Urgent help, deleted mistakely system files

[Mary]

Hi, Friends,

I am sorry to put this post here. But I really need help urgently, and I
think lots of your guys must be good at Window 98 too.

I am still using Window 98 for my Pen III desktop. Yesterday I misktakenly
deleted the system files ( I am not good at computer). These deleted files
are in the recycle bin because I did not empty the recycle bin. When I
restarted the computer, the only information in the screen is :"invalid
system disk. Please replace the system disk, then press any key to start...".

Can not get into safe mode. Does not response to any keys or F1-F12, or
alt+ctrl+del". I do have a Recovery CD when I bought the computer almost 9
years ago. The options are: Diskette backup, user backup, user restore and
factory restore. I do not have window 98 system disk.

I was in panic this morning, and I am calming down now. What can I do to
repair the operator system? How can I get back to Wndows, or retrieve those
deleted system files from recycle bin? I do not want to delete my 10 years
private files (I do not have backup) and the softwares I installed in the
computer?

Please help!!!!! Thanks, Mary.

 

[Malke]

Mary wrote:

> Hi, Friends,
>
> I am sorry to put this post here. But I really need help urgently, and I
> think lots of your guys must be good at Window 98 too.
>
> I am still using Window 98 for my Pen III desktop. Yesterday I
> misktakenly
> deleted the system files ( I am not good at computer). These deleted files
> are in the recycle bin because I did not empty the recycle bin. When I
> restarted the computer, the only information in the screen is :"invalid
> system disk. Please replace the system disk, then press any key to
> start...".
>
> Can not get into safe mode. Does not response to any keys or F1-F12, or
> alt+ctrl+del". I do have a Recovery CD when I bought the computer almost 9
> years ago. The options are: Diskette backup, user backup, user restore and
> factory restore. I do not have window 98 system disk.
>
> I was in panic this morning, and I am calming down now. What can I do to
> repair the operator system? How can I get back to Wndows, or retrieve
> those deleted system files from recycle bin? I do not want to delete my 10
> years private files (I do not have backup) and the softwares I installed
> in the computer?

I wish that I were surprised that you have 10 years of stuff you've never
backed up but I see this all the time. Usually the people are very sad.

Take your computer to a professional computer repair shop. Do not use a
BigComputerStore/GeekSquad type of place. Have the computer repair person
retrieve all your data and burn it to CD-R or DVD for you. Then they can
return the computer to factory condition with the recovery CD. Win98 is a
fragile operating system and it is unlikely that it can be repaired.
However, the professional can decide if it is warranted and if it is, s/he
will have an Win98 installation disk.

I am suggesting that you take the machine to a professional because the hard
drive will need to be pulled and data retrieval done from another system. I
am not saying this to hurt your feelings, but I don't think you're going to
be able to do this.

After you get this all sorted out, it's time to get a new computer - because
this one will *not* last much longer - and learn how to back up. Then back
up regularly.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

 

[Michael Jennings]

I suggest that you impose upon a knowledgeable neighbor.

It will be helpful for you to find someone with whom to talk over your
situation. If that person is not far away from you, a charitable feeling
may motivate him to make a major effort to explain hard drives and
stuff so that you can decide the best way to untangle the fix you're in.

"Mary" <Mary@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:ACD9569E-B9DA-452D-8C4E-5B8A3DCE3E6C@microsoft.com...
> Hi, Friends,
>
> I am sorry to put this post here. But I really need help urgently, and I
> think lots of your guys must be good at Window 98 too.
>
> I am still using Window 98 for my Pen III desktop. Yesterday I misktakenly
> deleted the system files ( I am not good at computer). These deleted files
> are in the recycle bin because I did not empty the recycle bin. When I
> restarted the computer, the only information in the screen is :"invalid
> system disk. Please replace the system disk, then press any key to start...".
>
> Can not get into safe mode. Does not response to any keys or F1-F12, or
> alt+ctrl+del". I do have a Recovery CD when I bought the computer almost 9
> years ago. The options are: Diskette backup, user backup, user restore and
> factory restore. I do not have window 98 system disk.
>
> I was in panic this morning, and I am calming down now. What can I do to
> repair the operator system? How can I get back to Wndows, or retrieve those
> deleted system files from recycle bin? I do not want to delete my 10 years
> private files (I do not have backup) and the softwares I installed in the
> computer?
>
> Please help!!!!! Thanks, Mary.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

