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General discussion

Windows 98 Help File

Nov 20, 2003 11:50PM PST

I have windows 98SE, and today as I was using the Windows 98 Troubleshooting file, I clicked on the display troubleshooter; selected what I needed; clicked next, and a white screen was all I got, instead of the normal list of remedies to try. I tried all the troubleshooting topics, modem, memory, etc. and got the same; nothing. I have always used this file, and have never ran into this problem before.
Hope someone can help. The rest of the Help file is working properly, only the troubleshooting.
Thanks!
shaner7575

Discussion is locked

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Re:Windows 98 Help File breaks, but I consider this not an item to fix.
Nov 21, 2003 12:13AM PST

Much like an old car, there are some items best just left alone.

Will the OS work without this? (YES!)

What to replace this with? http://www.google.com

Bob

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Re:Windows 98 Help File
Nov 21, 2003 5:31AM PST

Go to the windows\help folder. All help-files are *chm-files (compiled html). They open if you click on them. The only special thing about tshoot98.chm is that there is a tshoot.ocx (an Activex library) also. And a tshoot98.chw (don't know what it is).
And in windows\inf is tshoot.inf (contents for the registry relating troubleshooter).

Things to try:
See if all other chm-files do work correctly by doubleclicking on them.
Same for tshoot98 to see if it makes a difference to open it this way in stead of via the help.
See if you have the four files mentioned. If not, use sfc (start/run/sfc) to get them from the windows cd again.
Right click on the inf-file and choose install to correct a possible registry problem.

Not guaranteed to work at all, but it won't harm I think.

Kees

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Re:Windows 98 Help File
Nov 21, 2003 10:03PM PST

I would believe that if you read the article [Q252612] you should get the idea that perhaps some files are remiss on your system and to following the suggestion for using the System File Checker (SFC) -- but instead of one file, check all system files.

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Supply the SFC articles, Cowboy.
Nov 21, 2003 11:00PM PST

If you are to mention SFC in Windows 98, tell about SFC's problems and the KB Articles that note it may replace an incorrect file and more.

Tell the rest of the SFC story, please.

Bob

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Part II.
Nov 22, 2003 12:45AM PST

1. The article [Q192832] discusses a situation that when using the System File Checker (Sfc.exe) tool to restore a file (for example, the User.exe, Gdi.exe, Setupx.dll or Krnl386.exe file) from a cabinet (.cab), the wrong version of the file may be extracted. This can result in the inability to start Windows (for example, the computer may stop responding/hang) or a Windows Protection Error messages may be rendered. This article explains that after starting the computer, a user should extract the correct file.

2. Also please be advised, the article [Q186157] states that during the installation of a new program (including Win98), files on your hard disk may be detected and replaced with older versions, and describes the use of the Version Conflict Manager. If a newer version of a file is detected by Win98 Setup, a version conflict occurs. Prior to Win98, most installation programs (including Windows 95) prompt you to either keep the existing file or overwrite the file with the older file. When you install Win98, this prompt does not appear and newer files replaced by Win98 Setup are automatically backed up to your hard disk for compatibility purposes.

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Thanks, that's the ticket.
Nov 22, 2003 2:50AM PST

It would have been nice if Microsoft would have fixed those issues.

Thank you for filling in that pothole in the SFC road.

Bob