Reinstalling "over the top" of an existing installation is not recommended
except in a last-resort effort to get back into your system and get your
personal data out in preparation for a full format and reinstall. An "over
the top" installation usually leaves a system functioning (but not always),
but it leaves it functioning poorly due to mismatched system files. You have
lots of system files that are newer than the ones Setup installs, and while
there are some protections against this, they aren't many.

As for your applications (programs) that you can't find on the internet, you
really need to develop a strategy to replace them. Your Windows 98 box is
going to go completely bad some day, those programs are almost certainly NOT
recoverable, and you'd be foolish not to prepare for that day.

But lets see if we can't figure out what's wrong with your system. First,
can you boot to Safe Mode? In order to boot to Safe Mode, there are a few
ways. Try this first: Start or restart the system, and immediately begin to
repeatedly press the Ctrl or the F8 key (either one). Don't hold the key
down, as that will produce an error. Just repeatedly tap the chosen key
about once per second or slightly more often. This should bring up a Startup
Menu, where you can choose Safe Mode. Or, some people use the F5 key in the
same way, only it immediately boots to Safe Mode, bypassing the Startup
Menu. Different methods work better for different people and on different
machines.

If you can't get into Safe Mode, post back for more intricate solutions.
Otherwise, once you get into Safe Mode, go to StartRun and type in
MSCONFIG, then press enter. When the panel comes up, choose Selective
Startup, then uncheck the bottom item, "Load Startup group items". Next,
click on the Advanced button at lower right and in that panel, check the
item called "Enable Startup Menu". That will make it easier to get into
whatever modes we may need to get into until this is fixed. Click OK, then
click OK again on the main panel, then restart when prompted. When the
Startup Menu comes up, choose Normal Mode. (Note that to be safe, you should
physically disconnect your internet connection at some place between the
wall and your computer. All your background protective applications have
been turned off.)

Did that let the system start up? Or not? (Note that this is just the first
step in diagnostics. Don't try to use the system as it is.)

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com


"Vlatko" wrote in message
...
Hello, i have problem with Windows 98,while entering in Windows,in the
moment
when i put the password to enter in Win, it stucks,the password is
ok,everything is ok,but imidietly after that,i see the mouse cursor,but
stucked.
I have important programs installed in it,which i cannot find on
internet,they are licnced,i have also important data,so i cannot afford of
loosing any of them because i`1ll have to buy them again. My question is,
if
i reinstall Windows 98 without formatiing,will i loose something from the
data and the programs?
i`m also not sure how to reinstall without formatiing,i have bootable Win
98
CD,but i was working with XP all the time,so i`m not sure if its same way
Win98 and XP.
thank you very much in advance