How can fix Windows 98 operating system and the view on screen. Windows XP had been loaded onto my home computer by my former job. They had also put Privacy Guardian on it. I did a "clean" on the computer and Privacy wiped everything, and I mean EVERYTHING off the computer. Since I don't work at that job anymore, I had no choice but to load my old Windows 98SE. I have had nothing but problems, installing it, getting the drivers, etc. I installed the CD ROM for the Display Driver that I had a repair store install for a new graphic card or video card (not sure which one or even if they are the same thing). The Windows 98 CD must not be installing everything as it tells me "Recycle Bin not loaded", Internet Explorer constantly has errors and shuts down. I get and error that says something is missing when I try to reinstall the display driver and can't find anything on the website. When I troubleshoot that through DirectX, it tells me I have a Standard PCI Graphics Adpapter (VGA) but the CD Rom says eVGA.com, and I get all kinds of error messages. I can hardly read the screen. The driver won't install for the Creative SoundBlaster AudioPCI 128D (WDM) either. I don't understand as all of this was installed in Windows 98SE before Windows XP was installed, and now that 98 is back on, it can't get anything to work properly. My computer was puchased from Gateway in 8/99 so I can't get tech support there. It is a Performance 500 and i have 256Mb Ram, hooked to a cable modem, has a 3Com US Robotics VoiceWin 56K Modem that isn't currently used, a Floppy Drive, a Toshiba DVD-Rom Drive, a NEC CD-RW Drive, an ethernet card, a refurbished IBM G78 Monitor that was purchased last year when original died. I have an Ultra 66 IDE controller. I can't think of anything else you may need. Please help!

Sarah Fritton, November 2006

Sorry, Microsoft Windows Update URL should be:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

(Too keen on "update"s before!)

SS, November 2007

I'd recommend starting from scratch. You might still need to rummage around the internet for drivers for your accessories, but at least Windows itself won't be corrupted.

Follow the instructions here - print them out!
http://www.d-a-l.com/reinstall-win98.php

I particularly draw your attention to the fact that you must create a (floppy) boot disc first, in order to be able to do the reinstall. This is because your PC may not be able to read its CDROM drive without the CDROM driver that the boot disc contains.

I've successfully used the boot disc available at:
http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

It's advisable to RESTART the PC after installing each driver (whether prompted to or not).

The first website you must visit as soon as you have your internet running is:
http://windowsupdate.update.microsoft.com
All the Critical Updates that Microsoft released are still available there, it's just there aren't any new ones after Summer 2006!

Regards

SS, November 2007

I would abandon any attempts to use Windows 98, and get yourself a copy of Windows XP - it will have plug and play drivers for whatever devices you currently have installed.

If you are the Sarah I think you are...you know how to reach me if you're still having troubles.

Sal V.

Sal Vacanti, May 2007

Best thing you can do is install it all from scratch. First, since you have floppy, make sure you have Win98 startup disk, if you don't have one, make one. Better yet, make two (one reserve).

Boot with startup floppy to command prompt. From there, use tools from floppy to delete partiticion and create a new one. Then reboot with floppy again adn format C drive. After that reboot withfloppy again and then start installing Win98. Follow on-screen instructions.

Your OS (Win98 (software)) has too many bugs to be repaired, in witch cases it is best to format everithing and start from scratch.

Zoran, November 2006