresh install? The CD rom drive cannot find anything now so it does
no
| good to search.
|
| I also wondered if my battery might need replacing. My computer is about
3
| years old or so.
|
| If I call the techs on wheels out here, I will pay as much for him as I
| would purchasing the new windows. And XP Pro is what was recommended to
me
| because I make web pages and do a lot of work with powerpoint and stuff
like
| that.
|
| Another problem I have with WIN 98 is when I am using my web page
software,
| after about an hour, my resources are so low it won't run the program any
| more. Low resources is a BIG problem with that computer. I think I have
| 512K - not sure. Probably only 256K because of WIN98. Do have 1.2 gHz.
|
| Forgive me for this long, long message. I do thank each and every one of
| you out there for helping.
|
| Sue

Go here for an explanation of the .vxd file thing: http://tinyurl.com/hctx
In addition to trying to install, here's what I would do at this point.
Disconnect everything from your computer except for the keyboard, mouse and
monitor. Format the hard drive. Reinstall 98 from the original 98 install
CD. Assuming that 98 boots at this point (and it should, assuming there are
no other hardware issues, such as bad RAM), add your peripherals and their
drivers back one at a time, starting with something simple that worked OK
before, like a printer. Reboot after each device is installed. This way you
should be able to isolate the problem driver or hardware device, if there is
one.

The computer is 3 years old and the OS is 98? Doesn't sound right to me.
Computers were shipping with XP more than 3 years ago, and before that ME
was standard. If you're in the case for something else, it couldn't hurt to
change the battery, but it probably isn't necessary, nor is it related to
any of the trouble you're having.

 

[Guest]

| My "old" hardware was working fine except for my relatively new (less than
1
| year) Sony CD-RW. For some reason when I tried to use it to back up on a
CD,
| it said some type of aspc/psci/whatever could not be found. So it would
not
| work. A few days earlier, I had installed SBC DSL, replacing my cable
| internet. There have been some problems with fatal errors and also that
blue
| screen saying something is wrong and to press any key to return - which
never
| works. I always end up having to reset/reboot. I also got a new card
reader
| and downloaded a new driver for it (Jump Trio). It would not work. After
a
| while of re-installing, un-installing, etc., my SanDisk card reader didn't
| work either. I back up a lot on that disk because I can take it from
| computer to computer with the work I do. I also recently installed a hard
| drive/cd-rom external case to hold a hard drive for additional back up.
All
| these are USB's.
|
| None of my USB hardware will work now. This is why I decided to
reformat.
| Just start new. I found out I do not need the SBC DSL interface
software,
| so I will not re-install that.
|
| After re-installing WIN 98, when I reboot, It tells me there are misisng
vxd
| files. I cannot figure out what a .vxd file is, and how could it be
missing
| on a fresh install? The CD rom drive cannot find anything now so it does
no
| good to search.
|
| I also wondered if my battery might need replacing. My computer is about
3
| years old or so.
|
| If I call the techs on wheels out here, I will pay as much for him as I
| would purchasing the new windows. And XP Pro is what was recommended to
me
| because I make web pages and do a lot of work with powerpoint and stuff
like
| that.
|
| Another problem I have with WIN 98 is when I am using my web page
software,
| after about an hour, my resources are so low it won't run the program any
| more. Low resources is a BIG problem with that computer. I think I have
| 512K - not sure. Probably only 256K because of WIN98. Do have 1.2 gHz.
|
| Forgive me for this long, long message. I do thank each and every one of
| you out there for helping.
|
| Sue

Go here for an explanation of the .vxd file thing: http://tinyurl.com/hctx
In addition to trying to install, here's what I would do at this point.
Disconnect everything from your computer except for the keyboard, mouse and
monitor. Format the hard drive. Reinstall 98 from the original 98 install
CD. Assuming that 98 boots at this point (and it should, assuming there are
no other hardware issues, such as bad RAM), add your peripherals and their
drivers back one at a time, starting with something simple that worked OK
before, like a printer. Reboot after each device is installed. This way you
should be able to isolate the problem driver or hardware device, if there is
one.

The computer is 3 years old and the OS is 98? Doesn't sound right to me.
Computers were shipping with XP more than 3 years ago, and before that ME
was standard. If you're in the case for something else, it couldn't hurt to
change the battery, but it probably isn't necessary, nor is it related to
any of the trouble you're having. ******************************************************
Thank you for your response.

I built the machine myself. I HAD windows 2000 pro. I am a hard sell on upgrading because of learning curve. So I went back to my old familiar 98.

I will try your suggestion. Thank you.

Sue