System freeze - floppy - Win98

[mdoneil]

New 1.7 PIV with Geforce 4 video card. I think the floppy worked for 1 or 2 weeks after setup however now the system freezes when I try and access the drive - no message just freezes - mouse still moves but system is dead.

I turned off the 'exists in all hardware profiles' option for the disk controller and now the system stalls but can be 'ctrl-alt-delete' restored - still no access to the drive.

The drive works fine in SAFE MODE so I believe it is a contoller conflict - can't locate it.

Any ideas or thoughts? I've checked other sources but have no clear direction.

Thanks.

[G Ray88]

Mdoneil, you should be able to boot, your computer from your Win98-CD, put the Win98-CD in the CD, restart the computer and reinstall Win98.
It sounds like some files may be corrupt. Before doing this though backup all-important data first, make sure that you have all the disks for your Apps and MB if it came with one. Good Luck

[paramufay]

Originally posted by G Ray88
Mdoneil, you should be able to boot, your computer from your Win98-CD, put the Win98-CD in the CD, restart the computer and reinstall Win98.
It sounds like some files may be corrupt. Before doing this though backup all-important data first, make sure that you have all the disks for your Apps and MB if it came with one. Good Luck

sorry but this will not work

win 98 will find the original mbr and return the error operating system already exists.

even if by some slim chance you manage to get past that all the corrupt files/invalid registry entries will be transfered over to the new load along with double the files you had before.

you need to zero fill/fdisk/format (win 98 will not load on an unpartitioned unformatted drive) and reload 98/se. this will ensure a CLEAN install. also be sure u have the correct boot floppy and not some crappy 3rd party boot floppy like bootdisk.com or the useless boot floppy made from win 98 OS.

if you dont have/cant find the correct floppy drop me an email.

[Psycho Logical]

Originally posted by paramufay
sorry but this will not work
win 98 will find the original mbr and return the error operating system already exists.

Sorry, but it will work, and with no error message.

MSKB Article 250928 - How to Reinstall Windows 98

...all the corrupt files/invalid registry entries will be transfered over to the new load along with double the files you had before.

Huh? Not if done the right way.

you need to zero fill/fdisk/format (win 98 will not load on an unpartitioned unformatted drive) and reload 98/se. this will ensure a CLEAN install.

You usually do not need to zero-fill. This step may be necessary to remove a non-DOS partition or multi-OS boot loader, but not just to install/reinstall Win98. You also do not need to FDISK again, unless you want to change the present partition layout. Win98 will install on an unpartitioned unformatted drive.

MSKB Article 221829 - How to Install Windows 98 on a Computer with No Operating System

...not some crappy 3rd party boot floppy like bootdisk.com or the useless boot floppy made from win 98 OS.

Either one will work fine, and they have done so for hundreds (thousands?) of people. Using a bootdisk you get via e-mail from someone you don't know is a recipe for disaster.

Passing along bad advice or hearsay doesn't do anyone any favors.

[mdoneil]

I disabled the floppy contoller (actullay deleted it) and rebooted - the problem has ceased to exist. I had disabled the floppy drive previously but did not get the same result.

By the way... best forum responses I've ever come across - thank you

[druggas]

Downloaded a popup killer program the other day and it crashed my system. Had to reinstall 98se over my old 98se. It worked but I had to reinstall drivers for sound and video. It gives you that choice on the 98se disk of overwriting the previous OS.
That's why I read everyones response and make my own decision. Great forum!