can't use keyboard while in setup mode win98

I am writing from my compaq, winXP about a second PC I acquired 2 days ago from it's 18 month long hiatus in a basement: a 366c e-machine, win98.
Having only one keyboard I was flipping it between pc's via the usb port, scanning pictures on the e-machine while on-line on the compaq.
I was getting registry error/repair msgs. (could be from uninstalling aol), explorer error msgs and some fatal exception msgs, so I went on-line to download a 17 item list of win updates, the server eventually timed out. I downloaded a program that would tweak the e-machine. During a prerequisite installation of runtime v6.0 I got a fatal exception msg. The error msg screens froze the keyboard and mouse so I'd 're-start' the e-machine down via on/off button... I'd get registry repair info and have to shut it off again cos I couldnt click the ok buttonfor windows to run.
The last message is: "A device file is specific in the SYSTEM.INI file is damaged. It may be needed to run windows. You may need to run the windows set up program again. If the file is included in another saoftware pkg you may need to reinstall the software that uses the file. NTKERN "
All that aside, here's the problem:
I shut down the e-machine down and then on, 3X and got the same SYS.INI msg each time. I can't escape the screen because my keyboard/mouse are disbabled. I thought if I put in the floppy and cd of a win98 installer in, it would work on it's own without tabbing to select a disk to start up from. OK, fine, I got further that way except I still have to hit enter to let the disk operate. and can't.
how do I get Windows to run if I can't press enter?
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep
thank you so much for reading this.

 

See same post in the Win98 Forum

Please do not double post.

Thank you

BB

 

thanks for the 411

I am desperate - sorry