Savior needed for Windows resurrection!

Here's what happened the first time:

Windows Explorer error

Well, the same thing happened again this morning. I went through the fixit process again and now that I think about it, I must have done something different this time when doing the file extract business, because when I rebooted the system it would start up and then give me the illegal operation error for Explorer. When I close the error the box goes away for a few seconds and then returns - it's just a loop where nothing else happens and nothing else will come up.

I tried to go into safe mode to re-do the fix, but the error happens there, too, and now I am COMPLETELY LOST, STUCK, and FRAZZLED.

I would assume there's a way to go through and fix this piece of junk through DOS, but I have no clue about that.

Can ANYONE help me?

 

Ana

Bad news is this error would be extremely hard to fix even if I were there.

Good news is a reinstall of windows will fix it. In this case you would do what is called a "Repair install" or some call it an "Overlay install" .

This type of install will not erase your files or settings and will keep all software as it is now. What it does is reinstall just the windows and keeps everything else.

Let me know if you have your windows CD and windows boot floppy.

There is one thing you can try though!

Boot to DOS by hitting the F8 key repeatedly while starting up. Begin to tap as soon as you see the 1st thing appear on the screen when you turn on.

You will get a menu. Chose "Command prompt only ".

You will be at C:>

type

scanreg /restore

You will be presented with a list of backed up registries.

Chose one with a date before this happend and let it restore.

If it does come back as useable (you can get to desktop somehow) but still has problems don't try to fix but get back to us.

Mike

 

Not getting C:>

When we do the F8, we only get \:

We did the registry restore anyway, and it said it was successfully restored, however when it rebooted I still got the same looping message. (restored from yesterday - should I go to an earlier date if possible?)

I have my Windows 98 CD, but the boot floppy....I'm not sure. This PC originally had Win95 on it and I only used the CD to upgrade to 98. Do I need the floppy, and if so, can I use onoe from 95?

What a way to start a Friday...

 

Ana

Sorry to drop out on you, but had to leave for the office. Only a moment from here at work. May have to finish tonight unless someone else steps in.

Do do the registry even older.

If this don't help and you still have the error. Then try a Ctrl Alt Del to end the error and get to desktop. Probably won't work but if we can get to desktop we have a good chance to fix it!

mike

 

Tried 5/5, 5/6, 5/7 - all failed to start.
Tried 5/8 again and it work, but still getting the same problem.

I'm wondering if there's a way to go through dos to get explorer.exe corrected, but I no nothing of DOS.

I've browsed the MS site and have come up with little information.

 

While at the c: prompt I've tried to switch over to the CD drive to see if I can't use my Win98 CD to reinstall. I can't switch to the D drive by typing d: Am I missing something?

How can I reinstall Windows via my CD if I can't get the drive to run?

 

You need a WIN98 boot disk, if you don't have one it can be dowloaded off the internet. Do a search on google for a site. Or if you have access to a working WIN98 machine you can make your own by going into the Control Panel and go into Add/Remove Programs, one of the tabs is called Startup Disk, go there and with a blank disk you can make your own boot disk.

 

Same thing, huh?
When in dos, you do not have any drivers loaded for the CD. You need to go to Bootdisk's and get the one for 98. After you download the file, double click on it with a floppy in the drive, it will then create the startup floppy for you. Put the floppy into the ailing computer, and boot with it. A menu will appear on the screen, select With CDRom Support using arrow keys. While it is booting, watch the screen. You will get a message what the drive letter assignment will be for the CD drive. This is important to watch for, as it will not be D:, the normal letter.
Then, when ready, you should see A:\> on the screen, type in this command to start Windows Setup.
X:\setup [X being the drive letter assigned to it.]

 

While at the c: prompt I've tried to switch over to the CD drive to see if I can't use my Win98 CD to reinstall. I can't switch to the D drive by typing d: Am I missing something?

Yes you may be missing something. If the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat do not have the proper entires for the CDROM driver etc. you will not be able to get to the CDROM from the Command prompt.

KevinSaul made two good suggestions.

Also if you know someone that does have a 98 Startup disk it will also work. So will a Windows ME Startup disk.

Both will give you access to the CDROM.

BillyBob

 

Making the attempt!

Okay, I'm in the process of reinstalling Windows. It'll be a while so I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks for all the great information!

 

Success!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thanks to everyone for all of the help and all of the information. It's sad to think I've spent the past 20 years on computers and still don't know anything about them!

I think my PC is angry with me as I have openly been discussing its replacement, so it continues to spite me with problems.

I don't know what I'd do without this board for home and work.

Thanks!

- Until the next crash...

 

Glad to read that things are looking better.

BB