computer shows 2 operating systems

My computer shows 2 operating systems. When I go into programs/properties/systems it displays win98se however when I check it another way it says win98. A friend of mine says some of my computer problems are because it has both windows(98 & 98se)installed. If this is not right what can I do? Thanks

 

Hi westernwin, welcome to BBS

if you could let us know the circumstances under which the computer reports W98 (as opposed to W98SE) it would be very useful

==

if you really do have files from W98 as well as W98SE all sorts of odd things could happen

but I suspect it's just down to the way you are asking the computer which version OS

==

you could perhaps check something:

use FileFinder, put *.* for the file name, searching drive C: (assuming your WINDOWS folder is on drive C: )...

...then go to the Date tab and set it to find files modified between 11 May 1998 and 11 May 1998

see what it finds - if anything

(the Windows98 First Edition files bear that date - 11 May 1998)

==

if you don't find any files at all then you probably only have files from Second Edition

==

to crosscheck this, substitute the date 23 April 1999 (both columns) and try again (this is the date shown for W98SE files)

best wishes, HJ

 

I believe that I have to agree with the Friend.

Why you may ask. Well lets say 98 was already on the machine in C:\Windows.

For some reason 98SE was installed and not watched CAREFULLY it could be in C:\Window001.

If this really is the case and can tell you right now that the machine was booted from the HD to install 98SE. Booting from the SUD will prevent this.

BillyBob

 

Re:HJ

Thank You for your input- this is what came up,
When I first did find files under4/23/99 56 files appeared labeled win98,but nothing for win98se.<this is by doing the cross check.On the first way,by checking(looking) for files under win98 with the dates 11May98 0 files was the result?

Just to reinterate for you, again when I went into system properties that is where it show win98se,when I go to start/run I type in winver then it shows me icon(displays) win98. I hope this clarifies so I can understand Thanks-

 

re Billy Bob

Is there a way for me to verify that this was done on my computer
Thanks C/windows 001

 

Hi westernwin

if you do Start>Run: winver on a computer running Windows98SE, the answer you get is indeed Windows98.

The words "Second Edition" are not mentioned when querying the version in this manner

==

I should have explained better about using the file finder method ! - but the result you posted back:

indicates no First Edition files

I was really intending that you search the whole of drive C: (including subfolders)...

...if you search the whole of C: (including subfolders) using the key date 11May98, it will pick up on any "stray" Win98 First Edition files, even if they should be in a peculiar location

==

If you can find no files dated 11May98 anywhere on your hard drive, then reckon you should be OK...

...which means that we must look elsewhere for an explanation to

whatever these problem are

best wishes, HJ

 

Re Hj

Thank you so much for your help;however it is getting real late for me since I work very early so I need to log off however my friend who is much more knowledgeable might sign up and he knows of some of the errors to my pc so he might continue later-Thanks again
Tim from Colorado Springs Co.

 

have a peaceful night Tim,

best wishes, HJ

 

One way to prove that out is to open Windows Explorer and examine the folders on the HD. If you only find C:\Windows you should be OK in that area.

If not done properly ( such as a Dual Boot ) AT LOT

And I can 100% vouch for that. I have been there.

BillyBob

 

I do not believe that searching by date is real proof of a non-existant 98 FE.

And it may depend on how SE was installed. Clean or Upgrade.

I just looked at a machine that has 98SE over top of 98FE and I see dates anywhere from 05-11-98 on up to and including 01-08-03. SE dates are 04-23-99.

It looks like the dates of most the files in the C:\Windows\System folder are the better indication of which OS exists.

I think looking for 4-23-99 files woulld be better.

BillyBob

 

Hi BB

I suspect what's going on is that Tim's been misled by doing Run:Winver and getting a result which doesn't mention the words "Second Edition "

the computer certainly is reporting SE by the M$ approved route

has this machine ever seen FE at all?

unsure why only 56 files were found with the SE date! I would have expected something more like 2000 if the whole of the windows drive had been searched...

but, no files at all were found with the FE date...

