problems with msdos in win98

Format the HD by booting up with your Win98 boot floppy.
Type: format c:
The format will wipe out everything on the HD and will be able to make a clean install.
Then Reinstall Win98.

I forgot to mention, It also sounds like you need to create a new Winn98 Second Edition Boot disk. Just find a PC that is running Win98SE and got to [control panel][add/remove programs][startup disk]. Because the error you are getting in line 42 of config.sys is refering to the config.sys on your boot disk.

There is a lot of help in the following as well as additional hyperlinks to solutions:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q188/8/67.asp
Troubleshooting Windows 98 Startup Problems

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
Microsoft Windows 98
---

asta

go to this site, it will have any boot disk you may need and also any instructions for installing your OS...
http://www.fastlanecomputers.com/ultimate.html

When you type C
"Command" in your run box what happens??

Regards, Bud
http://www.geocities.com/budallen98_98/ 
Bud's Win95 Win98 Tips and Troubleshooter

Have you done a virus scan from a virus scan boot floppy??

I'm curious why you have the old Windows 95 winstart.bat.  Perhaps this link relates to your setup and helps identify potential conflict in related software.  http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q134/4/02.asp

Some TSRs Moved from Autoexec.bat to Winstart.bat During Setup
The information in this article applies to: Microsoft Windows 95

---

The only other find that MAY apply is this which addresses the winstart.bat as a VIRUS:

http://www.avp.ch/avpve/file/b/bat_wins.stm

----

Recommend current viruscan program with updated virus definition files for starters.

Asta

hi
to reply to all these suggestions :-
i cant format my hd
as when i use the win98 startup disk
the prompt appears but i cant type in dos.
i have tried different boot disks including one from fastlane and i still cant type in dos and i still get the configsys error, the actual wording is
"The following file is missing or corrupted : CON
there is an error in your config.sys on line 42" when i use the bootdisk from fastlane it says" an error on line 3"
when i do command in run the dos window appears but all it says is microsoft windows at the top and no prompt appears.
I have done virusscans with AVP and it says there is no virus :\
so im still a bit stuck
thanks very much
pete.

What's fastlane??

Make your own bootdisk and try it.

Regards, Bud
http://www.geocities.com/budallen98_98/ 
Bud's Win95 Win98 Tips and Troubleshooter

Go to start RUN and type in SFC. System file checker will scan for corrupt files. According to the Knowledge base "This behavior can occur if either the Vgafull.3gr file or the Winoa386.mod file in the Windows\System folder are missing or damaged."
I think they also say something about Command.com being damaged, or one of the PIFs pointing to the wrong Command.com but this is an easy thing to try.

Can you do a normal shutdown and leave system off a couple of minutes. . . then reboot holding CTRL until you get the menu to select and then choose MS DOS Prompt Only.  At the prompt move to the directory where you've installed windows\command.  If you installed in the default way, you'd do this:

cd c:\windows\command

then type the following and enter
scanreg/fix

Once the registry is rebuilt, and you're back in Windows in normal mode.  See if there is improvement.  If at this point you still have not run start-run-SFC to check and restore corrupted system files, do that.

It also helps to run maintenance wizard (cleanup/scandisk/defrag - clear history files, temporary internet files, etc).

Asta

Does your system boot in SAFE MODE?

If you haven't run SFC before, it may not catch the corruption in those two files. If System File Checker doesn't suggest that you replace them, I'd do it anyway. They are listed on the Microsoft knowledge base as the cause for what you are seeing. With the Windows CD in your CDROM, you will choose the EXTRACT option in SFC and type in those two names. You may have to Browse to the WIN98 folder on the CD so it can find the right CAB files.

Ha
I see I am not clear.  Do each name separately!

OK, Im going to go out on a limb here but assuming you have a good boot disk as you say, then if the above mentioned ideas will not work get a low level format utility and reformat the hard drive with it. you should be able to get one from the maker of your hard drive. sounds like a virus to me but doing this will allow a very clean install of everythimg, including I hope, an updated virus program. good luck.

I'd only add this, low-level format can crash some disks (or so I've read), so be careful.

ok
right i have the computer back running windows on a normal startup i dont have to do a selective startup anymore
i did this by deleting the winstart.bat file.
but i still have the dos not working problem.
i will try that sfc thing when i go offline but
since on my bootdisks config.sys always has an error. can i delete config.sys from the bootdisk?
not my proper setupbootdisk of course but my other ones?

As astaec said,
  If you do a low-level format, make sure no otjer drives on your system are hooked up.
It can destroy the data on them.

Regards, Bud
http://www.geocities.com/budallen98_98/ 
Bud's Win95 Win98 Tips and Troubleshooter

Thanks, Bud.  BTW, you've done great work on your site!!!!!

Additionally, recall reading that sometimes this low-level format isn't necessarily drive-type related so much as what you initially may have formatted them in.  Don't have access to my key system with particulars, but have wiped out a HDD and learned the hard way, don't want you to have to do so too.

Asta

When I saw this I sure thought it looked like your problem. Read through and see what you think.
Cannot Start a Command Prompt or Restart in MS-DOS Mode

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 98
Microsoft Windows 95

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


SYMPTOMS
When you try to start a command prompt in Windows, or restart your computer in MS-DOS mode, or start an MS-DOS-based program, you may receive one or more of the following error messages:



Windows cannot find MS-DOS Prompt.pif. This program is needed for opening files of type "Shortcut to MS-DOS Program".


