Sunday, January 16, 2005

Windows 98 Boots Only in Safe Mode

The following is a stream-of-conscious/log of a Windows98 repair.

I'm repairing a machine, a Compaq Presario 5834, that is running Windows 98 (not se) and only boots in safe mode. So far I have run scandisk and regclean.

Rick suggests:

Something you might be able to do is use scanreg to restore a previous backup of your registry. Windows 98 keeps 5 different registry backups dating back about 1 day each.

Boot into DOS / Command prompt when the safe mode menu appears and type in scanreg /restore

You will then be able to choose a previous registry configuration. Go back before the problem started and you should be able to boot.
Trying Rick's suggestion produces the "Microsoft Registry Checker" with 5 dated copies of the registry. I choose the 2nd most recent. My restart takes me to Safe Mode. Not a good sign. After the safe mode I tried for a regular boot and the system just hung and hung.

I tried "scanreg /restore" again and learn that a more recent backup was made and my absolute oldest registry backup dropped off. Oops. Should have started with the oldest! The now fails to restore. I work through the list until I get a registry restoration "without errors". Now it boots into Safe Mode.

Next attempt is going to be a reinstall of some critical files. Since this is old Windows 98, safe mode has no CD-ROM so I can't use Norton WinDoctor or other useful utilities. I tried booting UBCD but this computer doesn't have the umph to run it.

Annoyances.org suggestions looking for setup in c:\windows\options\cabs\setup. Wow! It's there. Next error message
Setup does not have enough conventional memory to check your computer's hard disks. You need to free some conventional memory before continuing.
Whoa! There's some memories. Anyone remember all the DOS tweaking we did to get enough conventional memory to run our games?

That error caused setup to quit but there was another error underneath the message mentioned:
If you run an MS-DOS program in safe mode, you risk corrupting the video display or experiencing other anomalies. Do you want to run the program anyway?
After making that message go away with a "Yes" I am able to run c:\windows\options\cabs\setup.

Setup informs me that my registry is corrupted. I cancel setup with the intention to run regclean 4.1. I see the message
Cannot find the file "C:\WININST0.400\scanreg.exe". Make sure that the file exists on your system and that the path and filename are correct. OK.
I make the error go away and run Regclean.

Regclean runs and gives me the opportunity to "Fix Errors" Now I run c:\windows\options\cabs\setup again only to receive the conventional memory error. So I exit, click "Yes" on the video message then run setup again. This time it appears to run fine.

Another conventional memory message. Going to keep trying and see if I can get through this. I think if I can get past the "system is checking your system" then things will be fine.

Knock on wood the installation is continuing. I have had to reenter the user's name and organization name but the CD key was remembered. Perhaps the name and org had never been entered but it worries me that perhaps some information has been lost in this process.

Eeek! After the re-install a normal boot still hangs on the Windows98 screen.

Ah! I've found a reference that suggests a bios flash may be in order. Now let's see.. Do I own a floppy disk? Oh yes. I get a "Compaq" boot screen instead of a regular screen that shows me the bios information and tab and esc fail to show me the bootup information. Now. I guess I can use "del" or "f1" to get into the bios. I wonder if the version information will be presented there.

New direction. Trying UBCD. Not enough memory to run the program. I really need to virus scan this machine. Doesn't look like UBCD is going to work.

Seeing a boot message that says the virus definitions have not been updated for 66 months (5 ½ years) has spurned me to 1) boot from Norton Utilities to do an emergency virus scan and 2) suggest to my friend that this computer be ditched for a new machine.

No viruses found. 1 hour left to return the machine.

del key does not go to bios. Could this be as simple as starting without startup options? Isn't that holding down the control or shift key during boot?

I've tried booting without windows drivers and that fails.

Now I booted into safe mode and used msconfig to disable autoexec.bat and config.sys to no avail.

Wahoo! F10 got me into the bios. This is a Compaq PC, Celeron, 500/66 MHz, 64MB Ram, Rom Date 09/08/99 Rom Family 686C2. Found the bios! "Fixed issue with certain VGA cards causing lock-ups." New date will be 10/03/00. Bios successfully flashed.

Drum roll! Splash screen comes up. Cycles a few. Machine reboots into safe mode.

I give up. I'm sure with much more time this could be defeated. This time the computer wins.


Posted by: djuggler | 1:21 AM |