...wish I was more convinced that the whole HDD had been included in the search.

==

still reckon that it's worth making sure that the whole HDD has no files at all dated 11May98.

We know that it has SE - the only reason (posted so far) to suspect there's any involvement with FE is what winver shows. (or rather, doesn't show )

likely, the whole thing's a red herring caused by the confusing output from querying the OS version with winver on a "pure" SE machine - nothing to do with crossed-up versions at all. At least that's the way I read it from what's been posted.

waiting with interest to see what happens; like, is there any other reason to suspect a reinstall - what's the past history of this machine? and, what are these "problems "...

best wishes, HJ

 

If that was not bad enough I just looked at the files on this XP PRO machine and there exists file after file dated 4-23-99 ( 98SE )

And this is not a strange thing to me as I put 98FE over 95B. 98SE over that. And XP Pro over that. So if it were to find some files dated 5-11-98 it would not surprise me a bit.

I think the better thing for westernwin to do is to look for both 5-11-98 and 4-23-99.

That will better tell the story.

And I think better yet would be to open Windows explorer and look at the C:\Windows\System folder. ANd of course look for more than one Windows folder.

A long time ago I made an error when re-installing 98FE. I did not pay attention to what was going on and it created a C:\Window001 folder. In other words I booted from the HD and did not pay enough attention to the install path.

If you boot from a power off state diirectly to a Floppy then this is very unlikey to happen. ( works better overall anyway ) Still need to watch the install path carefully though.

I installed some software and it would not run because it was intalled to C:\Windows.

Some of Windows updates went to the wrong place.

I just deleted the C:\Windows001, re-installed 98 to the PROPER folder and redid a few things and all was well.

If this happens when using the same verison of Windows it is bad enough , But if two different versions of Windows I realy don't want to think about it.

BillyBob

 

Hi

in by email from westernwin (the on-topic bits)
<<
I wish you were on-line but I understand it is late. Again I wish to thank you for your assistance the other night. I read the conversations that BillyBob and you had after I logged off and I did some more research and I will give you the details just to ensure that everything is ok. I went into the find/files,date(23Apr.99) C: (hard drive) and I also checked the Subfolder box. It then listed the 57files. I then scrolled dn. In the 1st col.(first list) begins w/Winz98_21,cabinet,23Apr date,then as I scrolled dn it went to win98_22 and so forth then ends at win98_74 however; below win98_74 I read the following win98ol date,same,next win98se,date 27Feb.05 file folder,sorry between win98ol and the last one wpwin98set upinfo23apr99(setup info). The size is10KB the other files win98_21 on down all had the same size(1068)I think. I'm now a little worried
>>

busy (work) - will check back later if there's a lull - putting this up quickly to keep it on the board

best wishes, HJ

 

Hi westernwin

pls could you let us know if the HDD has more than one partition (should have thought of that one before, sorry)

easy way to find out: using File Finder, as you did before, where it says "Look In "... if there's more than one drive, you will see them listed as C:, D:, E: etc... your CDROM(s) will be the last letter(s) in the list

==

also pls try this quicky:

Start > Programs > MSDOS Prompt

you don't have to type anything in! just let us know what it shows on the screen

can then close that window

thanks

(guessing: D:\WINDOWS well it would explain a few things)

57 files = 55x WIN98_??.CAB (correct, there are 55) +2 other. But where are the DRIVER cabs etc??

best wishes, HJ

 

in via email
<<
Here is the info- When I went into msdos-displayed Microsoft Windows98,C-Microsoft Corp.1981-1999
C:\windows
-I only have the C drive and it is not partitioned
-My pc shows 53 files+1 setup(wpwin98)+1file folder(win98se)-the last one is just a shortcut.
-drivers(driver cabs) driver11-20(files)c:\winz,another file (driver.ddb)C:\windows\I next file(nob driver)c:\windows\s, next file (drivers)c:\windows,last file listed (cabs) drivers v=2.dll
I hope this is what you needed. Again I want to thank you for all of your help.I will talk to you later
Thanks
>>

and:
<<
I have a friend over and he has a question-His brother-in-law installed win98 and 98se and when he goes into M updates it tells him that he has both systems, now his system is trying to "crash" because of the 2-systems. His brother told him that you can't have 2 systems. I'm relaying this through my friend Dave
>>