The object that "C:\WINDOWS\Desktop\MS-DOS Prompt.pif" refers to has been moved or is inaccessible


Windows cannot find Command.com. This program is needed for opening files of type "MS-DOS Application".


Windows cannot find Exit.exe. This program is needed for opening files of type "Shortcut to MS-DOS Program".


C:\WINDOWS\Exit To Dos.pif Access to the specified device, path, or file is denied.





CAUSE
This behavior can occur if either the Vgafull.3gr file or the Winoa386.mod file in the Windows\System folder are missing or damaged.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, use the appropriate method:



Damaged Winoa386.mod File
Rename the Winoa386.mod file, and then extract a new copy of the file to the Windows\System folder:


Extract the Winoa386.new file from your original Windows media to the Windows\System folder.

For information about extracting files, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q129605 How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files



Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.


In the Named box, type Winoa386.mod (without quotation marks), and then click Find Now.


Right-click the Winoa386.mod file, click Rename, type Winoa386.old (without quotation marks), and then press Enter.


In the Named box, type Winoa386.new (without quotation marks), and then click Find Now.


Right-click the Winoa386.new file, click Rename, type Winoa386.mod (without quotation marks), and then press Enter


Restart your computer.


Damaged Vgafull.3gr File
Rename the Vgafull.3gr file, and then extract a new copy of the file to the Windows\System folder:


Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.


In the Named box, type "vgafull.3gr" (without quotation marks), and then click Find Now.


Right-click the Vgafull.3gr file, click Rename, type "vgafull.old" (without quotation marks), and then press ENTER.


Extract a new copy of the Vgafull.3gr file from your original Windows media to the Windows\System folder. For information about using the Extract tool, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q129605
TITLE : How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files




Restart your computer.

The below link may also play in, but I really think, before you start over, you should give this a whirl.


http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q130/3/29.asp?LNG=ENG&SA=ALLKB&FR=0

There is another article that has me wondering about your keyboard. Does it have any special features or TSR's?http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q134/5/63.asp?LNG=ENG&SA=ALLKB&FR=0

jjcontact

i have now done those two files
with no difference
i have also looked at the keyboard thing
but my autoexec and config.sys are blank
so i dont think any tsrs are loaded up.
i also tried amending the config.sys
on one of the win98 bootdisks i have
i removed the cdrom mscdex line since
the error appears right after it
but all that did was change the error from line 42 to line 20.
im not going to do a ll format
as my computer is practically working i can come online and play games and stuff
i just cant use dos.
i was hoping i could just like extract some dos files from the win98 cd and replace the ones i have to make it work.
thanks for the help
pete.

Do you want to keep trying? Look at Msdos.sys and Dosstart.bat and see if anything there is strange.

yes i want to keep trying.
i will check those files today
but also i seen where you can transfer system files onto the hd
if you have some that have corrupt
does anyone know how to do this
and would it do any damage if i tried it
thanks again
pete.

I'd like to see if you can borrow someone else's keyboard before going much further.  Do you have someone willing to let you try theirs? I know you don't have anything in Autoexec.bat and config.sys but I am still wondering about the TSR article. Just making sure it isn't a hardware issue.

ok
i will nick my dads tomorrow
thanks
pete.

I think we should next look for the problem in dostart.bat.
The fact that your startup disk has problems with the CDROM drivers MSCDEX makes me think this is the next step.
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q232/6/57.ASP?LNG=ENG&SA=ALLKB&FR=0

hi i now have my dads keyboard on this computer
but still have the dos problems
i will look at that latest link you have put up now.
thanks very much
pete.

hi
ive just tried to find that dosstart.bat file and cant find one!
ive tried finding dosstart and tried finding *.bat in find files
still no luck.
could this be the problem?
thanks
pete.

I have two or three ideas.

You can try and restart the computer and hit F8 on startup, chosing the Dos Command prompt (last - usually number 6) option.  See if then you can type and change directories to the A: drive. Let me know if this works.

The next thing is on your A drive, what reference do you have to your CDROM in Autoexec.bat? You can do this from Windows. :) No need to make it harder.
You see, you can make a dosstart.bat file and put it in C:\Windows.
At the least it should have a statement like this for your CDROM to run in dos.

c:\windows\command\mscdex.exe /d:????
where ??? is usually mscd001 but not always. I have one that is neccd and another that is ide01. Also, it might not be MSCDEX but that is a pretty good be. Anyway, if we put the wrong statement in there, we may cause the machine to hang because it can't find the CDROM.

I suppose it could just be stopping because it can't find the file, but tell me about your keyboard. I have statements for my mouse in my dosstart.bat because it won't run without it (logitech). So, does your keyboard come with some fancy install disk or did you just plug it in to the port (not usb I hope)!

ok the f8 thing
i cant hit f8 but i can hold down
ctrl to get to the menu the dos prompt appears but i cant type in it.
in my autoexec.bat is nothing its completely blank.
the keyboard i have is the ms natural one, the one thats split in the middle.
there was no installation disk with it
and it plugs into a ps2 port.
its very wierd because dos has worked fine for months now since my last format. is there any chance you could list what is in the dosstart.bat file and i will try and make one.
thanks
pete.

Ok, on the F8 thing, try this:
Go to Start then run and type in MSCONFIG and Hit OK
On the first tab, there is an advanced button.
Put a check mark in ENABLE STARTUP MENU
See if you can get into the 6 menu choice this way and then see if when you choose the DOS Command prompt only, if you can type in DOS. I have the same keyboard (can't type on a regular anymore) so that isn't it.



