Is it time to "format" the HD?!

[kareem]

My Win98 OS is(I think) beginning to do funny stuff:
My autorun has stopped functioning when it's enabled, My Outlook Express is doing weird stuff,I get trailing windows, I have Norton's System Works (full shebang) and I uninstalled it. Because it slowed my system down.I'll reinstall later. I get the blue window of death when online-internal modem(Diamond Supra 56k).

If I decide to reload Win98, can I install it over the existing copy? I dont want to reload all of my email addresses,access files,docs, etc, drivers, and so on.

[Tracker]

Yes you can reinstall if you have like an OEM version of windows, but I have done that and it makes everything worse to tell you the truth, everything that deals with windows is copied over and it takes alot of your harddrive up, basically loose memory because there are files that are copied over and others that you didn't need copied. If you have like IE5 then it really screws that up from what I understand. Your best bet is to have some sort of backup, like I have a Zip drive. That way you can reinstall everything and you ahve backups of your files and programs you like. Much better that way.

[Pantion]

You can install win9x over an older installation, but that isn't the way. Since when you install programs they check (or they should) for old and newer versions of files they need.

If you have a newer and damaged file win9x install program will leave it there and continue to be a pain in the a**. Is better to loose time and get bored by creaating backups than to make experiments that will leave ya worse than you were before.

[pickel]

Kareem, I had the same problems. My tech support had me reformat Hdd and believe it was worth the trouble reistalling my applications. I had to download forever, but my system really works alot better now than when it was new. Alittle o'clockin' and 64 more Mbs of RAM didn't hurt either. Good Luck

the pickel

[frankimb]

Copy all your personal use files,(docs, internet favorites, downloads, saved mail, files that contain user specific settings, etc.) to zips or cds. You may have to check with the software tech support to find out which files contain user settings. Then go to dos, format the hd, and begin reinstallation. Less time, less headaches.