Help a dummy out. Computer related.

[9d2TSi]

Alright here's the dilemna.

My notebook is kind of an older one, it has Win98SE. My desktop has WinXP home edition.

Anyways. I downloaded the TARI datalogging prog and I need to know how to get it from my desktop to my notebook. Seems easy enough, burn a disk and run it. Haha, not so fast, it doesn't work for me like that.

Maybe YOU have the answer to my problem. Help a brother out.

[Nose Nuggets]

Originally Posted by 9d2TSi

Alright here's the dilemna.

My notebook is kind of an older one, it has Win98SE. My desktop has WinXP home edition.

Anyways. I downloaded the TARI datalogging prog and I need to know how to get it from my desktop to my notebook. Seems easy enough, burn a disk and run it. Haha, not so fast, it doesn't work for me like that.

Maybe YOU have the answer to my problem. Help a brother out.

sadly, on a windows system there is no easy way to transfer an installed app from one computer to another. System files get installed to many difernt parts of the cumputer, usualy in windows sub folders (system / system32 etc)

the easiest, guranteed way, would to get an installer for the program. either use the media (floppy's / cd) that you used to install it to your XP system, to install it to your 98 system. or, if you dont have it, some companies would be willing to email or send a replacement cd if you can prove you have purchased it.

[9d2TSi]

Well, thanks for the help bro. I remembered that I had this usb mass storage thingy that my wife gave me. I'm like awesome, I'm in business. I install the drivers into both computers without a hitch, copied the files from my desktop onto the storage thing, and then installed the files into my laptop. I'm thinking that I'm pretty golden at this point. Right? Laptop freezes up, I unplug the mass storage from it and it shuts down. I figure no big deal right and turn it back on...


...It tells me OS NOT FOUND!!!

[IslandSTI]

Originally Posted by 9d2TSi

Well, thanks for the help bro. I remembered that I had this usb mass storage thingy that my wife gave me. I'm like awesome, I'm in business. I install the drivers into both computers without a hitch, copied the files from my desktop onto the storage thing, and then installed the files into my laptop. I'm thinking that I'm pretty golden at this point. Right? Laptop freezes up, I unplug the mass storage from it and it shuts down. I figure no big deal right and turn it back on...


...It tells me OS NOT FOUND!!!

Hey 9d2TSI,

It sounds like you really need to consider upgrading your laptop to atleast windows 2000.

If you are getting that error then it could mean that the laptop may be trying to boot from the mass storage device or CD rom, which means you may have to go into the BIOS.

If thats not the case then it may mean some of your system files have been deleted or moved which you would have to replace. Hopefully it's not the case but if it is, I hope you still have access to your Windows 98se cd because you need it to replace the files.

[Nose Nuggets]

Originally Posted by IslandSTI

Hey 9d2TSI,

It sounds like you really need to consider upgrading your laptop to atleast windows 2000.

If you are getting that error then it could mean that the laptop may be trying to boot from the mass storage device or CD rom, which means you may have to go into the BIOS.

If thats not the case then it may mean some of your system files have been deleted or moved which you would have to replace. Hopefully it's not the case but if it is, I hope you still have access to your Windows 98se cd because you need it to replace the files.

well, windows 2000 and xp are subject to the same issues. i agree that it sounds like your computer is trying to boot from the USB drive. you can unplug it, and it should resume booting normally. if not, get into the BIOS; the most common way is to press the delete key, some dell's are F2 or F10 and some HP and Compaq's are F9 through F12 while the computer is starting up. so, right as your press the ON button, start tapping delete or what ever key your system needs (it USUALY says it on the first few screens you see "press delete to enter seup"

once in there, you can go to the boot options and adjust the order your system looks for bootable volumes. i usualy choose cd then floppy then hard drive, and turn off lan booting or other options ### they usualy slow the boot process down.

you shouldent be getting the no os found error, unless you actually deleted files. the act of installing a driver, and transfering files from a USB mass storage device will not compromize your os.

[9d2TSi]

Ahhh, better now. I did manage to corrupt my OS. I can't get it to boot properly for anything, however, I have a friend that's going to give me the windows 98 SE disk for nothing. I should be able to run that and get everything straight, I hope.

Do I need to reformat the HD, or can I just run the disk? I'm not the best with computers so I need all of the help I can get. I did try messing with the bios a little bit, but I don't know enough to alter any of the settings. I'll try what you said Nuggets, but I'm not very hopeful at this point. Plus I have to go to work.

Thanks for the help guys. I appreciate it.

[Jave]

I would suggest reformatting and installing from scratch. That way you should not ahve any errors. Just make sure that be fore you start you have went and downloaded all the drivers for the notebook from the maufacturers site.

[Nose Nuggets]

yeah Jave is on the money. if you dont have another system, or access to another system on the net, make sure you download at least your modem and/or lan/wlan drivers BEFORE doing your windows reinstall. but, if you cant even get into the os, then you will have to use a second computer regardless.

you can try a recovery install first, just install windows to the curent c:\windows directory, regardless of the warnings it gives you. this will reinstall over the curent installation. the major drawback of this method is any virii or adware/spyware coruption you have, will still be there. so i would suggest doing the full format and reinstall.

make sure the serial key you have is for windows 98 SE. the second edition and first edition serial keys are diferent. you "could" use the cd key that came with the cd, there are no anti piracy measures in effect that will hinder multiple uses of the same windows 98 serial.

you might need to go back into the bios and adjust the boot priority so the cd is before the HD, so you can boot to the cd and start the install. usualy the legend for what keys do what is at the bottom of the BIOS screen. on laptops, its usualy F5 and F6 to adjust settings, and the arrow keys to move around. or its the + and - to adjust values.

herm.. what else while we are on the subject....

after installing windows and your drivers, hold of on installing your software untill after you do the following;

a) download all critical windows updates, and most of the non critical updates, dont worry about any of the language packs unless they are relavent to your usage

b) go buy a anti virus software. i really like norton, its picky (although this wont effect you on a freshly installed win98) but by far the best and most efecient AV on the market. i have tried almost all of them, and this has worked the best for me. some people have norton horror stories, but thats usualy because people have this strange notion that anti virus software will fix a computer that is already infected. this is true in some small cases, but most virii are designed to render AV software useless.

c) go to download.com and get adaware and spybot anti adware and spyware tools, they are both free, and all i use to keep my system clean of all adware and spyware. again, better to have defences in place BEFORE the problems start, as aposed to trying to fix an existing problem. both of those are free, allways do the updates before full system scans, i recomend twice a month.

d) update, update, update, i cant stress how important keeping you av, spybot, adaware, and windows os updated.

after that, make sure you do a reboot and then start installing your personal software, office, quicken etc etc.

any other questions, let me know.

[Nose Nuggets]

*edit*

double post

please delete