As far as making a dosstart.bat goes, open a notepad window and put in this statement:

c:\windows\command\mscdex.exe /d:001
Then Save AS Dosstart.bat in C:\Windows.
Be ready to record any error messages you get on startup. What kind of CDROM do you have?

I forgot. Did you check the Autoexec.bat on the boot disk or the one on the hard drive?
Try both and see if you have anything on either one. I suspect the bootdisk one will be the standard Windows98, but it helps just to know that your CDROM will run with Oak drivers. Did you get a driver disk with the CDROM? Or will your computer Manufacturer give you the drivers?

hi
this is wierd my answer didnt appear.
ah well here it is again
i have 2 cd drives
a panasonic dvd and a acer 6206w cdrw
the acer came with a install disk
both have worked before using the drivers of the win 98 bootdisk
ive tried that dosstart thing but nothing different happened.
i also tried sys.com to transfer the system files to my computer but it didnt work the dos window just hung when trying to open it.
thats how far i am now.
thanks very much
pete.

Do a FIND for the following files


MS-DOS Prompt.pif
Command.com
Exit.exe
If you find two, tell me where they are.
Look at the command.coms if there are two and tell me what properties each has. That is they should all have the same date and be of the same size.


Post the autoexec.bat of the startup disk.

Look on your boot floppy for winstart.bat and on your hard drive for Q.com. I think our job at this point is to get you a working boot disk. What version of Windows?

hi
i dont have msdosprompt.pif
but i do have
dosprompt.pif which is in my windows dir.
i have command.com
in my c drive root dir
in the windows dir
in the windows/command/ebd dir
and theres a command.pif in the windows dir.
the windows and root dir command.com
have a date of 4/3/00 and 92kb
the one in the ebd dir is 92kb and date
05/11/98.
in the properties of these two
the only difference i see
is the one in the root dir has a ? in the created date while the one in the windows dir has may 11 1998.
the autoexec.bat of the windows98 startupdisk is @ECHO OFF
set EXPAND=YES
SET DIRCMD=/O:N
cls
set temp=c:\
set tmp=c:\
path=a:\

IF "%config%"=="NOCD" GOTO QUIT
LH MSCDEX.EXE /D:oemcd001 /L:D

echo.
IF "%config%"=="SETUP_CD" goto AUTOSETUP
GOTO QUIT

:AUTOSETUP
set CDROM=FOO23
FINDCD.EXE
if "%CDROM%"=="FOO23" goto NOCDROM
path=a:\;%CDROM%\
%CDROM%
cd \WIN98
echo.
OEMSETUP.EXE
goto QUIT

:NOCDROM
echo.
echo The Windows 98 Setup files were not found.
echo.

:QUIT

there is no winstart.bat on the boot floppy and no Q.com in my harddrive.

thanks again
pete.

Listening, though in my own troubleshooting chaos....  you're not forgotten.

Check back asap.

Asta

Do you remember that I told you that you can use F8 menu (which can be also accessed by the MSCONFIG instuctions I left before) to get to DOS?

>>Ok, on the F8 thing, try this:
Go to Start then run and type in MSCONFIG and Hit OK
On the first tab, there is an advanced button.
Put a check mark in ENABLE STARTUP MENU
See if you can get into the 6 menu choice this way and then see if when you choose the DOS Command prompt only, if you can type in DOS.


While I think we have eliminated the Winstart.bat virus, there are others. So what I want to do is be sure that when you tried to get into the number 6 Command prompt only from the F8 menu, you can see the prompt, but can't type.  I just want to verify that we are talking about the same thing here. The reason this is important is there are only 3 files involved. MSDOS.SYS, Commmand.Com and IOS and the other ways of getting to DOS involve other files (like autoexec.bat and msdos.pif). If you can't get in here, you either have corruption in these files, or a boot sector virus. The other thing that makes me wonder about the virus is the fact that you can't access your CDROM with the boot disk and you used to be able to.  But let's look into corruption first.

If you indeed cannot get F8 number 6 to work, in order to eliminate the corruption factor, you should beg a startup disk from someone and make sure it is write protected (if you have a virus it will write to that disk rendering it useless for fixing purposes) and is for your version of Windows (including the same IE). Then when you Sys C from that disk, If you can type, but it only lasts until you boot up again, we again would look at a boot sector virus. Did your problem start around 4-3-2000? All three of my Command.coms have the same date. What version of windows are you running? There are cases where you have to use a virus startup disk - do you have one of those? Not checking for viruses while Windows is running but starting the machine with a Norton's or McAfee disk.

Finally, I suppose you could have a Bios setting that disables the keyboard. Do you know how to get into your BIOS?


The big thing here is you need to have the right Command.com with the right IOS, so you have to be really carefull not to Sys C with the wrong startup disk. I just don't know if you can trust that your Startup disk isn't corrupt too.

astaec,

you are really good with Dos commands for CDROMS. Does this look funny to you?


AUTOSETUP
set CDROM=FOO23
FINDCD.EXE
if "%CDROM%"=="FOO23" goto NOCDROM
path=a:\;%CDROM%\

I'm just a babe in the woods, trying to find her way to some semblance of order in troublehsooting my own nightmares ... of which there are plenty.  I feel reasonably well versed in DOS commands, but never have I encountered this one.

