A problem with windows

[InCreator]

Does anyone know how or what to use to fix "invalid long filename entry" under DOS? I can't install windows since it suggests scandisk for windows to repair this, yet it won't install windows until problem is solved

Googleing around didn't help much. And I can't take HD out to fix it on other machine, since the stupid guarantee. But I also don't want to take computer to the guarantee because of pr0n important and top secret stuff on hard disk.

[Gilbert]

Well using LFN's for important files is like suicide, especially when you use "illegal" characters like spaces, commas, etc.

If you can't plug the HDD to a windows computer, your best bet is to try to use DOS LFN tools like this or some other old programme made by a stranger called Chris Jones. It's not guaranteed to work though.

[Barbarian]

If you can't find a workaround in dos, perhaps with the use of some utility such as Gilbot suggested, and, if you are worried about opening up your machine because of the warrenty/guarantee as you mentioned (I would have maybe also suggested putting in a new HD, installing Windows on the new HD, set it as master with your old drive as Slave, then simply copy of your needed files you want to save).

But, perhaps another workaround, you might consider downloading "Knoppix",
http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
which is a fully bootable Linux OS on CD (nothing needs to be installed on the Hard Drive, it all loads from the CD).

You'll perhaps need to download it from a "working" computer, then burn the Knoppix "iso" into a CD perhaps using something like Nero or such similar CD buring software.

Anyways, once you have it, it's a simple matter of popping the Knoppix CD into your computer, and when you start up, you should be able to boot from the CD, which will load in a functional version of an Linux OS... thus, it this sense working something like a "rescue system" of sorts, and you would hopefully now have enough funtionalty to copy over any important files and such to somthing such as an external USB hard-drive, or perhaps burning files you want to backup to CD, etc... At least I think it should give you this kind of functionality, .Ã,  Ã, It may also allow you to effectively run other repairs of sorts (such as running utilities or whatnot), but you're mainly worried about getting enough functionality from your computer to be able to copy over your important files you want to save to another source right?Ã,  Then once you're sure you have all your files backed up, you could reformat and reinstall windows on your old HD.Ã,  Ã, 

Anyways, not sure if it's what you were looking for to help you with your problem, but, I have a copy of the Knoppix on CD, and it works like a charm if I ever need to boot into a different operating system other than the installed Windows on my HD.
PS: Oh yes, Knoppix is Free to download!Ã,  Ã, 
More Knoppix info over at: http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/Main_Page

[InCreator]

nah, thanks. I got this sorted out by myself:

just adding /is parameter to win98 setup.exe will force it to skip that stupid good-for-nothing scandisk. From there, everything went smoothly.

[Barbarian]

Cool. Good to know you got things working and that you got around the problem easily, and it might be of help to some other people who may have a similar problem sometime.

Still, the "Knoppix" program, I think is still a good thing to have just in case.