Tim / westernwin - please could you post straight to the BBS - it works better / fairer that way... thanks - anyway I gotta get some kip (!) so you'll get the info up faster posting it directly

hmmmm. The Windows Update thing, again, is a red herring. You get to a page which says Windows98 / Windows 98 Second edition - but it just means that it's the same page for both versions, not that you have both operating systems on the machine at the same time.

The most probable source of any problems looks like the second edition install wasn't done properly, like BB says - otherwise I think we would have found more files with SE date. WIN.COM for starters! and \SYSTEM, \COMMAND...

I think it might be useful if you could let us know what sort of problems you are getting.

crash all the time? when you start a particular program? stuff you can think of to help describe it

And, whether you have precious files on the machine which you don't want to lose.

(it might be easier to start over from scratch?)

Do you have the SE CDROM, pls?

best wishes, HJ

 

A message to both The Friend and his Brother from BillyBob.

If not done CAREFULLY and with a VERY WATCHFULL Eye you can have two OS on a system. And either one may not work properly. You May have two Windows Folders. C:\Windows and C:\Windows001. And the 2nd install will ( usually ) be the one in control. Software installs may go to the C:\Windows. YUCK !!!!!

The above is refering to an overtop upgrade or a re-install ( repair ) of same over same ). But if things are watched carefully along the way to be sure what folder Windows is in ( before even starting the re-install ) and then watched CAREFULLY a re-install/upgrade can be done with no problems.

Another important part of an overtop install. Every background program possible needs to be shut down so that it does not reload at a reboot.

This is not written from some off the wall thinking. I HAVE BEEN THERE but thank goodness it was WAY back in the days of Win95.

But you can have two OS on a System IF AGAIN done carefully and properly by way of a Dual Boot system.

I have been there too. Did not need or care for it but I was there.

BillyBob

 

we really need to find out whether there's another Windows folder!

try doing it like this:

Start > Programs > MS-DOS prompt:

Code:

C:\WINDOWS>[COLOR=SeaGreen]dir /s /a:d \wind*

[/COLOR](you type the green part - please type carefully, with the spaces just as shown... the press <Enter>)

this will reveal all folders like WINDOWS001 anywhere on drive C:

the result will look something like this

If what you get runs off the screen, try this

Code:

C:\WINDOWS>[COLOR=SeaGreen]dir /s /a:d \wind* > \RESULT.TXT

[/COLOR]
you can double click RESULT.TXT to open it into Notepad; copy/paste into the BBS page - and post the results without having to type them in! (no typoes either )

HTH

best wishes, HJ

 

Reroblems clarification

Hello,
Some of the problems I've been experiencing as I go through sites pc will freeze,when I go to stand-dn messages show illegal ops. and on occasion, it happened last night I was in a site pc froze wouldn't unfreeze so I did the ctrl thing pc tried to reboot,then it would rebool itself again? I know I have enough open memory I think my biggest fear is that I don't know what to do exactly in the event of a crash-

 

best way to be prepared is to make sure that you have a SUD (aka Start Up Disk, Emergency Boot Disk) which works! safe somewhere handy in case you need it. It's only a floppy, they are hardly expensive, why not make a spare (floppies fail sometimes)

If you have a SUD you stand a good chance of rescuing the situation, should disaster strike. Without one, you are sunk.

how to make one? Look up "boot disk, creating" in Windows Help. You will need a blank floppy, and your Windows CDROM

how to check it works? put the SUD floppy disk in your A: drive, and then start (or restart) the computer. You should get to a text screen with a menu with three options. (If you get something else let us know what you see)

best wishes, HJ