Sorry to be less than responsive, but I've got cables coming out of my ears and just trying to 'maintain' and respond to my Emails.

Will place this in my follow up for when I can resume and spend some time.

Sorry to be less than what you may wish.....

:(

Asta

Ok, I'll try For a bit Asta.

Poo12,
where does that command come from??

Regards, Bud
http://www.geocities.com/budallen98_98/ 
Bud's Win95 Win98 Tips and Troubleshooter

This is the autoexec.bat of the windows98 startupdisk whole thing

@ECHO OFF
set EXPAND=YES
SET DIRCMD=/O:N
cls
set temp=c:\
set tmp=c:\
path=a:\

IF "%config%"=="NOCD" GOTO QUIT
LH MSCDEX.EXE /D:oemcd001 /L:D

echo.
IF "%config%"=="SETUP_CD" goto AUTOSETUP
GOTO QUIT

:AUTOSETUP
set CDROM=FOO23
FINDCD.EXE
if "%CDROM%"=="FOO23" goto NOCDROM
path=a:\;%CDROM%\
%CDROM%
cd \WIN98
echo.
OEMSETUP.EXE
goto QUIT

:NOCDROM
echo.
echo The Windows 98 Setup files were not found.
echo.

:QUIT


This is obviously his manufacturer's startup disk. What is set CDROM FOO23 but then if CDROM F0023 NOCDROM? It seems to mean if the setup cdrom isn't there, then it exits and allows no cdrom from which to access any other cDROMS (Ie, you were clean installing).

Sorry, I mean CD's  You know what I mean.

This has become quite a baffler, no?

I finally fixed "some" major problems on one system via backing up goodies to alternate drive and reformatting, reinstalling W98 and then following with the W98 SEcond Edition UPDATE CD and redoing WindowsUpdate for OE and IE 5.01.  That worked for me, I'd be inclined to consider something on this order if I could and get myself a whole retail product, given the hours you've also devoted to this effort, p0021.  But then, you may actually have some good news based on all the valuable input from this team.

Best wishes,

Asta

poo21
what I think I am seeing is that the boot disk you are using will tell you there is no CDROM if you don't have your startup CD in there. That doesn't mean your CDROM is not found in DOS. So my prior comment may not be valid. Many viruses like to hide the CDROM and I am no longer sure yours is hidden. If you try your boot disk with the manufacturers CD in the CDROM, see if it now finds the it.

thanks for helping me.
but before i try all those things you told me to do. i have read in pcformat
someone had this trouble with kak.htm
and cAgOu things in there computer
which i have also.
it says in the mag this is a worm virus
(i did virus check earlier on when you told me to, with avp and it didnt find any virus) and how to fix it. it says i have to delete my autoexec.bat
and rename the ae.kak file to autoexec.bat, problem is everytime i try and change my autoexec.bat like edit or rename or delete it says
cannot delete autoexec.bat access is denied file maybe in use.
the question is, does this have anything to do with my dos problem
i think i may have to give up on trying to fix this and take my hd to my dads computer and fdisk and format it, like you said a while back.
thanks again for helping
pete.

Great! We know it is a virus.

When the worm has been detected, the user should delete the following files, if they exist:


    C:\Windows\kak.htm
    C:\Windows\System\(filename).hta
        where (filename) is a variable, and it changes from one system
        to another


    C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\kak.hta
    C:\Windows\Menu Demarrer\Programmes\Demarrage\kak.hta

The "autoexec.bat" can be restored by copying the "C:\AE.KAK" to "C:\autoexec.bat".

Is this your instuction?

Go to start, Run and type in MSCONFIG
Hit OK and when System config utility comes up take the check mark out of the box to process autoexec.bat. restart and it should let you change it.  No promises here on your extra weird case.

There is an undate to keep you from getting this again at Microsoft update.

From McAfee. They say their program will remove infected DAT files. Let me look at Norton. See if we can find a trial program.

Method Of Infection
Opening email messages which are composed in HTML format and which contain the script will install the Internet worm on supported systems as mentioned above. The HTA file is written to the local machine as is the HTM file and both are created at system startup, and with each composition of HTML format email message.

Removal of this Internet worm consists of several steps:

* close email client(s)
* install the MS patch mentioned above
* remove KAK.HTA and/or KAK.HTM
* turn off "preview pane"
* delete the default email signature
* delete messages which are not needed which may contain the embedded script


Removal Instructions
Use specified engine and DAT files for detection and removal. Delete files found to contain this detection.

From Norton.
Removal:

Delete the following file: KAK.HTA
Delete the following registry key:
HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Windows/
CurrentVersion/Run/cAgOu

None of these sites are saying anything about not getting into DOS. It says it shuts down Windows. None of the other sites are saying DAT files are infected. hmmmmmm

We still have the Command.com difference. If you look on your startup disk in Windows, and right click on the Command.com on your startup disk choose properties, what data do you get for the modified date? I am wondering if when you sys C if that is where that Command.com difference came from or if it has a separate issue.

i havent been able to sys c
but what i did do
was go to system file checker
and i imported command.com
in my root and my windows\
from the windows cd so they both have same dates and size now.
which still doesnt make any difference :|
thanks
pete

When you got your computer, did it come with a restore disk of some kind? I think the no CDROM you got may be related to the way the manufacturer wrote the autoexec.bat and that you need the restore CD in the CDROM to be recognized.

