horsecharles

edit: folks, please feel free to add a faster solution / critique any procedure... Hi. Re checking startup, you can also do it by: clicking start / run / typing "msconfig" then clicking enter or OK / select: startup / hit the maximize button on upper right.... I would just run KillAspi if you can-- then make sure these files are gone: windows\system\iosubsys\apix.vxd windows\system\aspienum.vxd windows\system\winaspi.dll windows\system\wnaspi32.dll And do not reinstall any adaptec, at least for now. If so, did that help? Next, i would run scanreg /restore (space after first word, no space before second word) and select the closest registry before you installed service pack. edit: before proceeding with install, you could run this app and export results to another location, so you don't lose any web,ie, oe, etc. passwords/loginsautofills: PSPV tiny 28KB! Another good app: RoboForm last free version or Robo Latest shareware free trial & home page If that doesn't work, then i would just re-install windows over the top-- being careful to select the same exact windows directory if/when it prompts you. If you have 98lite installed or have burned the install cd to hard drive, clicking 98lite or setup can also work. If windows doesn't allow this, all you'd need is one boot floppy, then you could install any way you wanted to-- i'd use one of these, they're more intuitive / contain more tools than the MS one: http://www.startdisk.com/Web1/ubd/98UBD.exe or this one: TechWorm for Win98SE when prompted for if you want cd-rom support, answer yes. Afterwards i'd install any of the unofficial service packs: http://exuberant.ms11.net/98sesp.html 1.5 might be the safest for you, though i'd have no problem using the others as long as you deselect the Aspi option during install. Afterwards you can hit windows update or this app: BigFix1.7.6.0 to see if you're missing any patches. This would be the fastest way to get you up and running(assuming KillAspi & restore reg didn't fix the problem)-- and safe. You will not lose data-- though to be extra safe, not practically necessary(& to help check for something that needs reinstalling) you could pre-copy to other location: Program Files, windows\application data(contains email, quick launch bar, some ie plugins, etc.) windows\desktop(also contains my briefcase) windows \start menu(has shortcuts, program folders, windows startup apps), windows\sendto, windows\downloaded program files & downloaded installations, windows\ favorites, history, cookies-- IF you want to keep your auto web logins(i've forgotten so many passwords) & past web research links, start my documents & any other folder you wish. Btw if it comes to this in the future-- you need to replace w/ one of the backed-up fave/history/cookie folders-- it may require an extra step or two, just begin another thread. Re jump drive / floppy diskette: does this mean-- 1. you cannot reinstall win98 using the install cd? 2. you wish to boot from jump drive and/or connect it to win95 machine-- i have no experience with those drives-- i'm sure i could find how, but it would take longer than just over-installing windows with worst-case a bootable floppy... So at the risk of lengthening this process needlessly-- here would be some options: I would look for drivers in the freedos site-- they have done some great things with this dos os-- including support for modern things / peripherels like/dealing with UDMA, USB, flash drives, advanced network, etc. http://www.freedos.org/ But by using your jumpdrive, there's really nothing you can do than without the boot floppy..... It coud also work w/ a usb to parallel cable, or using a cable to connect your win95 machine to the win98 and booting it 'remotely'--this line is needed in your c:\msdos.sys file: Network=1 as well other entries help during troubleshooting-- first right-click it / select properties / uncheck read-only / apply-- then right-click / select 'open with notepad'(or similar app) & insert all this: over-writing all contents: [Paths] WinDir=C:\WINDOWS WinBootDir=C:\WINDOWS HostWinBootDrv=C [Options] BootDelay=2 BootMulti=1 BootGUI=1 DoubleBuffer=1 AutoScan=1 SystemReg=1 WinVer=4.10.2222 BootMenu=1 Logo=0 BootMenuDefault=1 BootMenuDelay=10 BootKeys=1 BootWarn=0 Network=1 DisableLog=0 ; ;The following lines are required for compatibility with other programs. ;Do not remove them (MSDOS.SYS needs to be >1024 bytes). ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxa ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxb ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxc ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxd ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxe ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxf ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxg ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxh ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxi ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxj ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxk ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxl ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxm ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxn ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxo ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxp ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxq ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxs save & repeat right-click / properties process to enable read-only again. Note: after you're done troubleshooting, you can go in there again and change BootDelay to 0, and BootMenuDelay to a lower number--say, 4..... Note: if this file does not appear, do this: click Start / settings / folder options / view / scroll down to Hidden Files / put a check in Show All Types. HTH.....

