More geeky help needed for Catt's computer

[fluffymark]

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...)

Comments

[emomisy.livejournal.com]

If you can take copies of important files, take them and then reformat the drive (the install will probably do that anyway). Use a linux boot disk is necessary...
Buying a new HDD is also an idea (not too expensive these days, or find someone with an old one to donate)

[emomisy.livejournal.com]

Doesn't the Windows install format the drive anyway? So all the files would be lost...
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.

[damerell.livejournal.com]

Easy thing to try; overwrite the MBR. "fdisk /mbr" will do this from an MSDOS boot floppy.

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.

[sphyg.livejournal.com]

*cough* Linux

[rainbowskye.livejournal.com]

My usual method in these circumstances is to shout at the computer a bit and threaten to turn it off..if you're feeling really mean, you could wave a pencil and notebook and a filing cabinet at it..
I don't suppose that's much help, is it..?!

[emarkienna.livejournal.com]

- If you haven't already done so: See what the exact message it gives is when it says it's already installed, and try searching for that phrase.

- 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.

[incy.livejournal.com]

some windows are docotred to stop pirating, it sound spossible that you may have fallen foul of that. It should be possibly to do a windows install over a perfect version of windows. Solotuoion would be to find other CDs (has the one you got stamped with stuff like OEM only)

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.

[laumiere.livejournal.com]

(or should I just give up and persuade Catt that Linux is the way forward...)
Bribe her with the cute penguin?