Also, are you booting to the 6 menu choice and choosing the commmand prompt only? Do you have a logitech mouse or another type. We can add statements to autoexec.bat and perhaps get you to click on the DOS prompt, but we will have to figure out if you mouse runs with mouse.com.

Oh, I forgot, we want to change your dosstart.bat statement now that we know what your autoexec.bat said.


c:\windows\command\MSCDEX.EXE /D:oemcd001

I decided to look at other newsgroups about your problem. Found you too! Anyway, I didn't find any suggestions except to get rid of fast shutdown.

There is one other article I read at Microsoft regarding Exit to Dos. When you right click on it and then choose properties, on the program tab, you should be going to the command.com in C:\Windows. Same with the Dosprompt.pif.

I don't know if you let anyone play on your computer but there are some registry entries that will prevent you from getting to dos. Take a look at those here:

http://www.regedit.com/Security/Applications/DOS/

hello
right i have got autoexec.bat back to normal
i have checked those reg settings
and i dont have those settings in my reg.
i dont have dostart.bat anymore
i had to delete that file so my windows would start correctly.
i didnt get a restore disk with this pc
and my mouse is a microsoft intellimouse
the one with the wheel in the middle.
does bootgui in msdos.sys i think
does that have anything to do with
how your dos works
what setting should it be at 1 or 0?
thanks
pete.

Bootgui 1 loads windows and 0 boots up to dos. I still don't know if you can get to dos with F8 and the command only choice, so if you change it and you can't type, you can't change it back. Then you won't be able to work in either dos or windows.

Here is what a regular startup disk Autoexec.bat looks like. Yours is so different! Did you make it when you installed Windows, or did you do it through the Control panel Add Remove programs, or did it come with your machine?



@ECHO OFF
set EXPAND=YES
SET DIRCMD=/O:N
set LglDrv=27 * 26 Z 25 Y 24 X 23 W 22 V 21 U 20 T 19 S 18 R 17 Q 16 P 15
set LglDrv=%LglDrv% O 14 N 13 M 12 L 11 K 10 J 9 I 8 H 7 G 6 F 5 E 4 D 3 C
cls
call setramd.bat %LglDrv%
set temp=c:\
set tmp=c:\
PATH=A:\;
LH A:\MSCDEX.EXE /D:IDECD001  
path=%RAMD%:\;a:\;%CDROM%:\
copy command.com %RAMD%:\ > NUL
set comspec=%RAMD%:\command.com
copy extract.exe %RAMD%:\ > NUL
copy readme.txt %RAMD%:\ > NUL

:ERROR
IF EXIST ebd.cab GOTO EXT
echo Please insert Windows 98 Startup Disk 2
echo.
pause
GOTO ERROR

:EXT
%RAMD%:\extract /y /e /l %RAMD%: ebd.cab > NUL
echo The diagnostic tools were successfully loaded to drive %RAMD%.
echo.

IF "%config%"=="NOCD" GOTO QUIT
IF "%config%"=="HELP" GOTO HELP
LH %ramd%:\MSCDEX.EXE /D:mscd001 /L:%CDROM%
echo.
GOTO QUIT

:HELP
cls
call help.bat
echo Your computer will now restart and the startup menu will appear.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
restart.com
GOTO QUIT

:QUIT
echo To get help, type HELP and press ENTER.
echo.
rem clean up environment variables
set CDROM=
set LglDrv=

I have another suggestion. Try making a Fat32 ebd disk.  Open your Windows98 CD tools folder, then the mtsutil folder and then the fat32 ebd and with a floppy disk you don't care about in your A drive, click on fat32ebd.exe. Try to start your machine with this disk and see if you can get into dos. It cleans the boot sector of viruses and we can then eliminate this possibility.

the autoexec.bat i posted was from
my win98 startup disk
thing is i have never had the disk on write enable.
so it couldnt have changed.
i cant use f8 to get to the menu on the boot only holding ctrl down
when i do that if i hit command prompt
it comes up with the config error
and then the c: appears but i cant type anything
the safe command prompt the c: appears
but again i cant type anything
ok i will try that fat32ebd disk
thanks
pete

i cant make the fat32ebddisk
as it goes into a dos window
in windows and says do you want to continue and at that point i cant type anything :(
thanks
pete.

Can you use your mouse?  I forgot you would have a DOS Window come up. Is there another machine you can make it on and then run it on yours?

At this point, I am looking to get a working startup disk so if you have to restore, you can. That means eventually, we have to figure out why your CDROM isn't recognized as well as the keyboard. Did your startup disk come with your computer? How about the Microsoft newsgroup. Anyone in there helped you at all?

If you try your boot disk with the manufacturers CD in the CDROM, see if it now finds the it.

A disk that is write protected will have both boxes at the bottom Open. Be sure that any startup disk you get is write protected before you put it in your computer and try to Sys C. If you have a memory resident virus, it can and often will write itself on a disk that is not protected. Then you are copying it back onto your computer.

Do a search (Find) of your system for mouse drivers. Should be Mouse.exe or Mouse.com. Lets see if we can get your mouse to do what the keyboard won't.

yep my disk is write protected.
also my cd does work when i put the win98 cd in with the startup disk
i can go to win98 setup
but when it goes to the blue screen after that it says press enter to continue at which point i cant.
so there isnt any probs with the cd being regonized in dos. just i cant type anything in dos.
also i dont have any mouse.exe or com on my pc.
i didnt install the mouse drivers.
didnt think i needed to.
thanks
pete

Amazing. Blue screen errors! Are you getting the same error each time?

