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Windows 98x ScanReg
Crash Recovery Tool

First, a quick mention about using Scandisk and Defrag on a regular basis.  A lot of problems can be solved using regular Maintenance Tools like these two.

 Scandisk = HandyMan
   Defrag   = Maid

That is how, one should think of these two tools and use them accordingly.  You'll be pleasantly surprized at how better Windows operates, when they are used on a regular basis.  How often is up to you, but once a week or every two weeks is just fine for most.

Uh, Oh

One day you "are" going to start your Computer or do a reboot, and suddenly start getting "weird error messages", either from Windows itself or a specific program you are trying to use.  A Windows error message could look something like this:

A Windows Registry Checker dialog box which states;

"Windows encountered an error accessing the system registry.
Windows will restart and repair the system registry for you."

After you click the "OK" button, your system will then reboot and it will appear that something is being done, but nothing is fixed because the dialog box comes up again when Windows is restarted.  This Tutorial is to help those, that have no idea what happened or how to fix it.

ScanReg to the Rescue

The Registry is the brains of Windows (any version) and Windows 98x has built-in tools to help.  Windows 98x backs up your Registry file after each successful start, when your computer has been started for the first time that day and no Registry changes since the last successful startup was made.  It keeps the five most recent of these successful starts, as backups.  In most cases, the following steps will usually help to undo damage done to your system's Registry file.

You are or should be, familiar with Scandisk.  The tool to automatically fix all kinds of minor problems on your system, including the Registry.  Sometimes this is not enough and Windows 98x also has another built-in tool called ScanReg.  This is a more powerful tool as it focuses only on the Registry.  ScanReg is known as "Windows Registry Checker", when run in Windows, but works best from DOS.

Booting into DOS

If Windows is still working, you can reboot into DOS using:

Start > Shutdown > Reboot to MS-DOS mode

If this cannot be done or you are using Windows ME, then you need to use a Boot Disk.  Insert the Boot Disk and restart your Computer.  Once you start to see text on the screen, press the F8 key.  Hold it down until you see the words, "Now starting Windows..." or until a Startup menu appears.

Within this menu, look for "Safe Mode Command Prompt Only." then use your keyboard to select the number on the left of it; remember to press the Enter key after your selection.

You will now be in DOS mode and will see a DOS prompt which looks similar to: C:\>

Using ScanReg

Now ScanReg can be used in two ways.

Method One

The first is to try and fix whatever happened without un-installing anything or getting too involved.  At the DOS prompt, and don't worry about what it says on your Monitor, type in the following then press the Enter key:

scanreg /fix

Allow ScanReg to finish then Reboot when finished. With the Registry now fixed, Windows will load with no problems.  Maybe.  It may happen that this doesn't work.

Method Two

To restore Registry settings from one of the five backup copies you must get back into DOS mode.  Reboot as mentioned through Windows or with a Boot Disk.  Once back into DOS mode you can ignore what it says on your Monitor and type in the following:

scanreg /restore

The five most recent entries will be shown in descending order.

Example:
11/22/99 ; 11/21/99 ; 11/20/99 ; 11/19/99 ; 11/18/99

Choose one by using the Arrow keys on your Keyboard, then Press the "R" key for restore.  If the selected registry is intact and useable, it will be installed.  If not, it will not be used and you can try using the next earliest entry.  Either way, you will get a message window telling you what is going on.  Once you have successfully installed a backup Registry file, press the "R" key again, to restart.

Depending upon which copy was restored, you may need to re-install some programs which you had installed, after the date of the Restore file you used.  So hopefully, you didn't have to go too far back or a lot of programs may need to be re-installed.

Re-installing Programs

Some programs will still work just fine and will not have to be re-installed—you won't know for sure though, until you use this method or already know beforehand.  If you're not sure, after a successful ScanReg restore, test all programs that were installed after the date of the backup file used.  They will either work or give some sort of error message, telling you a re-install is required.  Programs that do have to be re-installed can go exactly where they were were before, since the directory will still there—even the program doesn't work.

Although you may have to re-install programs, data files you had previously created should still be intact!  Might be a good idea though, to save your data files somewhere else before you re-install any programs, just in case.  Some programs have been known to totally wipe out or erase, all previous files in the directory.

Conclusion

If you end up going through all five copies without being able to start Windows, then it's time to bring in the big guns.  If you happen to know someone good at computers, now might be a good time to invite them over for a coffee. Wink.

On the bright side, you now know "how to" cover the Basics on your own.  If you do need to bring in the big guns, at least you can save some time (and maybe some of your money) by letting them know what you've done.  Always remember, it's very important to let anyone who is trying to help you, know what you have already done.

And remember to print this out and keep it in a safe, but handy place.  After all, if you ever need it and cannot access Windows, you will not be able to access the Internet (and come to this page) and without previous experience, it can be difficult to read files on your hard drive from within DOS!

 

 
Tutorials Available

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Windows 98x

 
 Friday, March 29th, 2024 MST