Hi, I have a question on step one of Plan A on this. Is there a way to uninstall software for which you do not have the CD, when it tells you that you need the CD to uninstall? I have some software that came with a scanner we got at work - which our tech guy then exchanged for a different scanner, so we don't have the software from the first one. When I tried to uninstall it, is asked me to insert the disk. There is graphics software, OCR software, TWAIN software, and document management software, and I don't use any of it.
Thanks, -cynthia -----Original Message----- From: Jonathan Falk [mailto:jonf@;ptfolkschool.org] Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 9:30 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [folkschool-list] Win98 chronic ailment Paul- You're describing a common situation, so it's a great question for this list. Windows 95/98/ME tends to get bogged down over time, often because the registry fills up with extraneous and incorrect stuff. There are a number of registry-cleaning tools out there -- sometimes they work great, sometimes they don't help at all, but it's worth a try. So here's what I suggest: PLAN A: First uninstall any software you are no longer using. Reboot, and back up your registry. I like to do this before I do anything to the registry files -- if these get fouled up, you may not be able to start Windows. Microsoft made an "Emergency Recovery Utility" for Windows95 which also work with 98 and ME. It lets you make a backup of the registry to your hard drive, which you can restore from DOS if Wndows won't run. Directions for using ERU are at: <http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q139437&;> I can E-mail you the files if you want them and don't have access to a Windows 95 CD- they're quite small. Now run Norton Windoctor (part of Norton Utilities), and have it fix any problems -- it sounds like you've already done this. Reboot and run RegClean4. This is a Microsoft product widely available for downloading. You can get it from PCWorld at: <http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,4666,00.asp> Reboot again and see if things run any better. PLAN B: It's probably software, but it doesn't hurt to check the hardware. If this were a desktop, I'd suggest opening up the case, removing and reconnecting everything -- things have a way of working loose over time. In a laptop, everything's pretty much nailed down, but you might try removing and reseating your RAM. PLAN C: Reinstall Windows. This is a real pain, because you need to reinstall and configure both Windows and all your application software. There is a way to do this without wiping out your data, but make sure you have a current backup, just in case. Then boot the computer into DOS, and rename the Windows directory (I like C:\WINBAD). Now install a fresh copy of Windows into C\WINDOWS. Your old desktop, start menu, driver files, etc. are still in the WINBAD directory, and all your data files are still there. Reinstall all your application programs to the same directories they were in before. Good luck, Jon At 07:48 AM 10/30/2002 -0500, you wrote: >Please let me know if this has already come up - I have a laptop now about >4 years old, and it's been acting up - generally problems when starting, >random restarts, screen locks, inaccessible programs - sounds like a >problem. Scouting for diagnosis and solutions about a month ago on Campus, >general sense that it's software. I bought Norton toolkit (I think that's >what it's called) and ran various diagnostics and fixes, and it ran for a >month, now acting again, fixed again, now running ... Advice I got: >probably needs complete system re-install, involving copying all data >files and reinstalling all programs. Sounds like a hassle! Maybe Norton's >fixes are catching up to this? Apparently the registry self-destructs over >time with Win98. Other advice: replace my old Zip backup with writable CDs >before the backup project. Anyone else experience this? >Paul Schroeder > >**Folkschool-list archives are at: ><http://www.mint.net/folkschool/helpnet/archives.htm> > Sponsored by Pine Tree Folk School > > Jonathan Falk Pine Tree Folk School RR 2, Box 7162 Carmel, ME 04419 (207)848-2433 <http://www.ptfolkschool.org> **Folkschool-list archives are at: <http://www.mint.net/folkschool/helpnet/archives.htm> Sponsored by Pine Tree Folk School **Folkschool-list archives are at: <http://www.mint.net/folkschool/helpnet/archives.htm> Sponsored by Pine Tree Folk School ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84vzQ.a9gqS3.YXJjaGl2 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