At least the CDROM is recognized. Ok, so we still need a FAT32EBD disk and mouse drivers in Dos. I just got an intellimouse for mother's day so let me look into what drivers make it work in Dos. You work on getting the FAT32 disk because it is supposed to correct boot sector viruses.

Since you are having trouble in F8 command prompt only, and there are only 3 files that control this, we are down to those files, a boot sector problem or hardware problem. When you Sys C:\, you took care of the 3 files possibly being corrupt. And the Fat32 disk hopefully will do in a boot sector virus. That leaves Hardware. Do you know how to get into the Bios?

i havent been able to do a sys c
it didnt work cus of it saying Y to continue in dos and i couldnt hit Yand yep i know how to get into bios
ta

This isn't likely to work if you have a virus, but you can  try and add the mouse to Autoexec.bat and see if you can click on it. My intellemouse uses mouse.exe. But you didn't have a mouse.exe file?

Don't want to interfere with your 'teamwork', if more is needed and you're unresolved, listening.

Asta

I've never seen a "Yes" Prompt resulting from a
SYS C: command.

Were you doing that from an A:\>

Regards, Bud
http://www.geocities.com/budallen98_98/ 
Bud's Win95 Win98 Tips and Troubleshooter

poo21

I have asked others to stop and look because I am almost certain I am going down to Hard drive failure. I can stop in at the library once a day (except sundays)for email, but I thought also it would be a good idea to get some fresh ideas on the table. This is what I posted and if you think this is wrong, speak up.



Where we are (I think):  You will see how long this thread is, so I was going to tell you the bottom line. Basically, his keyboard won't function in DOS. At first we were looking at not being able to restart in Dos or use the Dos prompt. Then it was that he couldn't access the CDROM in DOS. But I think that was caused by the startup disk reporting NOCDROM if it didn't find the manufacturer's SETUP CD. After we determined that, he can find the CDROM (as long as it is the manufacurer's CD in there), but gets a blue screen error using SETUP. So, reinstalling is not possible at this point. The only good thing is if it is a virus, his boot disk is write protected.

If he uses his Windows98 startup disk, or Command prompt only from F8, he loses the keyboard (can't Sys C). He has tried virus scanners that are not picking one  up and I have suggested using a FAT32 EBD disk, which he can't make bacause the machine freezes when it goes to DOS. Should I ask him  to try SFC to extract copies of MSDOS.SYS, IO.sys? I was trying to get the mouse working in DOS, but he says he doesn't have a mouse.exe file and I don't want him to unwrite protect that disk to add it anyway.

ok guys ,I just took one of my old comps out ,and with no harddrive installed ,and only the basics ie(board,video card,ram,cpu,floppy drive keyboard,mouse)I booted with a basic boot disk with no cdrom and when it comes to a A:prompt I could type
so this tells me that the problem has nothing to do with the files on the harddrive
poo21,,,boot up to windows and go to your floppy drive and with a clean disk, right click and select format then select copy system files only, (this will make a basic boot disk with no autoexec.bat only the basic needed files),,,now reboot comp with this boot disk (make sure in the bios/setup that it is set to boot to A: first)
when you get to A: if you can not type anything then it will mean that you eather have a bad ps2 connection or a bad Bios chip .....I could be wrong but I cant think of any thing else that would cause this problem,(you said you changed the keyboard)

I was wondering if he would have the same problem in the bios. I just thought it would be unlikely that a bios problem or port problem would turn around and work in Windows. Still, as a precaution to eliminate possible causes, we could have him reset defaults or pull the Cmos jumper.....
The only other thing is a memory resident (boot sector) virus. Does anyone know if you can use SFC successfully to extract dos files? I know it will do it, but will they go into the right part of the drive so they work? And if the boot disk was write protected the whole time how did this happen?

m: poo21
 Date: Wednesday, May 10 2000 - 05:20PM EDT  
hello
right i have got autoexec.bat back to normal

I have to type fast as the HD spins down and won't come back and I have to restart all the time. So is there statement we could add to the boot disk that would fisk /mbr then Sys c:\ without requiring any typing? If a virus is resident, any thing he adds may just corrupt the boot disk.
 

just to prove that its not anything conserning the harddrive,,,,,,disconnect the harddrive and then boot with floppy and at A: see if you can type.......

i think basically it comes down to something with the hd
so when i get time i will take it to me dads and format it on his machine.
my first question about the dosstart prob was answered by jjcontact
so can i accept that as the answer?
thanks
pete.

poo21,

We never give up! I even keep old none functioning equipment around to see if it will come back to life. Actually, I did get a cdrom back once 6 months after I gave up and got a new one.

See if you can get the mouse to work in Dos with the instructions you will find here:

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdir.htm#mouse

For now not the Boot disk, but load dos drivers in Autoexec.bat and download the mouse.exe file.

ok
also
i took my ms boot disk to my dads pc today
and it worked perfectly. no config.sys
errors.
so theres nothing wrong with my boot disk.
i will try that mouse thing now

If you get the mouse to work, try going into the bios and change the boot drive to A. If you can type when you boot up with the boot disk in A, I assume the settings in the bios are Ok. If not, see it the PS2 port or the keyboard is disabled (if you have a bios that is that detailed).

I was hoping you could get a Fat32ebd disk because I am curious if it would work in this case. Fisking is the only sure way to get rid of a boot sector virus, but I suppose it is worthwhile to try Fdisk /mbr first.

