I have discovered, after some experimenting, that holding down "CTRL" upon start up, will bring me to a screen offering 6 options...including safe mode, command prompt. After that, I have exhausted all variations and am unable to come up with the mode that I stumbled into once before, wherein it acted like a DOS text only screen and allowed quite extensive options into software and hardware. I am lost again...still.

Before you attempted to reinstall earlier you have been going to this 6 option menu and selecting safe mode command prompt haven't you.. That was a requirement several screens ago. If not then you should again reboot, go to this menu, select safe mode command prompt and then change to the WIN98 install directory as per previous instructions.

Ingmar

I thought that I had done that, but having done so many things over the past few days, I figured it would be worth a try once again. I got into safe mode, changed directory to windows, renamed win.com to win.poo, restarted the PC changed directory to C:\win98, (which I have copied into a folder on the desktop), and ran setup. Setup never asked where to set up windows, but just began cranking along. Scan disk ran, setup initialized, registry was scanned, files were being copied, and the set up wizard began its prep...for about ten minutes. Just when I thought it was going to succeed...that same old message came up...#SU0409. Setup cannot continue, perhaps an anti virus line in autexec or config.sys. The only option is "exit windows". I feel as though I am learning a few little things, but we are not quite home free yet. Do you have any additional suggestions, or have we fully run the course at this point? Thanks again for your continued patience and assistance.

Okay... Now that we know you know how to get into safe mode etc I still think it likely that within the BIOS (CMOS) setup someone enabled the virus protection option. Reboot your computer and carefully watch what it says as it starts up. It will probably show you the motherboard brand and model along with displaying some, possibly very quick, message about pressing a certain key or keys to enter setup. I need you to find this step first before we can progress. Alternatively if you write down the model number of the motherboard / bios for me I'll look it up somewhere.

Ingmar

(You learn patience when lying on a book shelf for 10 hours on a surveillance job!)

OK, heres some bios, and other info...
Bios Version: EA81510A.86A.0014.P04
Processor: Intel Pentium III
Processor Speed: 667Mhz
System Bus Frequency: 133Mhz
Cache RAM: 256 KB
Total Memory: 128 MB
Operating System: Windows 98, second edition, plus. (4.10.2222A)
The motherboard is genuine Intel.

Jim,

Have a look at this info from Intel. http://www.intel.com/support/motherb...2864-prd36.htm

It says to press ESC if it comes up with an Intel splash screen and then either F2 or DEL to enter setup. You try that and I'll look for further info on what to do when you get there.

Ingmar

Jim - Go and grab this PDF file.

ftp://download.intel.co.jp/support/m...a/a1696401.pdf

This is the motherboard manual. I have not seen an anti-virus lock in there but there are other setup options I'd like you to check. If you have the manual I can just refer you to the page , paragraph etc.

Ingmar

It is <F2> that gets into the startup utility. I snooped around and looked at all the options, and I saw nothing that would indicate any anti-virus protection. Perhaps you will see much more than I. Also, I am reminded that when the attempts at reinstalling Windows ends with that SU0409 message, it is saying that the anti-virus problem is in the autoexec. or config.sys files. That said, I thought we were bypassing those files with our procedure. If that is indeed the case, then what is going on? Another thought, is that maybe the wrong Win98 is copied into my desktop folder, although I dont know how that could be. I was not at all sure about how to properly accomplish that part of your instructions, but what I did do, was to create a new folder on the desktop and drag and drop win98 from the windows cd in D drive. Another little thing is that since I have been "abusing" the printer port details, I no longer get the "No two way communications" message when the print function fails. And it does continue to fail! I guess I have shuffeled things around in there. Thats what happens when a desparate dummy gets into the drivers seat. While I have your ear, what is required to do a total reformat of the hard drive, and start the operating system anew? Will it start from the boot disk and then accept the operating system CD? Once again I must say that your skilled direction is enormously appreciated in sorting out this most confusing and overwhelming computer problem. Final q...what is the best of the new operating systems...should I elect to go that route in the future?
Thanks,
Jim

Sorry, we left you hanging, but I thought I left you in more capable hands. I belive this remote debugging has gone as far as it should go and for a few dollars you should take it in locally and get things fixed. I would not offer an opinion on new OS's as they suck . I'm sticking with my Windows 98 as long as I can!

Sorry, that's it for me.

Yes, remote debugging is exceedingly difficult. In desperation, I called in a computer friend who although didn't cure the problem...was able to effect a marginally acceptable work around. We captured all of my photos onto CD's, since that was the only valuable stuff in the machine, and proceeded with the mind set that if necessary we will reformat the hard drive and begin anew. What we ended up with is installing Windows ME, knowing that if it was unsatisfactory, I could recover Win98. WinXP would have been a one way move, with no chance of reversal. After ME was installed, the same old printer problem existed. We were able to activate the printer by using a USB cable and simply ignore the parrallel port. The machine is still quirky. Although it allows me to use it, I dare not shut it down, because it will not restart reliably. It took seventeen tries to get it up and running last time. This is not a real solution or cure, but it only cost me a dinner. One day I will have to carry the beast into the shop from whence it came, and have them renew it right bact to wiping out the hard drive. Some folks speculate that RAM is getting bad and being a problem....I don know. I always thought that digital chips either work, or they dont work. Pretty much one way or the other, with no gray areas in between. Of course my floppy drive is still useless. It will format a disk, but will not write to it, thinking that the disk is always write protected. See what I mean by "quirky". Thats the latest form this end. I find that I am much happier playing with airplanes. At leat I understand them...pretty much...heh heh. Thanks for all your help...have a great day...everyday.

Jim, sorry about the delay in returning here.. Glad you sort of got up and running. Still sounds very strange, especially the funny startup problems. Really needs someone to sit in front of it and start pulling things out to isolate the problem. Cheers, Ingmar

Thanks for all your help...it was a very enlightening experience, following your instructions, and I learned a few things along the way.
all the best to you,