Win 98 looks like its starting, but the quicklaunch toolbar disappears right away and I can't do anything

can you boot into safe mode? if so do that and go to Start->run and type

sfc

and select the option to scan for altered files. Also go to start->run and type

msconfig

go to the startup tab and deselect all programs that are listed to load at startup and reboot the computer. Does the problem go away? If so, then it is a third party application causing the problem

Also make sure you have the latest bios updates and the latest win98 driver updates for your hardware. HTH :0)

if you can't boot into safe mode then you probably need to reinstall windows 98.

also (if you get in safe mode) try running

scanreg /fix

Gpritts,
   Some games require higher screen resolution than the one you have set on your computer. Also, they require a lots of memory.

Can you go into safe mode and uninstall game? You may also want to delete the video card driver in Device Manager and reinstall it.

If the above does not work, then I agree with Guidway that you will have to reinstall Windows 98.

I'm curious - what game did you install ?
Bjorn

I have EXACTLY the same problem. I installed Frogger 2 (which has previously run without problem on the PC now causing trouble) and the next start-up went exactly as "gpritts" described above.

Safe Mode does not work. The start-up hangs in exactly the same place. I have run chkdsk from DOS and there were no problems. I suspect that there is something in this old game that is conflicting with the OS. It may be something in DirectX?

In any event I don't know how to proceed with only access to DOS.

Mark
Sweden

boot to dos.  ( you may need to do this with a win 98
bootdisk.  You can get one from bootdisk.com)
At the C: prompt type: scanreg/ restore  
This will display a list of dates when the registry was last backed-up.
Select a date before the game was installed.

Thanks for the idea "Stretchsp". I have now done this and reverted to a three day earlier copy of the registry.

Unfortunately it has not changed anything. The start-up process stops after the OS plays the start-up sound and flashes the Start bar.

/mark

Thanks for the idea "Stretchsp". I have now done this and reverted to a three day earlier copy of the registry.

Unfortunately it has not changed anything. The start-up process stops after the OS plays the start-up sound and flashes the Start bar.

/mark

Can you try an earlier dated registry?

Have you installed anything else?
Try and determine whats different between when you had the computer working with frogger on in and what it has now.

can you boot to safe mode?
If so, remove the game if it is still there.  


NOTE TO ALL
This solution may still work for the person that originally asked the question

you can always try to boot to safe mode go to start -> run -> type: msconfig
uncheck all the items on the tab on the far left and the reboot.  Where as each time you get a successful reboot, recheck an item and then reboot, trying to determine where the problem resides.

Dapto, we are addressing the problem that gpritts is having, not yours. If you want your question answered, create your own Question page.

Gpritts, we are awaiting your answer to whether you can boot up to Safe Mode.

Dapto, war1 is correct here.
Open a new question and then provide a link here to it if you would like so we can continue with finding the solution if you want

Sorry, I wasn't familiar with the point system. I'll lurk for a bit and see if the "gpritts" dialogue is helpful to me. If it diverges from my situation I'll post a new question.

/dapto

Your C:\WINDOWS\DOSSTART.BAT should look something like this...

@ECHO OFF
SET DosOnly=1
LH C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX /D:IDECD000 /L:M
SET PROMPT=$p$g
SET TEMP=C:\windows\TEMP
SET TMP=C:\windows\TEMP
call c:\dosboot\drivers.bat
c:\windows\smartdrv /q
CLS
ECHO Now in DOS - EXIT returns to Windows

AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS were fixed in early Windows systems, but under Windows 95 and Windows 98 special versions of these two control files are used when going from Windows to DOS.  Then, if you are running a game or something similar and the system crashes while in DOS, you are stuck with those special version.

It might be a good idea to find out the EXACT chain of events before the problem started.  That might provide a clue.

I keep a backup of these two control files, JUST IN CASE.  However, there is a procedure that can be used to restore the correct configuration...  

http://support.gateway.com/support/techdocs/software/windows/30792.shtml

The symptoms you describe don't sound exactly like this, but it is worth looking at.  

if you have antivirus, norton utilities, or other system utilities software, go to dos and rename their folder so that windows can't load them, maybe it crash with them.
if still the same, go to c:\windows\system\
rename directx folder and see how it goes.

if win98 can run correctly after the above step, uninstall the game and rename back the folders u have changed

good luck

When I boot in safe mode, the same thing occurs.

The game was Thomas and Friends, Trouble on the Tracks

bram_19277,
   Try to repair your registry. Boot into DOS and type scanreg /fix. If this does not work, it is time bit the bullet and reinstall Windows 98.  If you reinstall Windows 98, it may corrupt the boot sector in Windows 2000, so you may have to reinstall that also.

Best wishes, war1

ok, this is the easy way.
use your win2000 to open your win98 drive.
then if you have antivirus, norton utilities, or other system utilities software,rename their folder so that windows98 can't load them, maybe it crash with them.
then restart your pc and logon using your win98
if still the same, use your 2000 again go to your win98 driver ----> \windows\system\
rename directx folder to any name and see how it goes.
if win98 can run correctly after the above step, uninstall the game and rename back the folders u have changed

GBU

I get bad command or file name when I try the scanreg suggestions.  My DOSSTART.BAT file was empty, so I typed in what sysandprog provided.  I was able to rename my directx folder, but not the norton one.  I am still having the same results.  I would really like to just go to XP - will I be able to uninstall 98 and then upgrade from windows 2000?

