Hello,

Yesterday, I installed Windows98 Second Edition Service Pack 2.0.2 - sesp202en.exe

BIG MISTAKE !! (sorry to rain on this love fest)

Unfortunately, now, every time I start the system,
right after the Boot Logo appears,
up pops the Microsoft Registry Checker.

"Windows found an error in your System files
and restored a recent backup of the files.
Press enter to restart."

This is an endless loop - Boot Logo - Registry Checker....
The Registry Checker continues to detect Registry Damage.

So, right now, the only way to get the box to boot, is to
choose Step-By-Step Confirmation from the Windows 98 Startup menu,
and give a big NO to "Process the System Registry".
A quick YES to everything else, and I'm up and running.

So what's wrong with my system registry? Who knows?
I have a copy of RegistryFix v3.0, and a scan
found nothing major.

I want to try to UNINSTALL this nightmare,
before I go ahead and RE-INSTALL everything.

Now, I thought it was possible to UNINSTALL
this Service Pack from Add-Remove Programs?

Yes, I read the following BEFORE I installed:

- Uninstallation needs Windows 98 SE CD-ROM.
- It also doesn't remove all installed files.
- It only reverts back half of the installed files with original 98 SE files.
- So, I don't recommend uninstallation of the pack,
if you don't have any "serious problem".

I like that - "serious problem".
I consider the Registry Checker running every time I boot
a serious problem....

I didn't see anything named "Service Pack 2.0.2" etc.
in Add-Remove Programs - is there something specific
I should be looking for...

Any help would be appreciated...



BTW, I was overdue for the annual (semi-annual) Windows
clean install anyway - I hope it rains this weekend.

Did you read the installation guide before installing the pack? You must close all open programs before installing the pack.

Could you check that: Has your MSDOS.SYS (which is in the root folder) "SystemReg=0" line. If it doesn't exist, please add it.

You didn't see "SP" in the Add/Remove Programs, because Registry Checker has restored your registry to the older version.

Though I am not using Windows 98SE nor consequently Gape's pack. I have been sometimes plagued by a similar problem on Win ME.

Registry Checker tells the registry is corrupted and needs to be replaced with a backup. But at reboot it is the same. And again.

For me, this problem, who very rarely occurs, always happened after a reboot due to system crash/freeze.

I can always use the system if I terminate Registry Checker with a process manager or disable it from startup.

To get out of the problem. I found I needed to replace the registry by hand. There should be several backups in C:\WINDOWS\SYSBCKUP. You need to extract user.dat and system.dat from one of the cab files. (It is likely that the most recent backup is corrupted which could be why Registry Checker never suceeds in restoring a clean registry so don't use this one) And replace the user.dat and system.dat that are in the windows folder with them. You can do the replace operation after rebooting into DOS or use wininit.exe to automatically replace the files before Windows boots. The latter is easier to do especially if you use a GUI tool such as CopyLock to write the wininit.ini file (this is the file who tells wininit.exe which files it must replace at boot time)

Please consider using InstallWatch before you attempt to install anything, as this soft, when properly configured, allows you to revert any changes you make to your system. See here for more details : http://www.msfn.org/board/lofiversion/index.php/t49820.html

PS : As well I think there is a syntax to replace the registry with a choosen backup using registry checker from DOS. But I do not know it.

Ya, I read the install guide -

This is the part I took a chance on...
A freshly installed Windows 98 SE is highly recommended.

I rolled the dice - I wasn't installing this on a clean install.

As far as closing all open programs - I don't recall, but I thought
I had all programs closed? Maybe not... ??



There is no "SystemReg=0" line in MSDOS.SYS.

Can I assume this disables the Registry check?




OK, that explains that....

eidenk - Thanks for the suggestions - I think I'll try using InstallWatch in the future...
as far as restoring the registry - the DOS command is:


Then you select a registry backup from the last five days the system successfully booted. I tried this with a copy from the day before I
installed the service pack - but the registry checker is still whining....

Something is pooched....

Anyway, like I said - it's time to give Betsy a new brain!

The registry is full of old crap, and half of the stuff
I have installed I rarely use. I hardly even use this box...
my laptop does all the heavy lifting.

Speaking of rarely use - the Install Guide (Step 2) mentions installing
IE 6.0 SP1 (optional) - I'm a Firefox fan, but with IE7 supposedly just around the
corner - is it worth it to install any version of IE6 at this point?
Advantages - disadvantages (aside from the fact it is IE)

Anyway guys - much thanks for your help!!

Cheers!

BTW - when I get around to giving the box a new brain -
I *might* give this Service Pack another shot.
I like gambling!!

As you know, Microsoft's Internet Explorer is not just the browser. It also is system hooked into the whole explorer mechanism of the operating system. IE 6 SP1 fixes a bunch of bugs with newer file versions as well as including patch's for many security holes.

I think most folks here would agree that installing IE6 SP 1 is a good thing. I also use Firefox and Thunderbird for my browsing and email, but recognize there is more to Internet Explorer than the browser.

Since the Windows Desktop Update included with the first stand-alone IE4SP1 for Windows 95, IE has been hooked into the OS.

I wish I could be helpful regarding the system problems you're having, but that looks tough. I would suggest reading the sticky on Gape's recommended installation order for the Service Pack for some of the standard ways to install it.

Occasionally I've had problems in the past with my firewall, ZoneAlarm, not reacting too well to some system changes if set as default to startup with Windows, and it has fubarred my registry. I would get similar messages to what you report.

I've taken to either waiting until after installing the major OS updates before hooking my cable internet to the computer, and/or temporarilly disabling my Ethernet card in Device Manager (or, in XP, Network in Control Panel) and setting ZoneAlarm to not run at startup, again temporarilly.

That helped me get through previous registry mess up's when installing MDAC updates, Office programs, and even RealPlayer installs!

I hope you get things fixed up!

Yes, registry scan is disabled if this is set to 0.
More info:
http://www.mdgx.com/msdos.htm#TAB

Hope this helps.

Newsflash!

Adding SystemReg=0 to the MSDOS.SYS file seems to have resolved things!!
No more pesky registry checks... boots like, well,
it boots like Windows 98

Eck - that tip on staying offline until things are rosy
is a fact - I run a little app called WallWatcher
http://www.sonic.net/wallwatcher/ on my router,
and it's amazing to watch the action.
Without a firewall, you would be screwed - within minutes.

When I get around to giving the beast a new brain,
I'll let you know how things go.

Thanks again guys... you really know this stuff.

Cheers!