I want to go back to Win 98 from XP

I installed XP probably a week ago and having nothing but more and more problems out of my pc since then. Plus most of my software doesn't seem to want to work with and spend too much time argueing with at to solve nothing.

I want to go back to Win 98. I have a Win 98SE startup disk since thats where I started from orginally. Now need specific instructions to reformat my HD. I built the PC so if I mess up I am in trouble.

I do have my Win98SE startup disk and cd-rom. Will my Maxtor HD software wipe my drive clean and let me start over and partitian the drive and reinstall win 98.

 

I must admit that yesterday I had reached rock bottom, and out came my win98 disc, driver disks and assembled implements of micro-surgery. I had had enough. Conflicts, blue screens and infuriatingly ambiguous error messages had conspired to convince me that xp had to be removed, rather like a cancerous tumour which had invaded my system, doubly insulting as I had actually paid for the dubious privilege.

That aside, I've used xp for a few weeks - everything runs faster (between blue screens) It's such a beautiful interface, with loads of lip-smacking features. I envisaged a not too distant future when every piece of software I buy or game I install says "XP only" and I can only gaze wistfully, face pressed up against the glass of incompatibility.

So I decided against it, and instead came to this forum, I quickly found some useful links which are posted here, I repeat them below (thanks to JSID for those)

http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=64
http://forums.viaarena.com/messagev...3&threadid=5270
http://www.theinquirer.net/05120107.htm

My problem (as many others) is with graphics card and nvidia drivers. From the useful info found from the above links, I changed a setting or two in the display properties and opengl. From then on in it seemed breathtakingly simple. No blue screens and quake3 runs like a beauty. My advice is to read the posts here thoroughly, try to get a prognosis which suits your system - and tweak till it hurts. If you still find yourself biting the keyboard in frustration, the way I planned to reinstill win98 was to connect a second formatted hard drive, disconnect the other and do a clean install from the cd-rom. I'm glad I changed my mind, and hope you will be too

 

My advice would be the same as fz's, but for a slightly different reason.

I've just reloaded my Win98 machine this weekend and - despite having copious notes from last time - I underestimated how time consuming and frustrating it is. There's so much software and all its settings and all its updates and all the thousands of little tweaks and patches you did but forgot about until you miss them.

I would persevere if I were you. Move forward not back.

 

hi,

I agree with the above. The day will come when we will not be able to run software on old versions of Windows. XP came to stay, no doubt about it and I suggest to persevere. However, one should invest some money, maybe. Upgrade your hardware, for example.

I also suggest have dual boot. Get Partition Magic for instance, move your XP further in your HD and reinstall Win 98. Install Boot Magic or similar to switch between OSs. I have 98, 2000, XP and Linux to play with. It is a great way to learn.

Good luck!

 

Still no luck

I want to go back to Win98 so I can start over.. I like XP but don't like all the error messages and problems I am having..


I get these error messages whenever I reboot windows or turn on my pc.

Error Message 1: box says "function" Can't find registerserviceprocess

Error Message 2: box says "fat32" Can't find registerserviceprocess.


I spent 4 HRS just getting Windows XP to regonize my regular Modem after installin XP.. It didn't say anything about my modem wouldn't work when I installed the software. just my scanner probably wouldn't work and doesn't work (but not XP problem..its the scanner co. problem). Spent another 1 or 2hrs getting XP to regonize my Satellite Modem. It still doesn't like the software or the software doesn't like XP. Direpc says my software is compatible with XP. But when I get it all installed I get constant error messages saying "This version isn't compatible with XP ". I went in and changed the settings like Direcpc's website says to make it work with XP and still get the error message.

Everything I get kicked offline or disconnect from the net it constantly redials itself until I unplug the phone line. When I go to d/l a temp. version of Norton 2002 it says it can't find a net connection.. It does this with alot programs telling me it can't find a net connection when I am connected to the net.

My scanner doesn't work with XP.. My PC camera only works through yahoo messanger with XP and unless its plugged directly into the USB port it won't work.. I have a USB hub and windows doesn't regonize it through the hub.

I built this PC in October so didn't think my hardware was that old yet. I had problems with my system files not responding when I was running ME.

