WIN98SE Product Key

PartitionMagic 8.0 messed up some startup files when
repartitioniong my disk. I was using it to remove a Suse
Linux partition and its dual boot manager from my disk.
Their support tried to talk me through the fix, charging
me $30, but couldn't fix it.

When I try to boot up, the Windows splash screen comes up
for about 3 seconds, then a DOS window comes up and
says "You are currently running in MS-DOS mode. Do you
want to return to normal mode, to run Windows
applications again [Enter=Y,Esc=N]?

When say Y, the same 3-second splash screen comes up,
then back to DOS and the same message. When I say N, I
rust remain in DOS.

Symantec/PartitionMagic Support told me to reinstall
WIN98SE. I've seen MS's "How te Reinstall Windows 98"
(250928), but it doesn't say how to reinstall when you
can't bring Windows up. I can't access my CD drive (G
while in DOS .. "Invalid drive specification."

In trying to get help from MS, they have to have the
Product ID; I hadn't written it down, and they won't
accept the Product Key (from the CD sleeve). Do you know
which of the *.ini, files might contain the Product ID
#? I can examine these while in DOS.

Make sure you have a bootdisk with CDROM support,
The ERD made during install works fine. You can borrow one from a friend or
download a boot disk with CDROM support from www.bootdisk.com


1. Set the Bios to boot from the A: drive (Typically this is the default).
2. Boot the floppy with CDROM support (note the drive letter assigned to the
CDROM)
4. At the a: prompt type
drive letter of CDROM:\win98\setup
6. Follow instructions during install

Note: You may want to make sure you save any important data since everything
will be lost

Make sure you have your product key before starting

--
Jon Hildrum
DTS MVP

www.hildrum.com
"Jim" wrote in message
...
PartitionMagic 8.0 messed up some startup files when
repartitioniong my disk. I was using it to remove a Suse
Linux partition and its dual boot manager from my disk.
Their support tried to talk me through the fix, charging
me $30, but couldn't fix it.

When I try to boot up, the Windows splash screen comes up
for about 3 seconds, then a DOS window comes up and
says "You are currently running in MS-DOS mode. Do you
want to return to normal mode, to run Windows
applications again [Enter=Y,Esc=N]?

When say Y, the same 3-second splash screen comes up,
then back to DOS and the same message. When I say N, I
rust remain in DOS.

Symantec/PartitionMagic Support told me to reinstall
WIN98SE. I've seen MS's "How te Reinstall Windows 98"
(250928), but it doesn't say how to reinstall when you
can't bring Windows up. I can't access my CD drive (G
while in DOS .. "Invalid drive specification."

In trying to get help from MS, they have to have the
Product ID; I hadn't written it down, and they won't
accept the Product Key (from the CD sleeve). Do you know
which of the *.ini, files might contain the Product ID
#? I can examine these while in DOS.

On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 15:47:07 -0700, "Jim"
wrote:

PartitionMagic 8.0 messed up some startup files when
repartitioniong my disk. I was using it to remove a Suse
Linux partition and its dual boot manager from my disk.
Their support tried to talk me through the fix, charging
me $30, but couldn't fix it.

When I try to boot up, the Windows splash screen comes up
for about 3 seconds, then a DOS window comes up and
says "You are currently running in MS-DOS mode. Do you
want to return to normal mode, to run Windows
applications again [Enter=Y,Esc=N]?

When say Y, the same 3-second splash screen comes up,
then back to DOS and the same message. When I say N, I
rust remain in DOS.

Symantec/PartitionMagic Support told me to reinstall
WIN98SE. I've seen MS's "How te Reinstall Windows 98"
(250928), but it doesn't say how to reinstall when you
can't bring Windows up. I can't access my CD drive (G
while in DOS .. "Invalid drive specification."

In trying to get help from MS, they have to have the
Product ID; I hadn't written it down, and they won't
accept the Product Key (from the CD sleeve). Do you know
which of the *.ini, files might contain the Product ID
#? I can examine these while in DOS.

When booting hold down the ctrl key to get to the Dos start menu.
Choose Dos SAFE mode. Enter EXIT. If no help enter Win /wx. If no
help rename the autoexec.bat and config.sys files to *.sav and
reboot.
The config.sys file must NOT have a line Dos=Single and the
Autoexec.bat must NOT contain a line Win /wx.
You could try those from the Dos prompt you get to when you answer
"Y".

To get the ProductKey :
If Windows is installed enter this from the Dos prompt:
C:\windows\command\Find /i "ProductKey" c:\windows\system.dat
(that's an "eye" in /i)
You can also try this if the System.1st file in the root has not
been deleted.
C:\windows\command\Find /i "ProductKey" c:\system.1st
There are 3 spaces, 1 before and after /i and 1 before c:
The ProductKey is 5 groups of 5 letters and numbers.

You can also try this from Dos if the System.1st file in the root
has not been deleted.
Enter: Edit System.1st
Then use the search feature for ProductKey (one word). Use the ALT
key to access the menus.
Use Alt+F then X to exit the Editor.
Not all SE systems have the key in System.1st.

Regards,

Bill Watt
Computer Help and Information http://home.epix.net/~bwatt/