BootDisk

"Bill Starbuck" wrote in message
...
This sounds to me like mutual interference among incompatible
programs. You could try troubleshooting the situation by running
Windows in Safe Mode, to see whether the problems are caused by
programs that are starting automatically. If Safe Mode does not
eliminate the problems, then I think you should reinstall Windows into
a new empty folder.

The following articles explain how to install Windows into a new
folder:

How to Reinstall Windows 95 to a New Folder [142096]
http://support.microsoft.com/support...s/142/0/96.asp

How to Install Windows 98 to a New Folder [193902]
http://support.microsoft.com/support...s/193/9/02.asp

Information about reinstalling is also on www.windowsreinstall.com.


Bill Starbuck (MVP)

your bootdisk creation problem comes from the upgrade to SE , the .cab files
on your HD would still be the FE version and it is looking for the SE
verison of the files from your "upgrade" cd ?

My Computer has a 30GB MAXTOR 6E030L0 HD as Primary Master (C, a 10GB
IBM-DTTA 351010 HD as Primary Slave (D, a writeable CD-ROM (F and a 250MB
Zip Drive (E, besides the A:, of course. There is currently no problem with
the Unit. However, while testing my BootDisk (created in
some way when I upgraded WIN98 OS to WIN98SE ......no recollection of how
the BootDisk was created) I was surprised to find out that the directory of
C: is actually the one from the Slave Drive. The directory of D: shows 15
files.....the Diagnostic Files listed in the BootDisk. The CD-ROM becomes the
E: Drive. The Primary Master and the Zip Drive are not accessible. Is this a
common occurrence? Would I have to disconnect or disable the Slave HD if I
should have problems and need to use a BootDisk to get going? I never
uninstalled the WIN98 OS of the Primary Slave. Similar results occur when
using a BootDisk downloaded from Bootdisk.com.
In addition.....Before going to BootDisk.com, I was and still am unable to
create another BootDisk from WIN98SE OS. The problem is that, when I try to
do so, the System asks me to insert the WIN98SE CD, but it cannot find the
files
needed. By choosing ‘skip file’, I can see all the files that the System is
looking for. Those files are in the
WIN98 Folder of the CD in Base4.cab and Base5.cab. Those files are also in
C:\Windows\Command\Ebd folder. When I type the locations of any of those
folders in the Dialog Box, the System ignores all and insists that they
cannot be found and keeps on prompting me to insert the WIN98SE CD. What am I
doing wrong?
Any help will be appreciated.
PAL

This sounds to me like mutual interference among incompatible
programs. You could try troubleshooting the situation by running
Windows in Safe Mode, to see whether the problems are caused by
programs that are starting automatically. If Safe Mode does not
eliminate the problems, then I think you should reinstall Windows into
a new empty folder.

The following articles explain how to install Windows into a new
folder:

How to Reinstall Windows 95 to a New Folder [142096]
http://support.microsoft.com/support...s/142/0/96.asp

How to Install Windows 98 to a New Folder [193902]
http://support.microsoft.com/support...s/193/9/02.asp

Information about reinstalling is also on www.windowsreinstall.com.


Bill Starbuck (MVP)

On Tue, 01 Mar 2005 07:58:46 -0500, Bill Starbuck wrote:

This sounds to me like mutual interference among incompatible
programs. You could try troubleshooting the situation by running
Windows in Safe Mode, to see whether the problems are caused by
programs that are starting automatically. If Safe Mode does not
eliminate the problems, then I think you should reinstall Windows into
a new empty folder.

The following articles explain how to install Windows into a new
folder:

How to Reinstall Windows 95 to a New Folder [142096]
http://support.microsoft.com/support...s/142/0/96.asp

How to Install Windows 98 to a New Folder [193902]
http://support.microsoft.com/support...s/193/9/02.asp

Information about reinstalling is also on www.windowsreinstall.com.


Bill Starbuck (MVP)

Bill

Thanks for the feedback.

I reinstalled Win98SE into a fresh folder only last Thursday (and
downloaded all the updates from WU), the reason for doing so were other
than those being addressed here (I think ?? - food for thought)

The problem can happen when the only applications running are those
initiated at startup - below is a snapshot of what sysinternals procexp
reported shortly after I rebooted a few minutes ago (I think it slipped
into the slot that was occupied by the virus scanner task that looks for
new definitions, which did it's job & terminated).

kernel32.dll
msgsrv32.exe
mprexe.exe
* ashserve.exe avast! antivirus service
* rpcss.exe distributed COM serviices
* mtask.exe
* mmtask.tsk
EXPLORER.EXE
systray.exe
wmiexe.exe
taskmon.exe
* ashmaisv.exe avast! Mail Scanner
* procexp.exe sysinternals process Explorer
* psnlite.exe Post-it System
* psngive.exe Post-it GiveNote
* tp.exe Tray Icon Pro
* aticwd.exe ATI Display Driver Extensions
* atitask.exe ATI Task Application
carpserv.exe carpserv ???
* ashwebsv.exe avast ! Web Scanner

I have run the system without the items marked with an "*", and Explorer
has "misbehaved" - I can make it happen almost will by trying to change the
icon for a shortcut on the desktop - not every time but 90% of the time.

