Okay, try this:
Boot into "Command prompt only" mode (use the same menu you used to boot into safe mode).
Once you get to a dos prompt, try
And then
And then try booting into windows again.
If that still doesn't work, try
You asked if I could supply more info -- the answer is, not really. I went through the list of things Windows was loading, drivers and such, and tried accepting or skipping them, individually, but in all cases I got the same result: after getting the Windows splash screen, my default background desktop color shows onscreen, but no icons appear or status line at the bottom of the screen.
When I press Ctl-Alt-Delete, I get a "Close Program" window (which I called the Task Manager in my original post -- it shows the same things it seems to me), and only 2 programs are listed: Vsstat and WebscanX.
Those programs are parts of mcafee virus scan (you do have that installed right?) Can you go through the step-by-step startup again and see if it asks you whether to load those programs (or anything related to mcafee) and say no, and see if it makes a difference and/or what is then in the task manager.
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On Macintoshes over the years, I've reinstalled the OS many times, but never with Windows. On the Mac, you boot from the CD and reinstall either in a new folder or over the old system.
Hmm... I really couldn't tell you. The only windows I've worked with have been distributed with oem computers and come with a custom recovery image. I've never installed retail windows. I'd assume it's just:
1) boot from cd
2) agree to 10 page license
3) tell it what partition you want to install to
4) let it go
5) config your hardware (hopefully it should do that by itself)
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I'm pretty certain the Win 98 CD I've got is full and OK (how would I check for sure?) (I do have a working XP laptop which I can use to look at the CD).
I'm not sure how to check it because you don't have an identical cd to compare it to. Perhaps after you boot up the disc it will give you an option to check the integrity of the data.
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How does one go about reinstalling Windows?
If you just want to take the plunge, boot up from the disc and just go from there. The worst that can happen is that your partition table will become corrupted. Then you'd just have to repartition, which isn't that hard. :)
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I have a handful of programs that I probably don't have access to the original CD to install anymore, so I'm only concerned that I don't lose access to those apps.
Ouch, this is a tough one. Because windows uses a complex central configuration database (the registry) that is basically made up of a bunch of small cards put together in the semblance of a windows logo, you'd have to extract the configuration for each of those programs from the registry. Ow...
Okay, I have no idea whether the following will work it all. I'm just guessing. I really really think it will just be a total waste of your time.
What you could try doing is backing up all the program directories and then the entire registry.
Here is the ms article on how to back it up:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q256419
Of course the problem is you can't even boot to windows.
What MIGHT work is trying to find the cab file that windows creates every day as an automatic registry backup. Look for
RB001.cab
With this command:
In command prompt only mode
And save it out of your comptuer somehow. I don't know how big it will be, possibly bigger than a floppy. If it is, you will need to find a way to get it out over a network or something, or if you have a cd burner try to find a boot floppy with cd burning support.
After you've done that, you will need to copy all the directories of all your programs you don't want to lose to some external source.
After you restore them, I have no idea whether it will work or not. Probably the registry is bad, so it won't work at all.
Easy solution: Find your original discs.
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As for Linux, it doesn't seem to be an option here now. Maybe in future . . .
Just an idea. :)
In short, you are probably better off at hunting for those missing discs than trying to pull out the installed programs. Then reinstall windows from scratch.
Good luck,
~psi42