Waiting for you to test it

Maybe these tools can help you: http://www.geocities.jp/br_kato/ http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/UK/welcome.htm Good Luck....

We need to upgrade, but our plan is to just get regular athlons @28/30 depending on price point. Personally i'd have no problem vainly sampling longhorn and athlon xp-- but the price difference multiplied by the number of systems makes no sense-- even worse when you factor the considerations of how long before the OS is in stable form & when apps will exist to take advantage of it: likely about the time when we're ready to update the coming update. Depends too on your type of business: if you can't afford downtime, & you mostly run office-type software, then don't go 64bit yet, discounting any os glitches, you'll anyhow gain little performance-wise. Even IF your type of business or department stands to benefit the most performace-wise because it deals with cad design / multimedia editing & related-- already you'll be paying up the kazoo for all the new hardware taking advantage of pci express: the faster graphics cards & hard drives. Though if your budget can stand it-- if just one project price can buy dozens of computers... but you'll likely still need plenty of present-day fall-back systems just in case.... We don't mind so much paying extra for the privilege of being human guinea pigs, it's just that we can't afford any downtime at all. All the best to you regardless of which decision you make.

I don't have a direct answer, but i hope my experience can be of use to you: I had a heck of a time last year creating a raid system w/ a dual lan gibabyte board & win2k-- windows would only start with the dual lan disabled. What i tried was toggling acpi on/off to allow manually changing irq-- which required format & re-install of the OS-- so that in the bios I could then manually assign IRQ's to the peripherals in question w/ the share issue. The bios supported assigning irq's to most peripherals, but not all-- including the ones i needed to. Next i tried swapping components connected to the different pci slots-- and while this accomplished irq assigments to be different, some unassignable peripheral always wound up sharing irq with the dual lan( which would be on two different irq's). This was frustrating because i had plenty of open free irq's & empty pci slots(4 or 5 total)... i even tried using a combo keyboard/mouse to try to free up one extra component requiring irq assignment-- no dice. There was one way which did work: by totally removing the dialup modem-- but they wanted to keep it. The research i did on the web uncovered folks downloading modded bioses & using text installs of peripherals-- something that would not be advisable in my case, since i'd be shipping the system to some customer clear across the country. I tried every version of win2k & win2k3: pro, server..... none worked. It happened to be a dual boot with win98-- which took handled everything flawlessly: raid, sata, dual lan, usb2, firewire.... Winxp also worked flawlessly, but was not wanted for their business, so we swapped mobo to an Asus. Good Luck.