I have not spent much time in Safe Mode except to resolve driver issues
(can't stand the low res display).

Applications I use a lot are (== indicates where I'm headed)

Mozilla Suite V 1.7 (== Firefox 1.0.1/Thunderbird 1.0 - 60%)
Forte Agent (== 40tude Dialog - 80%)
Open Office 1.1.4
ESSP statistics package
avast! virus scanner (in that it runs in background)
Tray IconPro (evaluating)
3M Post-it Notes Lite

Applications I use a bit are

Irfan View
Picasa 2
Adobe Acrobat 6
Internet Explorer 6
ad aware malware scanner
Leechget download manager

Plus some low usage utilities like PK (un)ZIP, Quick Zip, Process Explorer,
and some malware scanner's I am evaluating.

As far as I know all drivers are up to date with the OEM's most recent
driver (I won't use 3rd party drivers unless explicitly recommended by OEM
in writing), O/S and all application software is similarly up to date with
all critical and relevant optional patches applied.

Of course this doesn't cover things like skins, themes, plug-ins,
extensions, macros and the vast array of settings & options in each & every
Windows application. It seems to me that it's quite likely that no two
Windows machines are alike - there is something to be said for a decent
terminal based system (dare I say X-Windows in this place).

Another thing you (& others) should probably know is that I have some
folders that have quite a lot of files (2000-3000). I could put these into
subfolders, but moving files around is one of the things that crashes
Explorer. I don't want to go out to DOS to do this with move commands, the
files have 12 character names that convey significant meaning (yes I know
that's bad design), which I would lose if I move them in DOS. I would also
have to change the way I use ESSP to handle data from multiple locations
(in it's terminology).

And so a new day dawns downunder

In order to diagnose complex problems, you must proceed very slowly
one-step-at-a-time. You are trying to introduce a lot of complexity
immediately, with the result that you cannot see which of the items
you introduce is causing the trouble.

I reinstalled Win98SE into a fresh folder only last Thursday (and
downloaded all the updates from WU), the reason for doing so were other
than those being addressed here

I would not add any updates until I had established very completely
that Windows is working correctly without them.

The problem can happen when the only applications running are those
initiated at startup

This shows that the trouble is caused by something that starts at
Startup.

I have not spent much time in Safe Mode except to resolve driver issues
(can't stand the low res display).

Then you would rather have the current problems than have a
low-resolution display. When diagnosing problems, you must set
priorities among the things you do. Personally, I would prefer to get
rid of the trouble even if that means using VGA temporarily.

Applications I use a lot are (== indicates where I'm headed)

Mozilla Suite V 1.7 (== Firefox 1.0.1/Thunderbird 1.0 - 60%)
Forte Agent (== 40tude Dialog - 80%)
Open Office 1.1.4
ESSP statistics package
avast! virus scanner (in that it runs in background)
Tray IconPro (evaluating)
3M Post-it Notes Lite

You should not install ANY of the above until you have demonstrated
that Windows works correctly without them. Then you should install
only one at a time and use the computer for a few days before adding
another one. You need to find out which of the above programs is
causing trouble, and the most obvious way to do this is to find out
which of them does not cause trouble.


Bill Starbuck (MVP)

The primary master may have a drive overlay program installed. Watch =
the screen closely
during bootup for floppy boot instructions to see if this is the case. =
Another possibility is
a MBR virus. See the following for help on this.

http://www.invircible.com/iv_tools.php#Ivinit

Ben

"BAP" wrote in message =
...
My Computer has a 30GB MAXTOR 6E030L0 HD as Primary Master (C, a =
10GB=20
IBM-DTTA 351010 HD as Primary Slave (D, a writeable CD-ROM (F and =
a 250MB=20
Zip Drive (E, besides the A:, of course. There is currently no =
problem with=20
the Unit. However, while testing my BootDisk (created in
some way when I upgraded WIN98 OS to WIN98SE ......no recollection of =
how=20
the BootDisk was created) I was surprised to find out that the =
directory of=20
C: is actually the one from the Slave Drive. The directory of D: shows =
15=20
files.....the Diagnostic Files listed in the BootDisk. The CD-ROM =
becomes the=20
E: Drive. The Primary Master and the Zip Drive are not accessible. Is =
this a=20
common occurrence? Would I have to disconnect or disable the Slave HD =
if I=20
should have problems and need to use a BootDisk to get going? I never=20
uninstalled the WIN98 OS of the Primary Slave. Similar results occur =
when=20
using a BootDisk downloaded from Bootdisk.com.
In addition.....Before going to BootDisk.com, I was and still am =
unable to=20
create another BootDisk from WIN98SE OS. The problem is that, when I =
try to=20
do so, the System asks me to insert the WIN98SE CD, but it cannot find =
the=20
files
needed. By choosing =E2=80=98skip file=E2=80=99, I can see all the =
files that the System is=20
looking for. Those files are in the
WIN98 Folder of the CD in Base4.cab and Base5.cab. Those files are =
also in =20
C:\Windows\Command\Ebd folder. When I type the locations of any of =
those=20
folders in the Dialog Box, the System ignores all and insists that =
they=20
cannot be found and keeps on prompting me to insert the WIN98SE CD. =
What am I=20
doing wrong?=20
Any help will be appreciated.
PAL