Tech's kept telling me to go to XP cause it would take care of all my problems. Instead I have more and more problems each day. The error log for XP is really long.. I don't know all the specifics on it but it says something about my BIOS.

I wanted to go back to Win98 then sell this PC. I am going to buy a computer with preloaded XP and tech support so I won't have so many problems.

after all the problems with my desktop computer not about to try to install XP on my laptop.

 

Hi,

Oh boy! You have problems, don't you?... For the sake of learning I still think that you should leave it and dual boot as I suggested, and do your serious work with the OS you feel confortable with...

Regarding the incompatible software, try to run the software in "Compatible mode ":

-Right click the executable
-Click on Properties
-Select the Compatibility tab
-Select the OS and Display settings

Might work. If not, allow me to joke... get a priest...

Good luck!

 

You can certainly wipe out the current install and put in Win98 as if it were a new system.

Different methods depending on whether you are using FAT32 or NTFS. Say which.

 

don't take this personally dude but I have done 10 XP installs with no problems. It is the most hardware friendly OS yet.
I don't think XP is the problem I think it's the lack of experience behind the keyboard.

 

Hi,

I partially agree with Ssmith above. XP, so far, has showed its real strenght in detecting hardware an even running with hardware not "designed" for it. But the "experience" does not mean much when XP is in one of those bad moods...

Yesterday I installed XP dual boot with 98 in one of my friends' PC. Went beautifully, without a hitch from beggining to end (I had to download and flash the BIOS for the ASUS motherboard though).

However, last week on another PC less than 2 years old, it would not detect HP scanner, NetComm modem or WebCam Plus camera. After fiddling for a while with drivers and alike, it changed its mind and decided to be "happy" again. So far, it is still health... Unbelievable!

And lastly, the WebCam Plus camera is working with drivers for 2k cause Creative did not release them yet...

Cheers!

 

One more thing,
Run Windows update for several days. I have noticed MS doesn't always give you all the driver files your system needs on the first scan. I think they do this to keep their net traffic down.
I had a Matrox G400 dual card I removed to play with a diffrent card. When I replaced the Matrox card it worked but with basic functionality. After the third update scann MS offered me the drivers to download.
I apologize for the "experience" remark I was in a bad mood. It just makes my blood boil when someone wants to back up 2 generations of OS because they are having some problems.
To go back to 98 you would have to boot with the XP cd rom and go into setup and REMOVE the NTFS partition (which I might add is the best file system to date) so that you can go back to fat 32.

 

Someone best take a good cold shower before reading further.

What OS a user wants to run is their personal choice. And the system configuration has a lot to do with that choice.

I guess I should not say that I am going back further yet I have one machine that is going to be BACK to Win95b ( from Win98SE ) soon. Or at least it will be a 2nd OS.

I can hear you saying, WHY ?.

I say. " Because that is the OS that works best on that machine and does EVERYTHING we ask of it and just as well as ( if not better than ) Win98SE does. "

It is NOT THE OS that is the problem on that machine. It is the MB BIOS ( which is not updateable ) and the Cyrix CPU. ( more the latter )

Also maybe I should not say that I have been all the way to Win98 ME and am now back to the ORIGINAL Win98 on this machine that has an AMD K6-2 500 and 192meg of RAM and AGP Video.

Again I hear you asking, WHY ?

Again I say. " Because that is the BEST OS for me and my machine. " The only thing this machine does better ( outside of speed of course ) is it does allow me to run the newer software that the other won't due to its' CPU NOT OS limitations.

Newer is NOT ALWAYS better.

BillyBob

 

Yea your right, I think I'm going to sell my 99 truck and get a 66 because they made them better back then. And the old ones will haul more weight than the new ones plus parts are cheeper.

 

I can relate to the truck bit.

Our 97 vehicle IS NOWHERE NEAR the car that our 91 Chevy Caprice was.

And more ( much ) expensive to keep up.

BillyBob

 

re 1-13 apeferreira reply

I'd sure be interested in learning how to do that partition for XP and LINUX. I've been wanting to test out Linux, but wondered about space issue. How much HD space is needed for XP and LINUX? tks
can reply to: r7p777@hotmail.com
Where can one d/l LINUX from?