Can't reinstall Windows 98

[Lucinda]

I have a pent 166 with 2 hard drives and 64MB ram. It started giving various error messages about Xmas. Thought maybe a virus so I changed antivirus software.I downloaded and installed Norton antivirus 5.0.Nothing found.System less stable.. trouble booting into windows.Decided to reinstall win98..Can't even get into safe mode.replaced missing file.. now another one missing.Know you must disable antivirus to reinstall so did as Norton said... renamed Symevnt.368 to Symevnt.BAK. Used Safe Dos and also tried start disk... windows starts to install and then I get... boot sector write++ Virus: continue(Y/N).Then it hangs. Help. Do I have a virus? Will formatting C and loading From windows copy on D help?

[scotter]

if your haveing problems with windows errors your best bet to fix it is always a clean install of windows not just a reinstall over the older copy.
the othere thing is are you using a disk manager program for your disk ? like ontrack .
if so that will give you a virus wornning from windows install.
if not then I would go to you hard drive manufactures web site and download the diagnostic program also see if they have a Zero fill program it could be part of the diagnostic program or a stand alone program
either way have it write zero's to the whole drive that will wipe it completely clean when that is done use Fdisk to repartion the drive then format it and reinstall windows and you should be good to go http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Tom Denny]

I agree with Scotter but would also ask have you recently increased your memory and if so is it the same as the old memory (It could test out OK but still give problems when working

[codybear]

http://www.pcnineoneone.com/howto/clean1.html

this will get you on your way....a clean install is always best

[2canSAM]

Something else to check is that if your BIOS has a setting for Anti-virus Warning that it is disabled. If you do format before you do you may want to type this in at the command promt.
A:\fdisk /mbr

the MBR switch will repair the master boot record.

Then Format and reinstall and you'll be all set

[Jin Vitas]

why dont you just boot off your windows 98 startup disk and go to your cd rom drive.. and go to your win98 directory and run setup?

Don't run setup in windows.

Jin-Vitas

[beller6]

Check in your bios to make sure that the anti virus is<b> Disabled</b>. I had the same problem 2 systems ago. For some reason the mobo's anti virus can cause the problem, and the puter sees a virus.

[Lucinda]

Found new info. Doing this for a new PC owner. Anti virus is enable in CMOS. I can disable, however now know owner just "clicked" into a site that said AOL 4 free.. had his password stolen(no Downloading!!!!) He then called AOL and changed his password, but did nothing more. Must have a Trojan.. but Norton didn't find. How to find and remove especially as I can only use DOS. Thanks, Cindy