Lots of errors/problems with getting windows 98 to load

[TruePurple]

Fixed this problem, but would still like some feedback into what might have happened.

As win98 loads it says it found a new unknown device, no hardware has been installed on my PC for a long time now and no software that I can think of has been installed last PC session. If I choose for it to search for the best driver for this new unspecified device, it freezes up. If I choose cancel, it continues loading.

Next I get:

"Install microsoft directX 6.0

Can't find cdrom directory.

Please select directx setup path"

And at the buttom I can search through my hard drive directories for files like usual. (I can also delete and rename through this if I needed to, I think)

If I press cancel, it freezes. If I press ok it continues loading, sort of.

Next I get:

"Explorer causes a invalid page fault in module explorer exe at 0177.00401f31

Registers: (insert a bunch of unintelligable code)

Which leaves me with only my desktop background. I can call up program manager, the only thing listed is aulosetp (which I think might be my sound or video drivers, but I can't be certain) If I call up program manager earlier in the load I can see "runonce" listed.

Sometimes after I get past unknown device and install directx 6.0 screens, I get a install ace F TP 3 freeware 3.00.4. I did not install any such thing. Out of curiousity I took it partly through the installation process. It defaults to installing to a directory without a root. (no C:\ or any other letter) and I can't browse directory like I can with the install directx screen.

Safe modes explorer bugs just the same, but it doesn't give me the rest of that nonsense. Also I have to take special measures to get the screen that works. I have duel boot with XP setup (XP is broken too, broke awhile ago) and choosing safe mode for win98 via that F8 key doesn't work. I have to start to let windows 98 loading then immediately shut it down. Then it gives me the old win98 start up choice menu, that works. It says, since windows didn't load last time, maybe you should try one of these other options. Maybe someone knows a easier way?

*edited in*

Ok, using the instructions I found to type at c:\ prompt, scan reg /restore and choosing a earlier register date, that has fixed my problems. But I would still like to know what might have caused them in the first place and a eaier way to get to safe mode, command prompt etc.

Edited February 5, 2009 by TruePurple

[BogdanV]

About getting into Safe Mode, for me, keeping CTRL pressed before boot, brings up the boot menu (F8 worked for me on 2k and xp, don't know about win98).

As for DirectX, well, the 6.0 version is the one that comes with the installation of win98. I would've said that your dx-related issue would have came from a faulty/scratched CD, but since you said that scanreg fixed it, it seems that the issue's not from the CD.

Also, about Ace FTP, are you shure it didn't come bundled with any software you installed or as a install option within another program you might've installed ?

Anyway, since you mentioned scanreg, indeed, it seems that the problem was strictly registry-related. Probably the New Hardware Found Wizard, coupled with dx6.0 and "aulosetp" (seems to be some kind of setup service, judging by the name) came from a corrupted registry that involved both dx6.0 and whatever driver that is linked to "aulosetp". Probably the corruption came from the driver's registry entries.

Oh and since it involved dx6.0, its certainly a multimedia related device (audio, video). Probably this ace FTP program messed up the driver's registry and by doing so, it affected dx's registry too.

At least this is my oppinion. I can't tell for sure how possible/plausible my idea is, but this is how I see it.