My wife's machine has win 98 and has run OK until a couple days ago. I
thought I'd run scan disc and defrag but neither will run. Scan starts then
I get a message that it has started 10 times etc. Defrag message goes to 1%
defrag then back to 0% even after running for a half hour or so. The HD
isn't running much either like it does during defrag.

I have a win 98 se disc that I'd like to load but I don't want to trash it
more. Will 98 se load over 98 and not cause problems? Thanks

Boot into safe mode (press F8 or tap it every half-second
or so at boot, then select safe mode from the boot menu).
Run scan disk, standard test-auto fix errors, then defrag.
If you miss the boot menu, let Windows finish loading then
try again.

mm

I think you can load 98 SE over 98. I did. But I don't
think you can't go back to 98 after that.
Run Defrag and ScanDisk in Safe Mode.
Before you run Defrag or ScanDisk, get rid of the junk.
Left Click on My Computer.
RIGHT click on the C drive.
Left Click Properties.
Follow instruction for cleaning up C drive.
To run Degrag and Scandisk, turn to your Start Menu and
click on HELP. Click Index and scroll down to
Safe Mode. It's best to disable Wallpaper and Screen
Saver. Run Defrag first. I run Defrag all the time in
Safe Mode (takes up to 2 hours). I also run ScanDisk in
Safe Mode, but you might have to check it every 20 minutes
or so to make sure that you continue if the message about
starting 10 times etc. come up. My ScanDisk take up to 4
hours.
Jim Altemara lmlmcat@cox.net

Jerry

Run both programmes in safe mode.

I suggest that you remove Temporary Internet Files ( including Offline Content ) and History. Start Settings, Control Panel, Internet Options, General, Temporary Internet Files, Delete Files, check Offline Content and click on OK. Also empty your Recycle Bin. This helps remove a potential problem when running Scandisk and Disk Defragmenter.

Another precaution. Delete the contents of the applog folder ( the content not the folder! ). See link below (disregard the references to the error messages ) for the procedure.

Defrag Error Message: ID NoEFRAG00205 (Q238165)
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q238165

Then run Disk Defragmenter in Safe Mode.

To start Windows in safe mode Click Start, and then click Shut down. Click Restart, click OK, and then press and hold the CTRL key until the Microsoft Windows 98 Start-up Menu appears. For some machines, you can use F8 instead of CTRL to bring up the Microsoft Windows 98 Start-up Menu. Enter the number for Safe mode, and then press ENTER.

Notes In safe mode, Windows uses default settings (VGA monitor, no network, Microsoft mouse driver, and the minimum device drivers required to start Windows). You will not have access to CD-ROM drives, printers, or other devices.


~~~~~~


Hope this helps.

Gerry
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Stourport, Worcs, England
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"Jerry Smith" <jmsmith@epix.net> wrote in message news:rxN1c.22177$Bv6.3656396@news1.epix.net...

Go to http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/SoftMain.htm and download
GEODisk. This works for me for scandisk & Defrag. It automatically shuts
down interference. Easy to use just click desktop icon.
"Jerry Smith" <jmsmith@epix.net> wrote in message
news:rxN1c.22177$Bv6.3656396@news1.epix.net...

http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;q287914
Articles about Scandisk
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q286263
Articles about Defrag

1. Turn off screen saver (R-Clk Desktop, Properties, Screen Saver--
None)
2. Turn off power management (Control Panel, Power Management-- Always
On,Never,Never,Never)
3. Disable any permanent internet cable connection, perhaps.
4. Suspend Task Scheduler
5. Turn off interfering programs. Use "StartupCop" or "EndItAll2" from
PCMag (below). Or "START, Run, MSConfig, Startup tab". Note what is
unchecked. Then, go to the General tab & disable the entire Startup
Group, by clicking "Selective.." & unchecking "Load Startup...". Reboot.
Don't forget to re-enable before the next boot.
6. Use "HDValet" from PCMag, or
(a) "Control Panel, Internet Options, Delete Files button, bolt Delete
all offline content, OK, OK"
(b) "START, Run, %TEMP%", & delete all files that will let you. This
will likely be "C:\Windows\Temp". This is best done after a fresh boot,
unless you have not seen the message "Reboot to complete this install".
7. Run Scandisk (Thorough, usually w/o write testing. Check all three
items under "Scandisk, Advanced button, 'Check files for' box". If you
want to be informed as it does a fix, UNcheck "Automatically fix errors"
on the front screen, or look inside "C:\Scandisk.log" afterwards.)
8. "START, Run, Defrag /p /details". Apparently, "/p" Defrags the
unmovables.

The purpose of steps 1-5 is only to prevent constant restarts of
Scandisk & Defrag, if you get them; but DEFINITELY turn off the Virus
Scanner. Scandisk should be done perhaps once a month, and certainly
after every serious crash. Do a Defrag after a sluggish boot or when
this says so:
http://www.pcmag.com/ 's CrackUp, by Gregory A. Wolking & Bob Flanders.
Also, take DiskAction, to determine what is constantly writing to the
HDD, which causes the restarts. Take BHOCop & StartupCop too.

"DiskAction" reports the last 12 processes that access any partition. It
discovered the MS Critical Update Notification Tool was accessing my
HDD every five minutes. It can be uninstalled in "Control Panel,
Add/Remove Programs". Then, occasionally, "START, Windows Update" on
your own.

"BHOCop" found a Browser Helper Object called Wavehelper Class, created
by "Wavetop", that was building a monstrosity of an error log called
"Logit.txt" in here. "START, Find, F/F, Logit.txt"-- see one?

Now, my hard drive is quieter than my mouse. (Of course, I now also have
384 MB RAM, up from an initial 64, eliminating Swap File activity.)

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR
pcrrcp@netzero.net
"Jerry Smith" <jmsmith@epix.net> wrote in message
news:rxN1c.22177$Bv6.3656396@news1.epix.net...
| My wife's machine has win 98 and has run OK until a couple days ago.
I
| thought I'd run scan disc and defrag but neither will run. Scan
starts then
| I get a message that it has started 10 times etc. Defrag message goes
to 1%
| defrag then back to 0% even after running for a half hour or so. The
HD
| isn't running much either like it does during defrag.
|
| I have a win 98 se disc that I'd like to load but I don't want to
trash it
| more. Will 98 se load over 98 and not cause problems? Thanks
|
|
|

On Thu, 04 Mar 2004 21:51:19 GMT, "Jerry Smith" <jmsmith@epix.net>
wrote:

Jerry,

Run them from Safe Mode and disable the screensaver.
Something is accessing the disc causing them to restart.
It may take awhile but if you do it 3 times a week and after a major
delete or install it gets much faster.

Get the 32 bit ME Defrag, it's much faster.
http://www.comp-solve.com/defrag.htm

Regards,

Bill Watt
Computer Help and Information http://home.epix.net/~bwatt/
Microsoft, the company that gave us Edlin. ;-)