: jjcontact
I hate to but in because you are working real hard on this problem, but stop and think about my above comment...when you boot with a floppy /boot disk the harddrive has nuthing to do with the ablity to type at the A:prompt,,,,,like I said you can take the harddrive out of the comp and boot with a boot disk and you should be able to type........and poo21 cant do this ,,,,,now why he/she can type in windows is a mystery,but not being able to type at the A:prompt tells me its not the harddrive,,,,and inturn couldn't possibley be a virus,corupted file or anything concerning the HD...a very easy way to prove this would be to simply unplug the HD and boot with a boot disk and see if you can type and if so ,I'll be wrong and you can go on with the troubleshooting,but if poo21 still cant type then you can go from there
P.S I'm not trying to steel any points here ,jjcontact deserves every one of them,I'm just trying to help.....James

also poo21 ...you can accept any one of jjcontacts comments as the answer to this question any time you want and still respond and comment

Thanks James,

I was thinking if he was trying to bypass the hard drive, which he thinks is the problem, he could boot to A:\ and then prove to himself if the harddrive is the problem without cracking the case and removing it physically. See, I am not a hardware person. At all. So I don't know about the port working in Windows and not working in DOS; you know, if that is possible. If the boot disk works on another computer, it would seem a hardware problem and I am not going to be able to help at that point. Which is why I asked you guys for help. :)

Joy

1 comment only so I don't clutter up your work jj,

trekie1s suggestion is brilliant.

It would be a simple matter of un pluging the power cord from the back of the HDD.
Ot the data cable.  Either one would take it out of the picture for James test.

Regards, Bud
http://www.geocities.com/budallen98_98/ 
Bud's Win95 Win98 Tips and Troubleshooter

Hi poo21,

If you don't mind try to reinstall your Windows with this method :

1. Backup your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS
2. ATTRIB -r-s-h C:\SYSTEM.1ST
3. Delete only file C:\SYSTEM.1ST
4. Reinstall your Windows
5. Restore your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS
6. Reboot your PC.

Good luck.

johnsavior
is this the only fix you know for a comp????I've seen at least half a dozen questions youve answered with this....besides youve been here plenty long to know better than locking a question with an answer that may or mayNOT work

johnsavior,

Mat 21 was the last responce from poo21.

you've locked up a lot of work between jj and trekie1 and poo21.

change your answer to a comment and let poo21 decide what to do.

That's a very poor answer anyway.

Regards, Bud
http://www.geocities.com/budallen98_98/ 
Bud's Win95 Win98 Tips and Troubleshooter

Plain stupid as it only fixes Windows problems and this is a DOS deal.

right i will try that disconnect
my hd
and boot to floppy .
thanks

I agree with Smeebud's pertinent remarks ... and think anytime you can accomplish your goal with minimal effort as stated is truly brilliant.

Best wishes,

Asta

I while has gone by and I was wondering if the mouse worked in DOS or the fat32ebd or the keyboard with the Hard drive detached?  Any luck?

unfortuneatly i havent been able to disconnect my hd yet
but
I am off work for a week
so i will have a play on my pc this week
fingers crossed.

While you are in there, you might try to pull the CMOS jumper to reset it (should just return you to defaults if you haven't added any hardware since getting the machine like a network card). Your case is really interesting. I am hoping we get to a resolution so I can see how this plays out. Anyone at the Microsoft newsgroup help at all?

Hi James, et al.  Just a comment (no points wanted on this) ....

The spin down/spin up of the HD is a major problem that should be an immediate priority to backup all critical data, mail, etc.  I've lost a few and these symptoms scream for attention NOW or sooner!

I know, I know.......(weep). :(

im in the process of backing up everything.
hopefully in the next few days i will open up the pc.
im highly likely to format my hd on my dads pc this week
if that doesnt clear this problem im going to cry.
cheers
pete.

Good luck. Looks like I'm going to be in the same boat. But I am staying backed up! Previous experience.

Joy,
Just about 5 weeks ago, I lost a 'diamond-studded' SCSI Micropolis HD (one of my favorite HDs), which cost a mint as you may know.  We had a power failure that damaged the drive (despite power strip protectors), the symptoms were varying speeds, much like yours (spinup/spindown, etc).  I repaired it with a SCSI utility after salvaging my artwork and music; it was fine for an additional couple of months (used it then only for my swapfile during test state), but has since completely died.

Pete,

As you backup your critical data files, etc.  don't forget what we often overlook, favorites, bookmarks, mail, address books and the like.  It's tough to kick or hug a computer, but sometimes I'm tempted to do both at once when in troubleshooting mode.  Keep your chin up, and please keep us posted.


Asta

i think im going to swear!
:)
right I have booted to the floppy with the hd taken out, and i got the same
error on line 42 of configs.sys
so i cleared the cmos.
same error again.
so i dissconnected my cd drives
still the same error
so looking at that.
it doesnt look like my hd & i know it isnt my floppy disk(that worked fine in my dads pc).
So is it my bios chip is knackered?
i cant see what else holds information
thanks
pete.

I think I would want to swear!

Even with the error, can  you type?

Any hope of getting a FAT32 ebd disk?

I may be out to lunch here, but I have looked back and I don't see that you posted your config.sys, only the Autoexec.bat. Could you post that?

Post the config.sys that's on your boot disk,.....OK.

