Topic: I need help on a subject about Windows 98!

[Caliban]

This is the case:
A friend of mine recently tried to view some jpeg images on her computer and for some reason it gave an error saying that she needed a .exe program(strangely it didn't say which) to open such files. Well we both thought that maybe somehow Paint got uninstalled from Win98, but I can't confirm that as I don't have access to her PC and she isn't very PC savvy. So she thought that if she reinstalled Win98 that everything would be fine but a question raised to her and also me: If she Reinstalls Win98 will her files on the hard-drive be deleted? Can she pick the option to Repair rather than to Reinstall it?
I can't answer to those questions to her because I'm using WinXP.
Any help is apreciated, and thanks in advance!

[Jdub03]

If she does not use system restore or some type of backup program, yes her files will be deleted.  Im not sure if win 98 has system restore, but she might want to check before reinstalling windows.

[Pale]

jdub is wrong, you can install windows over itself without losing data.  Just don't format first.

[Grey Ninja]

PaleZero is correct.  Personally though, I would scan for virii and run scandisk before doing anything.  Installing Win98 overtop of the existing installation is not the recommended course of action, but in this case it probably won't hurt things worse than they already are.

[Shift Key]

Wouldn't you use IE or a browser to view jpeg files?
Before she goes and reinstalls, maybe you should check that IE is the default program to view it.

Look under My Computer --> View --> Folder Options ---> File Types then scroll down to JPEG Image
The normal would have Opens With.... and IExplore at the bottom of the window, but I guess that you wouldn't see that if its not working.

And reinstalling is risky, because it may wipe over other files. Unfortunately, there is not repair or System Restore with Win98, hooray for the 90s!

[Grey Ninja]

Shifty, no offense please, but if I was using IE to view all jpgs...  I would shoot myself.

[KDR_11k]

You mean, like, use IrFanView instead?

[TOY]

Win 98 does have a system restore option. When you put the Windows disc in, just restart the computer. It will give you the option to restore the OS (save your files) or completely restore the HDD (lose everything).


TOY

[RyanL]

Quote
Originally posted by: Shifty
Wouldn't you use IE or a browser to view jpeg files?

From what I remember, the version of paint that came with Win98 did not support jpeg, and indeed IE was the default program for viewing jpegs.

-Ryan

[Caliban]

Quote
Originally posted by: Grey Ninja
PaleZero is correct.  Personally though, I would scan for virii and run scandisk before doing anything.  Installing Win98 overtop of the existing installation is not the recommended course of action, but in this case it probably won't hurt things worse than they already are.

Thanks for the advice Grey Ninja but before I posted this thread my friend did told me that she had done a virus scan, the result was that the computer was clean.

[vudu]

just out of pure curiosity, are you sending underage girls pictures of yourself, caliban?

[Jdub03]

hmmm...Thats strange.  When I reinstalled winme on my computer, I lost everything.  Sorry about that, Im just speaking off experiance.

[Caliban]

Quote
Originally posted by: kingvudu
just out of pure curiosity, are you sending underage girls pictures of yourself, caliban?

I'm a guy! What's your problem? Seriously, what the heck are you talking about? I'm confused. You didn't make any sense!  

[Shift Key]

I don't use IE anymore Grey, I just assumed the person (not being tech savvy) was using IE because it comes with Win98.

JDub03: WinME. I think that alone is reason to install over it. But I'm not aware of an option to directly install over an existing OS, but I wouldn't trust it. I know there is a "Restore" option in 2000, but I still wouldn't try it, partly becase it might "Restore" over something important...

Get your hands on 2k or XP. They are much better OSs, more stable and fewer bugs than ME.

[Ocarina Blue]

Look out depending on what 98 disc you have. I put my disc in, and it decided to reformat my computer. Without asking me. Without even a warning that it was going to reformat. Of course, this is two days after my CD writer stopped working, so I just had all the data I wanted to keep on a seperate petition. And I can't use Linux because of the stupid WinModem that came with my computer. It's like a huge ploy that Microsoft and computer sales comanies use to prevent people from becomming tech savvy.

[KDR_11k]

WinModem? If that's a piece of hardware older than six months there are Linux drivers for it out there.

[Caliban]

Well, thanks for all your responses they will surely help me helping my friend.

Just one more thing of notice: although she uses Win98 and she has been advised to switch to WinXP by many people, she still refuses to upgrade the OS, and it's going to be quite tough helping her because I can only do it by phone.