Computer help please for a computer idiot.

[Argeo]

I messed up my wife's computer last night. I can not get windows back. When I reboot I get a message that says "Windows Invalid VXD Dynamic Link call from Vwin32(01) + 00000714 to device "0009", service 1. You windows configuration is invalid. Run window setup program again to correct problem. Then is asks if you want continue running windows Y for yes or N. I have tried both . They both reboot the computer. I have windows 98 setup cd and another floppy that came with it (actually it's not a floppy but one of those hard plastic square things that goes in the 3 1/4" inch drive). I cant's seem to get them to run. I just keep getting this message above.

Any suggestions, my wife is ready to kill me. She is trying to scan a bunch of pictures (95) to have some guys put to music for her grandfathers birthday which is coming up. Now she is freaking that I killed the computer.

[rcecale]

You can try a couple of things....

1.) Simply try re-installing Windows 98, using your Windows 98 CD. You should be able to just copy over your existing version and all the other files (required to run other software) should still be there.

2.) Another, and probably safer thing to do is (if you have a spare Hard Drive...if not, ou could pick up a smaller, 3 or 4 Gb HDD for way cheap) install the new hard drive and configure it as Master and your current Hard Drive as Slave. Install Windows 98 on the new drive and you will have access to all the files on the old drive.

Randy

[Argeo]

Hi Randy, thanks for responding. My problem is I put the disk in and nothing happens. The computer doesn't respond. It either reboots or has the blue screen with all the stuff I wrote before.

Thanks,

David

[rcecale]

With Windows 98, you'll probably need a boot disk. This would be a floppy with all the startup files. If you don't have one of these, you can download one from http://www.bootdisk.com.

Once you have the disk made, you need to insert it and then turn your computer on. It will boot you through a bunch of writing on a black screen, until it gets to a C:\

From there you can re-install windows from the CD. Follow these steps to do the install.

[B]How to Install Windows 98[B\]

Insert the Windows 98 Startup disk in the floppy disk drive, and then restart your computer.
When the Windows 98 Startup menu is displayed, choose the Start computer with CD-ROM support option, and then press ENTER.
If CD-ROM support is provided by the generic drivers on the Startup disk, you receive one of the following messages, where X is the drive letter that is assigned to your CD-ROM drive:
Drive X: = Driver MSCD001

Drive X: = Driver OEMCD001

Insert the Windows 98 CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive, type the following command at a command prompt, and then press ENTER
X:\setup

where X is the drive letter that is assigned to your CD-ROM drive.

When you receive the following message, press ENTER, and then follow the instructions on the screen to complete the Setup procedure:
Please wait while the Setup initializes. Setup is now going to perform a routine check on your system. To continue press Enter.

[Argeo]

Hi Randy,
I have the CD and reboot 3 -1/2 disk. The computer does not respond to them. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
David