And do you get to an A:\>

Regards, Bud
http://www.geocities.com/budallen98_98/ 
Bud's Win95 Win98 Tips and Troubleshooter

poo21,,,,I know you have prob made half a dozen boot disk durning this thread but make a basic boot disk,,,,go to my computer and right click on A drive with a floppy installed and select format and then select copy system files.....this will make a basic boot disk and bootup with this without the harddrive installed and see if you can type......James

I know you said your boot disk works fine in your dads but humor me and make this disk and try it.....a basic boot disk wont have a config.sys file so you wont get those same errors

But I am worried that if he has a boot sector virus that the new boot disk will have it too! Don't use it on anyone's elses machine to be safe.

i still cant type.
theres nothing in my hd config.sys
but the floppy disk config.sys is

[menu]
menuitem=SETUP_CD, Start Windows 98 Setup from CD-ROM.
menuitem=CD, Start computer with CD-ROM support.
menuitem=NOCD, Start computer without CD-ROM support.
menudefault=SETUP_CD,30
menucolor=7,0

[SETUP_CD]
device=himem.sys /testmem:off
device=oakcdrom.sys /D:oemcd001
device=btdosm.sys
device=flashpt.sys
device=btcdrom.sys /D:oemcd001
device=aspi2dos.sys
device=aspi8dos.sys
device=aspi4dos.sys
device=aspi8u2.sys
device=aspicd.sys /D:oemcd001

[CD]
device=himem.sys /testmem:off
device=oakcdrom.sys /D:oemcd001
device=btdosm.sys
device=flashpt.sys
device=btcdrom.sys /D:oemcd001
device=aspi2dos.sys
device=aspi8dos.sys
device=aspi4dos.sys
device=aspi8u2.sys
device=aspicd.sys /D:oemcd001

[NOCD]
device=himem.sys /testmem:off

[COMMON]
files=60
buffers=20
dos=high,umb
stacks=9,256
lastdrive=z


it does go to the a:\ but cant type
ill go try that basic boot disk
ta

ive just noticed something else
in my hd
i have msdos.sys
and an io.sys
but i also have an iou.sys
am i supposed to have one of them?
ta

I've never heard of iou.sys.
But that shouldn't effect your inability to type with the HD disconnected. I think you should try and move the iou.sys because it isn't coming up under any of the site I have checked that list standard files.

The error on line 42 is odd because there is no line 42 unless it is hidden. I recall seeing how to do that someplace.......

If you contact your computer manufacturer, could you get a new Boot disk? I know Compaq sends them out for free. Just a thought.

ok i will move that iou.sys
erm my computer manufacturer
didnt give me a boot disk
i only got the win98 one
but also my manufacturer went bust
so i cant get anything from them:(
regards

It looks like a standard boot disk config.sys, except it doesn't have a ramdrive line.

Of course, neither does a FAT32 disk. You know I did read something about NonEnglish versions of Windows having to have a keyboard driver on the boot disk (not that I could find that article now if I had to). We are doing standard USA Windows98 right?

If UK win98 is standard USA then yes it is as far as I know :)

Have you ever tested this startup disk and had it work? I am emailing  an internet buddy in the UK about this. Windows 98 or Windows98 SE?

yeah i have used the startup disk loads
worked fine
its windows 98
thanks

So this startup disk stopped working at the same time you had the problem with MSDOS and the keyboard? Still no answer from my buddy. Sorry. But if it used to work and it was never unwrite protected, that wasn't it. I know you have to for German - I just didn't know how many countries had that setup. Have you tried the suggestion trekie1 made and get a new disk? Also, what happened with the IOU.sys? Can you use your Dad's machine to make a FAT32ebd disk?

All my posts are gone. I did hear from him regarding the keyboard and a statement in Autoexec bat - "keyb uk,,c:\windows\COMMAND\keyboard.sys".

hi
I have moved the iou.sys but nothign changed.
I have entered the keyboard sys line
and have the files but no change.
:(
what worries me is if i go to my dads and fdisk and format my hd that when i put it back in my machine i wont be able to install windows as I will have the same error.

The only answer is to get someone to make a new boot disk for you, then write protect it and test it on your machine. The FAT32ebd would additionally fisk the master boot record if you have a boot sector virus that is causing this. This would also answer the question of if your CDRom will be recognized by a standard startup disk, or if you would need to add commands to make it work. Does your Dad have a Windows 98 disk or just a manufacturers setup disk?

About the crazy error on the nonexistent line 42. You could try and make a new autoexec.bat and config.sys. I'd copy those statements and retype them in notepad and save as Autoexec.bat and config.sys respectively. Then unwrite protect your disk and delete the old files and replace them with the new ones. That would take care of hidden statements if any.

hi
i will try that fat3ebd thingy
i have tried making new config and autoexec.
and also recently i put in my mates hd
which works fine on his
but again couldnt go to does exactly the same things occured.
thanks
pete.

Have you looked in the Bios to see if the keyboard is enabled? I don't think there is any point of the Fat32ebd if your friends HD didn't work.

poo21,,,,I think you should accept anyone of jjcontact's comments as the answer to this question because of her work narrowing down the problem,,,obviously now the motherboard...(got to admit I've never seen this before,,,,,work in windows,but not in dos)but what else does that leave?????you changed the HD and keyboard,,,,,theres nuthing left,,,,,Bud are you still with us????what do you think,,,,,,

okie dokie
thanks jj
im saving up for a ka7-100 as we speak
:)
seeya

Comment accepted as answer

Thanks, but still run over to hardware and keep me up!