Win98 Startup Issue

[pcdunce]

Dear Professional and Armchair TECHS

Still milking a PII, 350mhz, from Gateway. It is almost 8-yrs old!! Yes, I am replacing soon, but want this one running for a 2nd Networked computer.

Had some Trojan Horses in Quarantine. (AVG Virus Scanner)

On recent startup (after running a online Spyware Scan the night before) My computer says, "Insert BOOT Disk into Drive A" (can't find win98) I tried my Win98 BOOT disk without success. Get a message with (3) possible solutions and none of them work. When checking dir c: all files are current. They are now for some reason reading from b:? Scandisk c: shows a OK. Should I replace CMOS Battery? Know where it is, but don't know what is wrong.

I am all messed-up. How do I get this thing started again.

Thanks
PCdunce

[jmtjet]

While booting tap the F8 key repeatedly(might have to try more than once)you will get a boot menu with 4 or 5 choices. Chose to boot to a command prompt. After you get the "C" prompt type "scanreg /restore" (without the quotes)Note; there is a space between scanreg and the /(forward slash)This command will bring up a list of your last known good configurations. Pick a date before your problem began and hit the enter key. After the computer is finished with the restore- reboot. Hopefully you'll be back up and running.

Note; Any programs installed or work you did after the date you chose will be lost.

[pcdunce]

Thanks jmtjet!!

I just noticed your response/advice/instructions. Appreciate it.

Will try it tonight and let you know.

PCd

[pcdunce]

Hi jmtjet,

Win98 Booted last night! The F8 "Tapping" trick gave me some different views!! Still said "Insert BOOT disk in Drive A", but this time I got to a solid C: prompt!

Was successful in running a full "Scandisk" inlcuding Surface Scan. (errors were found and corrected)

Thanks again
PCdunce