Data loss in reinstall??? 2

[lupini]

Hi, I think I need to reinstall my win98se and would like to know exactly which directories are replaced/deleted in the process so I can know what I need to move to any "safe" directories in DOS in order not to lose data I want to keep.

I am hoping (praying), of course, I can save stuff I want to keep and know is still there (in my documents among a few other places).

Thanks a lot!!

 

[dkdude]

lupini,

If you want to reinstall Win9x I can only recommend that you copy your work files to another HD, partition or another PC using a network. A reinstall "over" an existing Win9x is not the preferred solution.

Where are your files stored ... that really depends where you saved them -there is not really a standard folder apart from "My Documents" which you'll find in the root -c:
Remember to backup favorits in your browser, e-mails etc. by using the browser/e-mail client functions!!!

I've allways done that to get the best result. I usually copy the work files etc. to an extra HD/CDR, then deleting the partition, creting a new => reboot from Windows Installation CDROM.

Good Luck §;O)


Jakob

 

[edfair]

98SE is probably the best at doing an "over the top" reinstall into the same directory.
If it works like it should you won't lose anything. It will overwrite the windows stuff but won't touch your programs or data.
The absolutely worst reinstall I've had with SE was last week when it took 3 over the tops to clean out some problems. (this was a major hardware upgrade)
There have been reports that sometimes \windows\win.com needs to be renamed, but I haven't run across one that needed it.
But like everything in computers, Murphy rules. Have a floppy EBD that works, you may need it.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[lupini]

Thanks for the input. My problem is I can't even boot into safe mode. CDRW wont write from DOS so I must find somewhere "safe" to move files then hope an overinstall doesn't delete it.

Further input always appreciated.

 

[dkdude]

lupini,

Okay -take out your HD. Visit a friend. Install your HD as slave (slave is set with a jumper) on his/her PC with a CDR. Copy your work files to a blank CDR.

Back home -set the jumper on the HD back to be master drive. Boot on a floppy with FDISK on it. Run FDISK. Delete all partitions (assuming you've got a backup of all you need on that CDROM). Create a new partition. Set it to be active. Boot the PC. Go to BIOS setup and set CDROM as first boot device. Insert the Win9x Installation boot CDROM. Boot the PC....

Then it's just a bunch of boring hours installing Win and your favorit programs §;O)

Good Luck


Jakob

 

[edfair]

If you are going to save the data, which would make me more comfortable, you could try over the top from the hard drive after you put it back in. With a boot disk with CD support copy the install stuff (4 files and the win98 subdiretory) to a directory on the hard drive then install from there. Cuts the install time for the OS to around 20 minutes and you won't have to find the CD the next time you make a hardware change.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[lupini]

Good idea about unplugging the HD and saving the stuff at a friends! I just moved anything I may want to keep which is not already in my documents to a subdirectory called backup but it seems its a crapshoot as to weather that stuff will survive an over/reinstall.

Ed, I would reinstall from an HP system recovery CD. Is this the CD you'd suggest copying files to the HD from?

Lots of good speedy help!! Thanks again.

 

[mattjurado]

Hold on there, recovery cds tend to format and restore an image of the OS, it would wipe out any and all directories. You're not likely to find a 98 directory on that cd. Take it to a friend's as suggested, and copy your data.

Matt J.

 

[edfair]

Matt is correct about the recovery CD. It probably is interested in doing nothing but an image.
Had I known a post or two earlier I would have agreed with dkdude rather than give you false hope.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[PockyBum522]

I have reinstalled windows 98 tons of times, (Maybe 50) On different computers, at least 15 on my own computer, every time I do, all I do is rename the windows folder to something like OLDWIN (By booting on a floppy into dos and using the command REN WINDOWS OLDWIN) and then I simply run setup.exe off the cd, when it asks you if you want to install to c:\Oldwin\ Type C:\Windows\ instead

Be warned: This does cause some problems because you may have to reinstall some programs, once you get your new windows load up, copy your favorites folder, and desktop folder, and anything else you want out of your old windows folder (C:\Oldwin\).

This is the method I always use, but you lose your registry, it only takes me about 20 minutes to reinstall everything, and you don't have to worry about any data loss, because nothing gets deleted. My documents, program files, c:\, etc is not touched. You could also try backing up your registry in the old windows load and importing it in the new load, but I have a feeling this will bring back a lot of problems, and there may be more stuff than the registry that you need to bring back.

In summary, this allows you to reload windows with no data loss risk, but you do have to spend some time putting everything back like you want it again.

 

[mattjurado]

Right fizzy, but again, he has a recovery cd, not a normal os cd-rom. If he can get a 98, I'd agree, you can rename progra~1 and windows to something else, but in this case, he only needs to copy data elsewhere, then boot off the recovery cd, restore Windows, and then copy the data back.

Matt J.

 

[lupini]

for future reference, can you do the same with Windows 2000 & XP? I'm getting tired of 98...