fluffymark (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fluffymark) wrote2003-05-12 09:37 pm
fluffymark) wrote2003-05-12 09:37 pm
More geeky help needed for Catt's computer
Windows 98 is being silly. It refuses to install on the basis that it can find an already installed version of itself - although the already installed version is corrupted and fails to work at all. It doesn't give me the option to continue on with the install, it just quits when it finds itself already there. I don't want to delete things, as catt will lose vital files she needs to keep. I've tried renaming the windows folder and COMMAND.COM to other names in the hope it cannot find them, but it still does.
So, how do I fool Windows into thinking it doesn't exist, without actually deleting it?
(or should I just give up and persuade Catt that Linux is the way forward...)
So, how do I fool Windows into thinking it doesn't exist, without actually deleting it?
(or should I just give up and persuade Catt that Linux is the way forward...)
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Buying a new HDD is also an idea (not too expensive these days, or find someone with an old one to donate)
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I'd proceed by using a floppy or CDROM based linux distribution (OWL is good) to copy important files either over a network to your computer using scp (quickest and easiest) or onto floppies (make sure the write is okay though) and then reformat the drive (using ext2 if necessary).
This is a good case study of why backups are important :-) (and also a good argument for partitioning of hard drives).
The easiest would be to just get a new HDD, they aren't that expensive, and there's probably a friendly geek who has a spare one lying around if necessary.
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Space is not the problem by the way, catt already has two HDD, and one of them has two partitions, so there are three partitions in total, with many gigabytes of free space.
Last time i had to do this, I just copied everything from the old system partion onto an empty one, and reformatted the system partition, and reinstalled windows, as you suggest. But somehow important files got lost, or refused to be recognised by the new version of windows. It also took me about a week after reinstalling windows to reinstall all the drivers and programs she needed. I'd rather not go through all that hassle again.
Interesting - have just looked at the hidden file MSDOS.SYS which appears to have a configuration setting telling the computer which version of windows is currently installed. Wonder what happens if i rename this file? Unfortunately, catt is asleep now so i can't try this idea until the morning.
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Hard thing to try; use a GNU parted boot floppy to squish the existing Windows partition into the end of the disc, and create another MSDOS partition in front of it.
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As for the repartitioning, isn't that a bad idea unless the drive is already defragmented? Or does it defragment it too? Anyhow, the last thing catt needs is another Windows partition! She currently has 3 partitions, all with various defunct copies of Windows on them. I think she's collecting dead copies of Windows.
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Parted will work on fragmented partitions. You could also squish up the extant partitions to occupy less space. I think the comment on this is that currently the machine is useless, so how can any non-destructive attack make it worse?
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I don't suppose that's much help, is it..?!
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- Certainly it should be possible to install Windows 98 over itself, but http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=%23%23Pg19sb%24GA.308%40cppssbbsa05 mentions that a special "OEM version" can only be installed on a clean drive. Is there any description of the version you have (either on the physical CD, or when you boot)? http://web.archive.org/web/19990502184010/http://www.listmaker.net/win98/index.html#blank suggests: "The only method from the OSR2 FAQ that works is Method 1: rename (or mark as hidden, or delete) all instances of WIN.COM on your hard drives, and then run setup from the DOS prompt." (according to the backup of my old Windows 98 installation, win.com exists in c:\windows\ and nowhere else).
- Still assuming that perhaps it's the OEM version, but if that method doesn't work, I can post you a copy of the Win98 CD (unfortunately it's an arsed up copy in that it won't boot, so you have to boot from a bootdisk with CD drivers :/ though if I read you correctly and you're doing that anyway, that doesn't matter;) Certainly with my version, I've managed to install on top of existing Windows 98 versions.
Space is not the problem by the way, catt already has two HDD, and one of them has two partitions, so there are three partitions in total, with many gigabytes of free space.
I know that reinstalling everything is a hassle, but you could try installing Windows on the other disk which would mean Catt then has some use of her computer, like just reinstalling a few most needed applications, until you work out how to repair the current Windows installation?
(or should I just give up and persuade Catt that Linux is the way forward...)
On the note of other OSs, if you can't tempt her to Linux, I can do a copy of Windows 2000 (which is much more stable that 98, both in terms of crashing, and deciding not to boot anymore from what I can tell). Indeed, installing Windows 2000 is probably best done on a new disk/partition rather than over 98 (avoids risking any crap left over that might confuse it perhaps, and avoids the risk of messing up a working 98 install if it all goes wrong and doesn't work:/), so since she has a spare disk that might be an option.
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I just reinstalled windows over the original version (on the primary master drive) - and it took ages, but got there. It didn't do anything!. Same error as before. Windows found all its files existed, and didn't replace them, even the corrupted ones. So now i'm deleting windows. And then i'm going to reinstall it again. Grrrr.
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I won't bother replying to the last email for now since hopefully it will now all be irrelevant. As for telling SIMMs from DIMMs, unfortunately I'm not sure of an easy way. If you don't have computer/motherboard manuals, but you do know the make/model of the computer or motherboard, then http://www.crucial.com/uk/ will hopefully tell you.
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Since these are anti pirating measures, it might be worht trying to find another cd. Failing that can you back up the relevant files from the dos prompt (if you boot from floppy). Also have yout ried doing a scandisk from the dos prompt?
Linux might solve the issue (if not the exact problem) and may end up being the cheapest way of sorting the issue out.
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And it *insists* on running scandisk before installing windows anyway. The drive is perfectly healthy.
The Linux comment wasn't entirely serious. Catt's head would explode, even if it does have cute penguins.
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Bribe her with the cute penguin?
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Re:
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