"Mary" <Mary@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:ACD9569E-B9DA-452D-8C4E-5B8A3DCE3E6C@microsoft.com...
> Hi, Friends,
>
> I am sorry to put this post here. But I really need help urgently, and I
> think lots of your guys must be good at Window 98 too.
>
> I am still using Window 98 for my Pen III desktop. Yesterday I misktakenly
> deleted the system files ( I am not good at computer). These deleted files
> are in the recycle bin because I did not empty the recycle bin. When I
> restarted the computer, the only information in the screen is :"invalid
> system disk. Please replace the system disk, then press any key to
> start...".
>
> Can not get into safe mode. Does not response to any keys or F1-F12, or
> alt+ctrl+del". I do have a Recovery CD when I bought the computer almost 9
> years ago. The options are: Diskette backup, user backup, user restore and
> factory restore. I do not have window 98 system disk.
>
> I was in panic this morning, and I am calming down now. What can I do to
> repair the operator system? How can I get back to Wndows, or retrieve
> those
> deleted system files from recycle bin? I do not want to delete my 10 years
> private files (I do not have backup) and the softwares I installed in the
> computer?
>
> Please help!!!!! Thanks, Mary.

I agree with others here. Your first priority must absolutely be to rescue
your data. You should not even *think about* attempting to repair the
system before this is done.

The good news is, this is very easy to do and doesn't take long.
The not quite so good news is that you will require another system and some
parts to do it, and you will likely need a small amount of professional
assistance to do this.

What happens is this:
Remove the drive and attach it to any XP system with enough free drive
space, using a USB2 drive case or adapter. Then, simply copy the old data
to the XP system's drive. Burn this to CD or DVD, and verify that it can
be read.

At this point, your data is safe.

Now, the person doing this can simply look in the recycle bin and move the
files to where they were supposed to be. Note that if you deleted boot
files, they may not be restored to the precise spot they need to be, and you
may need to use, I believe it's the SYS command from a boot diskette to fix
that.

This shouldn't cost you more than a couple of hours of time, and will give
you a backup of your files.

HTH
-pk

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

DO NOT post Windows 98 questions to a non-Win98 newsgroup. It greatly
increases the chances of you getting wrong answers, trying to execute them,
and ending up in an even worse situation. Your issue is being handled in the
win98.gen_discussion group. Please limit your posts to that group.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com

"Mary" <Mary@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:ACD9569E-B9DA-452D-8C4E-5B8A3DCE3E6C@microsoft.com...
> Hi, Friends,
>
> I am sorry to put this post here. But I really need help urgently, and I
> think lots of your guys must be good at Window 98 too.
>
> I am still using Window 98 for my Pen III desktop. Yesterday I misktakenly
> deleted the system files ( I am not good at computer). These deleted files
> are in the recycle bin because I did not empty the recycle bin. When I
> restarted the computer, the only information in the screen is :"invalid
> system disk. Please replace the system disk, then press any key to
> start...".
>
> Can not get into safe mode. Does not response to any keys or F1-F12, or
> alt+ctrl+del". I do have a Recovery CD when I bought the computer almost 9
> years ago. The options are: Diskette backup, user backup, user restore and
> factory restore. I do not have window 98 system disk.
>
> I was in panic this morning, and I am calming down now. What can I do to
> repair the operator system? How can I get back to Wndows, or retrieve
> those
> deleted system files from recycle bin? I do not want to delete my 10 years
> private files (I do not have backup) and the softwares I installed in the
> computer?
>
> Please help!!!!! Thanks, Mary.

 

[Telstar]

"Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message
news:uQgfwmd%23IHA.4912@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> DO NOT post Windows 98 questions to a non-Win98 newsgroup. It greatly
> increases the chances of you getting wrong answers, trying to execute
> them, and ending up in an even worse situation. Your issue is being
> handled in the win98.gen_discussion group. Please limit your posts to that
> group.
>
> --
> Gary S. Terhune
> MS-MVP Shell/User
> http://grystmill.com

And I have seen enough terrible posts by you, Mr. Terhune, that lead me to
believe you are a MVP fraud!

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

Well how does it feel to be wrong?

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com

"Telstar" <none@none> wrote in message
news:OMrDfYf%23IHA.3344@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>
> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message
> news:uQgfwmd%23IHA.4912@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> DO NOT post Windows 98 questions to a non-Win98 newsgroup. It greatly
>> increases the chances of you getting wrong answers, trying to execute
>> them, and ending up in an even worse situation. Your issue is being
>> handled in the win98.gen_discussion group. Please limit your posts to
>> that group.
>>
>> --
>> Gary S. Terhune
>> MS-MVP Shell/User
>> http://grystmill.com
>
> And I have seen enough terrible posts by you, Mr. Terhune, that lead me to
> believe you are a MVP fraud!
>
>