>>>will I be able to uninstall 98 and then upgrade from windows 2000

Only if you get XP Pro. Win2000 is not recognized as an upgarde path to XP Home but XP Pro is.

Although you can upgrade from your Win98 installation. And XP will see it and ask if you want to upgrade that installation or have XP wipe it out and for a fresh install where Win98 currently is.

Now I hope that you have Win2000 and Win98 on seperate partitions or disks. If not then you have a complication that won't be to easy to get around without some third party help basically from a partitioning utility like Partiton Magic.

gpritts,

> >I get bad command or file name when I try the scanreg suggestions.

when you type in the command "scanreg /fix", make sure there is a space between scanreg and /.  And / is a front slash and different from \, which is backslash.

>> will I be able to uninstall 98 and then upgrade from windows 2000?

Are you saying you want Windows 2000 on one partition and Windows XP on another? You can use a third party program like System Commander or Partition Magic to install Window XP. These programs cost about $70 retail.

If DOSSTART.BAT was empty, then there is a good chance that a virus screwed up and/or deleted some system files.
That wouldn't be easy to repair without knowing which virus was involved.

Also, some hard-to-replace data files could have been altered or deleted as well.  That complicates any efforts to reinstall or replace the operating system, because having a good OS won't cure the frustration of losing data.

I did use the space and / when I tried scanreg.
I don't want 2000 AND XP.  I just want a stable system that will run all of these games we have.  Since, it sounds like I can upgrade from 98 (even in it's messed up state), to XP home, that's what I think I'll do.  Do I uninstall 2000 before I attempt that?  I'm a little scared to do that since it's my working connection to the internet!

gpritts,
  Yes, you can upgrade from 98 to XP but ... it would be better to format the drive that 98 is on, since it has all the problems, and then install XP. Remember you need XP drivers for your hardware. If 2000 is on another partition, you don't have to worry about it. You should always back up your important data.
  Will the games work in XP? What do the requirements of the games say?  Does the computer meet all the requirements of the games?  If the games don't work in XP, you may want to keep Windows 98. Reinstall Windows 98.
 

>>>Do I uninstall 2000 before I attempt that?

No or maybe. You haven't answered the question if you are using separate partitions or disk. Since Win98 isn't working correctly don't upgrade that installation because you may bring the problem right along with it. If you so choose you can have XP wipe Win98 off the disk when you do the install. I would suggest as war1 stated to make sure those games are rated to run on XP. Not all things that work in Win98 will work in XP although XP does have the following features but you can't count on them to be absolute.

HOW TO: Use the Program Compatibility Wizard in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;301911

HOW TO: Use Windows Program Compatibility Mode in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;292533

gpritts,
   We have not heard from you in awhile? Did any comment help you solve your problem? Do you have any more questions? If an Expert help you, please accept his/her answer and provide him with an excellent or good grade.

Thanks, war1

I believe that 98 and 2000 are on separate partitions, but I'm not sure. When I boot the computer, I choose the one I want from the list of both. I have not had time to try the reinstall of 98, but will try to get it done this week and then I will accept an answer. Thanks for everyone's advice!

It is easy to tell if they are on separate partitions. Just open explorer and see if there are more then one drive letter assignments for the hard drive. Also open the boot.ini. It is a hidden file

So go to the Control Panel > Folder Options
Click the View tab
Select Show Hidden files

and look at the line with Win2000 on it if this portion

partition() has a 1 in it then chances are the OS's are on the same partition. if the number is not 1 but 2 or 3 etc then chances are the OS's are on Separated partitions.

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional"

I do have a c and d drive.  But the D drive is just for data.  I did the 'show hidden files' change, but I can't find boot.ini to look at.  I did a search for it and it couldn't find it.

>>> do have a c and d drive.  But the D drive is just for data

Well it looks like you have both OS's on the same partition then

Here try this to look at the boot.ini

Start > run cmd

c:
cd \
attrib -s -h -r boot.ini
notepad boot.ini

that worked. it shows both on partition 1.  So what's my best option for cleaning things up?

I will have to get back to you on this because this won't be easy and I have to do some things right now.

gpritts,
   You can use a third party program like Ranish Partition Manager to create another partition and install Windows 98 (or Windows XP) there.

http://download.com.com/3120-2001-0-1-4.html?qt=hard+disk+partition&ca=2001

Then you will have to clean up drive C. Uninstall Windows 98 on that drive. Save your data as some of the system files may be commingled with Windows 2000.

Let me try to simplify it. Should I just format my C drive, reinstall 98 and then upgrade to XP?  (I have saved off what I need to keep)

Yep do that.

In fact you don't even have to format. Just boot to the XP CD and some where along the line it will ask you if you want to do a fresh install and format the drive. Just say yes.

Take a look at my comment 03/17/2003 09:17AM PST  there are several links about how to intall XP. It is pretty easy. And if you can't boot to the CD Then use these.

Obtaining Windows XP Setup Boot Disks
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310994 

I upgraded to XP from 98 and had it format my drive.  Everything appears to be working well.  I'm not sure I'll attempt to reinstall that game, though! :)  Thanks for the help!