computer still won't let me reinstall windows

[cms1157]

i have managed to free up enough space and disable the virus protection stopping me from previous attempts at a win98 reinstall but now i'm getting:

"your computer already has an operating system installed which cannot be upgraded with this version of setup. you need to obtain the windows upgrade. Message SU0108."

why isn't it letting me install over an existing copy? i did it before not that long ago. am i typing the wrong thing (setup) at the command promp. should i try installing windows ME and if so will i lose my existing files?

thanks in advance
hopefully the problem will be fixed soon.

chris

 

[Comtech]

Just rename win.com to win.bak in the c:\windows folder.
Install. Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/

 

[butchrecon]

Comtech is correct. Thats how you get around it. James Collins
Computer Hardware Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

 

[Cagliostro]

LOL John Fill

ivfmd@mail.md

 

[butchrecon]

Did I miss the punch line? James Collins
Computer Hardware Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

 

[edfair]

I have had reinstalls that went in without modifications. Some that required the win.com change. Several that required the desktop subdirectory to be removed and 2 or 3 that required the registry files to be removed (system and user *.dat and *.da0). Have never correlated the problems with any specific versions except 98SE seems to reinstall over the top best.
As a matter of laziness I now blow away the windows95/98 directory with deltree befor I make reinstalls. The price is reinstall of programs to get them registered but in the long run I save time. (note: entries into the registry not registration)
Hang tough, blow away a little at a time till you find what is hanging you up.
If you have room, reinstall from the hard disk. It sure does make life simpler.
Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.com

Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply.

Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[cms1157]

i couldn't find win.com in the windows folder but there is a win.bak. would changing win.bak to win.com work? how would i go about doing that?

thanks in advance
chris

 

[Comtech]

It's a hidden file.
Open explorer, select view, file types, view, then view all, don't hide known extentions, etc.
It's there, for sure.
If in doubt, open a DOS box, and type: dir win.*
then if you see win.com, type: ren win.com win.old and hit enter. Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/