Windows 98 Boot Problem

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G Miller - 30 Dec 2006 22:53 GMT

I am turning downa PC running Windows 98. I have removed a number of old
software programs through the add/remove option in control panel and also
deleted a number of files.

In doing so, I must have inadvertantly removed some files the operating
system depends on. When I boot, the system takes me into the Windows 98
setup wizard. When I try to move forward in the wizard, I get a SU0350 error
message - setup was unable to display the nondisclosure agreement. Setup
will now close." After displaying the message, the system shuts down.

There is a knowledge base article that talks about this error message. It
links the problem to a license file "license.txt" in c:\windows not being
the same as the license.txt file in C:\windows\help. I logged on in command
prompt mode to try to fix the problem as suggested by the article but the
license.txt file wasn't in either of the directories.

Here is the link to the article:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/311009/

Does anyone have a suggestion to get my system back up and running?

Thanks,

Greg

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Gary S. Terhune - 30 Dec 2006 23:28 GMT

After what you did, especially if you didn't save backups of the files you
deleted (the uninstalls aren't probably the problem, but plain old file
deletion is really risky!)

I'd give strong consideration to a full flatten/rebuild, because you've
likely created a monster. But in the mean time, do you have the Windows
installation CD? If so, search it for license.txt. If you're lucky, it won't
be buried in a CAB file.

In DOS mode (Command Prompt Only from the Startup Menu, or use the Windows
Startup floppy), run the following commands. Assumes your CD drive is D:\.
Change as needed.

d:
dir license.txt /s

If you find it, copy it to the appropriate directories.

Signature

Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

> I am turning downa PC running Windows 98. I have removed a number of
> old software programs through the add/remove option in control panel
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
> Greg

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G Miller - 31 Dec 2006 00:00 GMT

Hi Gary,

Thanks for the suggestion. I was doing some additional investigating and
came across a suggestion to restore my registry to a previous version. I
gave that a try and managed to get my system up and running again.

I am going to heed your warning about manually deleting files!

Warmest regards,

Greg

> After what you did, especially if you didn't save backups of the files you
> deleted (the uninstalls aren't probably the problem, but plain old file
[quoted text clipped - 40 lines]
> >
> > Greg

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Gary S. Terhune - 31 Dec 2006 02:05 GMT

Good suggestion!

OK, you may have it up and running, but after "deleting files", I have to
wonder how many pitfalls remain for you to get mired in, <s>.

Good luck! And don't forget your towel!

Signature

Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

> Hi Gary,
>
[quoted text clipped - 56 lines]
>> >
>> > Greg

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Rvwinkle - 31 Dec 2006 03:55 GMT

A few months ago, after just getting on the internet with an old laptop and a
full C drive, I started deleting files to make room for downloading. I
figured what did they make the recycle bin for, huh? I didn't know about
cross linked files. I know I tried to delete Quicken manually and then put
it back when strange things started happening.
Actually, I ended up doing a restore, but it was due to an invalid
page fault by Internet Explorer which was an internal problem and kept
Windows from starting. This maybe wasn't related to my deleting files,
though. I think they should put some kind of warning or dialog box that
suggests extreme caution and maybe a short tutorial about cross linked files
when you click on that delete icon at first.

rvw

> Good suggestion!
>
[quoted text clipped - 63 lines]
> >> >
> >> > Greg

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Gary S. Terhune - 31 Dec 2006 05:10 GMT

Well, you originally mentioned "deleting files" in the same breath as using
Add/Remove to uninstall apps. That lead me to believe you were talking about
deleting system and/or apps files. Big no-no unless you *really* know what
you're doing. If they were just RB, TEMP, Temp Internet Files, etc., then
that's fine, <s>. Might want to check out the first link in my sig.

Signature

Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

>A few months ago, after just getting on the internet with an old laptop and
>a
[quoted text clipped - 86 lines]
>> >> >
>> >> > Greg

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