Sorry if this isn't possible but I need to be sure...

I was trying to create a dual boot system, adding XP on a second
partition on top of the existing 98 on C:

Because I only had a recovery disk with my laptop PC I copied the i386
to the C drive and ran the WINNT32.MSI after booting into 98 (I think I
should have clicked WINNT32.exe).

I was expecting the option to install on a different drive but it just
went ahead and installed XP over 98 without any warning, putting XP in
the C:\Windows.0 folder and leaving the existing 98 installation in
C:\Windows

Now I can't get into 98 and XP hasn't got any of the software I
previously had installed under 98.

I would really like to revert to the 98 on the C partition as I really
need to use some of the applications that were on 98 without having to
go through installing them again.

Is there any way at all to restore the system to what it was?

I tried changing Boot.ini to point to the old C:\Windows but that
failed with the hal.dll missing error. and I've also looked at
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312569/ but I don't have an Undo folder
as I never got the option to make one. There's no option in Add/Remove
programs either.

I'm guessing I'm stuck but I want to be sure I can't do it before I set
about the very arduous task of restoring all my applications.

I have a 98 CD if that helps.

In 1136510116.381819.299120@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups. com Chris
wrote:
> Sorry if this isn't possible but I need to be sure...
>
> I was trying to create a dual boot system, adding XP on a
> second partition on top of the existing 98 on C:
>
> Because I only had a recovery disk with my laptop PC I
> copied the i386 to the C drive and ran the WINNT32.MSI after
> booting into 98 (I think I should have clicked WINNT32.exe).
>
> I was expecting the option to install on a different drive
> but it just went ahead and installed XP over 98 without any
> warning, putting XP in the C:\Windows.0 folder and leaving
> the existing 98 installation in C:\Windows
>
> Now I can't get into 98 and XP hasn't got any of the
> software I previously had installed under 98.
>
> I would really like to revert to the 98 on the C partition
> as I really need to use some of the applications that were
> on 98 without having to go through installing them again.
>
> Is there any way at all to restore the system to what it was?
>
> I tried changing Boot.ini to point to the old C:\Windows but
> that failed with the hal.dll missing error. and I've also
> looked at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312569/ but I
> don't have an Undo folder as I never got the option to make
> one. There's no option in Add/Remove programs either.
>
> I'm guessing I'm stuck but I want to be sure I can't do it
> before I set about the very arduous task of restoring all my
> applications.
>
> I have a 98 CD if that helps.

Haven't had to do this in a long time. Hopefully, the memory
hasn't gotten too foggy.

You need a Win 98 boot floppy. If you don't have one, go here:

www.bootdisk.com

Put the floppy in and reboot your computer.
Enter the following command at the prompt:

SYS A: C:

Hit enter.
Restart you computer

If that fixes your problem, post back and we'll move on to
getting XP on the second partition.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

>
> Is there any way at all to restore the system to what it was?
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assuming you're using FAT 32...
As a temporary method, will typing
sys c: [ENTER]
after booting from a Win98 boot disc help?, or try booting from a Win 98
startup disc (to load CD drivers) and run W98 setup from DOS.