Sorry, Jeffk2121-- what i meant about fixing was something i do a lot: get all worked up & anxious to quickly get rid of the problem, then the next day i wish i hadn't tried a couple of the fixes.... 1. Please make sure all the security apps & settings are disabled-- AntiVirus, firewall, etc. can have a system file protection, or real-time scan & protect... in extreme cases i've seen where the firewall / AV has to be uninstalled & reinstalled afterwards-- disabling some doesn't auto-stop all their process: in startup you can confirm all their subprocesses are disabled w/ an app like this one: PC Forrest StartMan 1.03.9.6 Pls give the link a few seconds' time to appear. 2. This is likely not your cause, but if it is, it's a quick fix: do a Find for ext2.vxd located in windows\system and rename it-- this is a file left behind when partitioning sometimes-- it will conflict with cd system files & lock you out of windows. 3. So-- in add/remove there HAS to be an unistall entry for sesp1.6-- i have v2 which may be named differently.... this would be the safest bet, to undo the changes... If that doesn't work: 4. Also in add/remove you would uninstall Adaptec UDF Reader-- though this may not totally work, reasons below... 5. I assumed you tried already to rollback the registry to the last saved state: (boot to dos, type scanreg /restore)-- just asking: let's not do this yet. 6. btw for future reference, this progam comes in very handy: InstallRite home: http://www.epsilonsquared.com/ 7. so does running scanreg just prior-- or this program that also backsup registry & system files: Cop2.2 info: http://www.bootdisk.com/cop.htm 8. Ok-- on to Adaptec: the earlier of the two files you downloaded, should've given you a utility called aspichk.exe, which can also be downloaded standalone here: AspiChk It will show you the installed version, and whether you have both versions still in there(your likely problem)-- their install procedure can be buggy, not remove previous version...... When this is the case, folks use this to fix it: FixAspi When that doesn't work, they run a file called KillAspi.bat included in these two apps: ForceAspi1.17 which installs aspi layer 4.6x and ForceAspi1.18 which installs aspi layer 4.7x this last one courtesy of: Neo Hacker The problem(s) w/ Adaptec are that some versions are incompatible with other components, they may not install right(sometimes refuse to install when not detecting/finding cd hardware and/or a previous aspi layer in place), may not totally remove a previous version-- additionally windows likes to protect system files, not allow version downgrades, etc. Hence, other folks developed these useful apps. Btw, below is the official adaptec app that auto updates your layer, but the above third-party apps are more certain to work & eliminate problems. Aspi32 9. One thing that occurs to me-- you may not even need the Adaptec layer: your system may perhaps be using the Nero layer-- so you may not even need to re-install Adaptec-- just excise it. One way to tell for sure: do a Find for Adaptec-- if those folders show a creation date of just recently, then you know your cdplay has not been utilizing/needing it. 10. You will need all these utilities & both driver versions both now, and just in case, in the future if your cd play has issues from all this fixing. 11. Speaking of future: if after this fixing you have issues with your cd play, it may help to reinstall your cd software AND remove from device manager your cd components & reboot: upon startup, as windows re-installs them, it will help them detect the newly-installed aspi layer. 12. As you re-install the aspi layer with the appropriate apps, one trick i use to help make sure windows detects everything right, is i also right-click install all .inf files & register all .dll files... this app from the makers of X-Setup Pro can help to easily just right-click them & select Register: XQ Com Register EX 2.1 13. Here's the manual way & most of what all those apps do: Firstly, you're in safe mode now, but in the future you could use this app that allows you to get around windows not letting one handle files in use / system files: CopyLock Uninstall cd software, Find, backup & delete all Adaptec folders and any of the following files: cdr4vsd.vxd, cdr4dll.dll, cdrtc.dll, cdral.dll, cdralvsd.vxd, scsi1hlp.vxd, iomega.vxd, cd_read.vxd windows\system\iosubsys\apix.vxd windows\system\aspienum.vxd windows\system\winaspi.dll windows\system\wnaspi32.dll in the Registry, Find, backup & delete(again we have a useful app for this-- it auto tracks all your edits, and can undo any w/ just one click-- no extra steps needed on your part: Vilma Registry Explorer any adaptec entries-- though if any also contain the brand name of your cd equipment within their contents, you may also need to re-flash their firmware & re-install them in windows system/device manager. Then install cleanly your aspi layer version of choice and/or cd software if necessary-- this latter would likely install correctly the needed aspi layer. Hope this if of use to you.... sorry it took so long.....

AZA: NO, not from disk cleanup itelf-- from the properties of the partition-- so that it then tells Disk Cleanup what to clean & how: In either Windows Exploder or MyCompuker, right-click your drive letter, select Properties, in the middle-bottom-right of the box click Disk Cleanup, then on the top click More Options...... HTH........

Hi Jeff: I hope you haven't tried any other fixes yet... better that a day or two pass, than if you have to re-install: you could be there many more days updating, re-installing, losing some data forever........ OK: this is what happened-- you likely had this adaptec aspi layer(for cd's): http://www.adaptec.com/worldwide/support/d...1a2.exe&sess=no what you need & had is the last two here: install May's & update it w. November's: http://www.adaptec.com/worldwide/support/d...odkey=ASPI-4.70 Gape gave us an earlier version because it's much more stable-- the latest one has caused problems for lots of folks-- in your case it looks like the opposite What i don't know is why your system is so complaining-- are you running a backround PC Health, Real Time System File Protector, etc. whether from MS, Norton, your AV, etc.? What you can/should do: go into control panel / add remove programs / uninstall Unofficial Windows SE Service Pack...... this should restore your system-- but before that!!!! disable preotected recycle bin, any norton utilities, firewall, AV, Spy Protector(SpywareGuard in particular can get in the way), Innoculators like Spybot, Spywareblaster....... even if you have to unplug your modem, do this first please. Then, you can re-install the Pack, but leave Adaptec Aspi Layer unchecked...... If you still have problems, then install from first link provided. Good luck....... let us know if you have additional questions.......

