need help w/system restore...etc.

[MikeHunt]

yup ... Mike needs help.
When I rebooted like usual...and my computer came up in the safe mode.
I noticed right away that a lot of my settings had changed and it even prompted me to (re)establish my DSL account..and other software.
One notice that came up when I tried to run McAffe anti-virus said "failed to load VsUtilDLLs" and another said "failed to loadVSUi50DLL"
I want to do(how do I do) a system restore or get the computer to reboot in the normal mode and get my 'settings' back.
I have a Pent 3 /566 ...running win98se Compaq (Piss-sorry-o).
The computer has been checked for viruses and spyware etc..since i got kids who use the computer as well... ...and the internal diagnostics show everything ok.
hmmmm.. your help is appreciated :goodjob

[phalkon30]

Well, windows 98 does not have a system restore function. I believe ME was the first to impliment that.

However, there may be a recovery cd that came with your computer. I've worked on a few compaq before...they usually have a small 5 gig partition with backup info or something. But you just stick the cd in, and it will help you from there.

I'm not possitive if you'll have to reformat with that cd or not. I believe it trys to repair first, then will ask to format if it can't.

Honestly, I think you'd be better off just reloading windows. (That comment however is coming from a poweruser who's built several computers and installed windows more times than I care to count)

[MikeHunt]

thanks Phalkon ...apppreciate it. How can I get the computer to not boot up in safe mode ??..also it appears that several programs have their settings wiped out..Im having to re-load all the info for them one by one. I've never had anything like this happen before. My internet(now) and windows seems to 'work' ok but settings and preferences seem to be affected. How can I restore saved registery settings>??? Mike

[phalkon30]

Registry restore IS a feature I remember being in 98...on each boot it saves it somewhere. Where I don't know, I didn't know that much about computers when I used 98.

I'll see if somebody like CPU knows.

[cpugeniusmv]

okay, usually when the computer is screwed up and keeps booting into safe mode, it comes up and *asks* you if you want to boot into safe mode, and if you don't specify whether or not you want to in a short amount of time, it will automatically go into safe mode. watch for the screen, and when it comes up try to choose normal mode. if the screen doesn't appear, continuously tap the F8 key while your computer is booting up. that should bring it up.

to restore the registry from DOS, use a dos boot disk to boot from DOS, and use this command:

scanreg /restore

[MikeHunt]

@cpu...windows 98se came pre-installed so I don't have a boot disk.
However I can get to a dos prompt.
Exactly what command do I type in and how do I determine the restore point?
TY ... Mike.

[Omyn]

I used to be so good at tweaking and getting everything I wanted to do in windows 98, been years since I have even sat down with a computer with it on :]

With system restore any programs you installed after you did your system backup, are prone to really fuck up after the roll back.

[Krell]

Yah follow CPUs instructions. You can also delete the user.dat, or user.dao, basically tearing a new asshole in your regisrtry, at it will occomplishing the same thing, forcing it to roll back, it knows where to find yor old regs.

You can also just reinstall Windows on top of itself, but with that Compaq, you probably have a restore disk, so you will have to see if that is an option.

[MikeHunt]

@krell ..thanks for your help.
I located the (hidden) file user.dat ..but delete is not one of the options it offers me.
Also to refine my problem further..it appears that the users settings in a handful of programs as well as the operating system were 'erased'.
I have manually restored several ...replaced some dll's..and for the most part solved 80% of the problem. Is there a system restore command from DOS or a way to retrieve the user info & settings without manually having to track down and define all the settings again...TY ...Mike

[phalkon30]

Have you tried your system restore disk yet?

You also might find some usefull tools on the compaq website, like updated drivers/support tools.

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/

[Krell]

You also might find some usefull tools on the compaq website, like updated drivers/support tools.

http://h18000.www1.hp.com

Fine piece of info. Now push pause, and lets stop at this juncture.

You all know my opinion of an O/S, its crap, and its the least important thing on your PC. O/S's will come, and they will go, its your data, and usability that is important. If your automobile engine were missing 20% of its parts would you keep trying to patch it up, or just get a new complete one?

You have 2 choices Mike. Thats what you get when you buy a Compaq with W98, basically, 2 choices. The first is to use the System Restore Disk. In the older days, it would wipe out ALL of your data. Newer systems give you the ability to just repair or replace the O/S.

The second choice, which is the one I would do, is to put an OEM copy of Windows on to your box, not the bastardized Compaq version that they pissed in and sold to you.

XP will automatically find most if not all of your drivers, no problem. It also gives you System Restore Points. Which ever O/S that you go with, you still have the Compaq site to get specific drivers and patches.

This may also be an excellent time to partition your hard drive, and set the O/S on a 6Gb partition, and use the rest of the drive space for backups and storage. In the future, if things puke out, your data is still on the D: drive!


Think about this a bit, and if you decide to scrap the crap, and go forward, then lets formulate a plan to migrate, install, and back up. I will help you future-proof your pc, if you take the time to do it right.

cheers

[MikeHunt]

@krell...Thanks for your candor.
I agree w/you.

I managed to find 6 corrupt dll's using the System File Checker...re-installed them...looks like most of the prob is solved.
..again ...thanks everyone for your help and input.

[CCSDUDE]

Hit F8 a load of times right before the 98 logo pops up during boot. Once at the OS prompt select the rollback deal (something like "Go back to last working settings") and boot to windows. Then run over the system with your A/V software (if some A/V dll keeps getting killed off you def. have a virus/trojan so you may have to install some new A/V software or find the bug and kill it off in the reg/win.ini or startup).

After that...check everything/backup all your files and if you feel uneasy about connecting to the net with the system...wipe it.