Windows Installer 2.0 for Windows 98 crashed my computer

OK, when you renamed the two files, that removes them from the startup axis
altogether, so you should no longer be seeing the screen you described when it
hangs, with the long PATH line and the lines about the "
ATAPI IDE CD-ROM device driver version V 1.23 B".

While still in Safe Mode, try removing the NOIDE entry from the Registry, if it
exists, following the instructions in the following article to use the noide.inf
file on the Windows CD:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188...22120121120120
Since the CD drive will not be working in Safe Mode, you will have to copy the
noide.inf file from the CD to a floppy, on another computer, and bring it to your
computer.
Since you have a Compaq computer, you may not have a Win98 CD. In that case you
will have to open the Registry Editor (StartRunRegedit) and navigate to this key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\VxD\IOS
Select the IOS key in the left pane of the window, and look in the right pane for a
"noide" entry. Right-click the "noide" entry and click Delete.
Close Regedit and re-start.

BTW, you wrote earlier that you "got rid of the old McAfee VirusScan.....(and)
replaced it with ZoneAlarm". McAfee is a Virus Scanner/Anti-Virus. Zone Alarm is a
firewall, and does not protect you from viruses in any way. You need to install an
anti-virus app.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/communities...t/default.mspx


"Alex_hb" wrote in message
...
Using the boot disk, I arrived at the A: prompt. Then I typed "c:" to get to
that drive. Then I typed
"rename autoexec.bat autoexec.bak" [return]
"rename config.sys config.bak" [return]
Then I removed the boot disk and restarted the computer. Let me clarify
what I meant by not starting up: I am able to startup in safe mode and in
normal mode as long as the "force compatibility mode disk access" box is
checked under the advanced settings. This is the same behavior as before
changing the file names. Changing the file names didn't make a difference.

"glee" wrote:

Windows did not start at all? The autoexec.bat and config.sys files are not
needed
to start Windows at all. Please describe exactly how you renamed the two
files.....I mean, describe the process you used to do it.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/communities...t/default.mspx


"Alex_hb" wrote in message
...
Maybe I did this all wrong, but since I don't have a boot disk, I went to
bootdisk.com and made a disk for windows 98 se. I used that to start up to
the A drive prompt. I switched over to the c drive and changed both files as
recommended. What does changing the extensions do to the process? I mean,
how does it start up without those files? Anyway, it didn't start up. Am I
missing a step here?

Sorry for the delay between posts. I'm actually working on my in-law's
computer and I can't get over here every day to try out your solutions.
Thank you both for you help so far.


"glee" wrote:

What Richard said. :-)
The autoexec.bat file is a mess, judging from the info you posted. Rename
both
it
and config.sys, per Richard's instructions. If that fixes the problem, or
even
if
it does not, post back with your results right away.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/communities...t/default.mspx

"Alex_hb" wrote in message
...
I used SFC to extract new copies of the two files you recommended. I also
got rid of the old McAfee VirusScan (they no longer supported that
edition).
I replaced it with ZoneAlarm. Neither of these actions fixed the problem.

This is what the screen shows when it hangs:
----------
ATAPI IDE CD-ROM device driver version V 1.23 B
2 drive(s) detected
unit 1, MASTER, IRQ 15, I/O address, 0x0170
unit 2, SLAVE, IRQ 15, I/O address, 0x0170

Too many parameters
Too many parameters




PATH=C:\CPQS\SAVEREST;C:\CPQS\TOOLS;C:\WINDOWS\COM MAND;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WIND
OWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND;C:\PROGRAM
FILES\ZONE LABS\ZONEALARM\MAILFRONTIER



PATH=C:\CPQS\SAVEREST;C:\CPQS\TOOLS;C:\WINDOWS\COM MAND;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WIND
OWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND;C:\PROGRAM
FILES\ZONE LABS\ZONEALARM\MAILFRONTIER
------

Any more suggestions? Thanks.




"glee" wrote:

I am not aware of any particular conflicts between the two, but since I
don't
use
McAfee, I suggest you check that at their support site. If you have to
"Force
Compatibility Mode Disk Access", there may be a problem with the 32-bit
Windows
driver for disk access. You might try extracting new copies of the disk
drivers
from your Windows CD. Most likely they are HSFLOP.PDR and ESDI_506.PDR,
and
they
are kept in the C:\Windows\System\iosubsys folder.

Using SFC to extract a file:
http://www.rickrogers.org/sfc.htm#1pp
http://www.rickrogers.org/sfc.htm#2pp

HOW TO: Extract Original Compressed Windows Files:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...EN-US;129605#5




http://service4.symantec.com/SUPPORT...xpandSection=2
or
http://tinyurl.com/3pyth
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/communities...t/default.mspx


"Alex_hb" wrote in message
...
Thanks. I think I've made some progress. I had to go to the advanced
troubleshooting settings and check "Force Compatibility Mode Disk
Access".
With this option, I am able to start normally, except that only my
floppy
drive and hard drive work. I get several message boxes saying my
antivirus
software files are corrupted and that I need to reinstall the product.
As
far as windows installer 2.0 goes, I went back to the office update
page
and
there was no reference to install the installer, so I guess that part
was
successful.

Anyway, this leads me to a new question: Are there any conflicts with
windows installer 2.0 and McAfee VirusScan 4.0.2?

Thanks for your help.

"glee" wrote:

While in Safe Mode, follow the instructions here to do a clean boot,
and
see
if
you
can start in normal mode when clean-booting:

How to Perform Clean-Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 98
http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=192926

"CLEAN BOOT -- What it is and why you need it." by MS MVP Gary
Terhune
http://grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/communities...t/default.mspx


"Alex_hb" wrote in message
...
I tried getting some office updates but was directed to upgrade to
windows
installer 2.0. I ran InstMsiA.exe and then restarted when
prompted.
Now
I
can only startup in safe mode. Is there any way to undo this
update
or
fix
the problem? I am running Windows 98 Second Edition. I had also
installed
all of the available critical updates from the windows update page
without
a
problem.