Definitely NOT Home for you-- this is a bit dated, but telling, by Paul Thurrott-- Pro features that aren't in Home Edition: http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp But this article nicely complements it: explains some points more practically & in detail, has a handy compare chart: By Jim Boyce, Tech Republic, http://asia.cnet.com/enterprise/apps/0,390...00221c-1,00.htm And, don't mean to tell you your business, but hopefully you can negotiate a bangup corporate upgrade special--have as a goal to get Pro for as close to as Home as po$$ible-- be real firm on it: hem & haw: throw waiting for longhorn release out, let slip competitors' names, stall w/ i'll get back to you(even if you can't wait)... you know why? Because street prices for us peasants are about equal for both-- in fact, past price searches from time to time unearth Pro lowest..... Continued success, all the best to you......

hhhmmm. nice complement'd be bind: http://ntcanuck.com/downloads.htm & for the projects that just went freeware: webex & streamload even maybe for that awesome project, peerguardian: http://dev.int64.org/pglite.html & http://methlabs.org/methlabs.htm ...its block list export, converted to even other formats could be real useful for other programs-- not just other firewalls, but immunizers, iespyad, etc. maybe wintop, bla, & sredit also from w9 resource kit...... www.startdisk.com too.... between the bootdisk & the system tweaker......

use this little utility to move, rename, copy, delete files in use-- works on malware too-- you can do multiple ones at once too, specifying different from/to locations: http://noeld.com/programs.asp?cat=misc

Thank you, Tihiy... How timely.... i was thinking about the usb2 problem in win98, and of the registry hack used in winxp that changes version reported-- used to install older hardware that only has win2k drivers, in winxp... and of possibly getting office2003 & the latest adobe installed in win98... hhhhmmmm........

.....climb the ladder up to fortune & fame.....

man, it's been so long since poppers were in vogue......

and don't know if you'd want to or not 'lower the %' in your recycle bin settings...... not for nothing, but that crap cleaner just does so many more things than the MS cleaner(if i understood right)-- & way faster too.... http://www.ccleaner.com/

Good idea about the choice of icons...

I found it an excellent program-- The Technician Edition has so many useful utilities.... there is that one little bug... it can be triggered by using one's cd/dvd-- and it was a mother to find that reason & fix-- other than that it was excellent: i'll give them the benefit of the doubt because the issue was on win98 only, it supports so many different file formats......

if you're talking about an image viewer / converter, this is good-- make sure you get all the plugins: http://www.irfanview.com/ for editing / picture viewer, what can i say: http://www.picasa.com/index.php archiver-- the last free version: http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/in...l#PowerArchiver 30-day trial for the latest: http://www.powerarchiver.com/ I use this freeware(for the money, above one has the most features-- for free, this one is awesome, outstanding, get the new beta...choose from 50 languages for interface): info: http://www.florida.plus.com/izarc/ home: http://www.izsoft.dir.bg/download.htm and a bit off-topic-- this is an interesting little app--see if you like it: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/zipinst.html Good luck.

is this what you need? http://www.softwarepatch.com/windows/win98y2k1.html

Speakin'a Paragon-- anyone partitioning: if you ever get a computer freeze: vfat error, windows will not start... rename or delete this file created by Paragon: ext2.vxd in your windows/system folder.

Yes, Cooler13-- that will be some feat: salute Gape! i'm so curious how-- modding some other third party's or the MS 2k/xp ones.......

ok, linux too-- try solaris: free download from Sun...........

Ditto mkjp-- though i got the new 'pad from the SE2ME....

Direct link to above reference

and likely better performance too---buy the amd & install Longhorn(beta): let us know if you need link for it.