msbeth
asked on
WIN98SE Cant start windows missing .DLL File
Hi...I installed a firmware update for my wireless pc card...and then it told me to restart...when I did the windows log in screen pops up (where i normally sign in) along with a message box saying "MSVCRT.DLL is linked to missing export file NTDLL.DLL: RtlGenNtVersionnumber" so then I hit OK then a white ominous box pops up saying EXPLORER.EXE missing MUST REINSTALL WINDOWS.......I can't even get into windows to check anything...I tried booting but I can't get "in" my C drive...any suggestions? Thanks for any info...I'm going looney..
Dirty Install of W98 (WinME)
You might have to install W98 over itself to fix it. Do Not FORMAT, Do NOT FDISK. Run the setup program from the CD or WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS or INSTALL folder. This should save all of your settings and programs. Also make sure you install to WINDOWS not WINDOWS001 ( or whatever ) when it asks where to install.
You might have to install W98 over itself to fix it. Do Not FORMAT, Do NOT FDISK. Run the setup program from the CD or WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS or INSTALL folder. This should save all of your settings and programs. Also make sure you install to WINDOWS not WINDOWS001 ( or whatever ) when it asks where to install.
ASKER
Same thing happens in Safe Mode: error box pops up and I can't get in....Question...When I'm starting up (Microsoft Windows Start-up) I choose 5-Command prompt only (is that black screen i arrive at MS-DOS?) because i get a C:/>prompt but I really didn't know what to do from there...I also had a BootFloppy in my A drive and i tried typing C:/> A:/ setup ? I've just ordered the real BootFloppyWin98 SETUP from the manufacture so in 2 days they arrive...I havent had any luck trying to make my own..
>>> I choose 5-Command prompt only <<< Yes, that is DOS.
for scanreg: At the C: prompt, type CD WINDOWS\COMMAND <enter>, then SCANREG /RESTORE
for SFC: At the C: prompt, type CD WINDOWS\SYSTEM <enter>, then SFC
>>> C:/> A:/ setup <<< Nope. To boot from the bootfloppy, you have to go into the BIOS (usually the Delete Key durning the memory count, but it should tell you what key to press) and make the floppy the First boot device. Then SAVE SETTINGS and EXIT. Make sure the floppydisk is in the drive
for scanreg: At the C: prompt, type CD WINDOWS\COMMAND <enter>, then SCANREG /RESTORE
for SFC: At the C: prompt, type CD WINDOWS\SYSTEM <enter>, then SFC
>>> C:/> A:/ setup <<< Nope. To boot from the bootfloppy, you have to go into the BIOS (usually the Delete Key durning the memory count, but it should tell you what key to press) and make the floppy the First boot device. Then SAVE SETTINGS and EXIT. Make sure the floppydisk is in the drive
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Bill:
I read your note. You are very detailed in your answer. Are you a professor, programmer or like me an engineer that is naturally is detailed?
Just curious.
gonzal13(Joe)
I read your note. You are very detailed in your answer. Are you a professor, programmer or like me an engineer that is naturally is detailed?
Just curious.
gonzal13(Joe)
Na, Bill just likes giving everybody else finger cramps. : )
He, he, good one, coral47 :-)
Joe, it's just that I remember when I first got an old Pentium MMX 166 MHz a number of years ago and had to ask a guy I knew for help when it booted to the DOS prompt. He was just starting out as an IT assistant doing backups and installations, etc, but found it hard to explain what he was doing in simple enough terms that I could follow. He fixed it OK and knew exactly what to do, but had been doing this type of thing for a number of years and had forgotten what it was like.
That stuck with me, and if you ever read CrazyOne's profile here, I ended up doing what he did, ie. taught myself. I just try to remember the times that others' explanations went right over my head, and we are all guilty of it from time-to-time.
Professor, Programmer, or Engineer? No - I was a Legal Investigator for about 15 years in many different capacities, and on both sides of the fence. I worked in an engineering environment for 5 years and assimilated a lot of technical engineering detail, but that wasn't my reason for being there....whooops, nearly gave the game away there ;-)
Damn, coral47, I've got finger cramps myself again.
Joe, it's just that I remember when I first got an old Pentium MMX 166 MHz a number of years ago and had to ask a guy I knew for help when it booted to the DOS prompt. He was just starting out as an IT assistant doing backups and installations, etc, but found it hard to explain what he was doing in simple enough terms that I could follow. He fixed it OK and knew exactly what to do, but had been doing this type of thing for a number of years and had forgotten what it was like.
That stuck with me, and if you ever read CrazyOne's profile here, I ended up doing what he did, ie. taught myself. I just try to remember the times that others' explanations went right over my head, and we are all guilty of it from time-to-time.
Professor, Programmer, or Engineer? No - I was a Legal Investigator for about 15 years in many different capacities, and on both sides of the fence. I worked in an engineering environment for 5 years and assimilated a lot of technical engineering detail, but that wasn't my reason for being there....whooops, nearly gave the game away there ;-)
Damn, coral47, I've got finger cramps myself again.
>>> Damn, coral47, I've got finger cramps myself again <<< So we buy each other a beer in the Lounge. Later. : )
Just found the Lounge. Left some messages under Parents and Children
gonzal13(Joe)
gonzal13(Joe)
ASKER
>>That's you, just leave it in the drive and power off by pressing and holding the power button on the front of the computer. You don't have to shut down from DOS in any fancy way.
Now power up, and when it prompts you, choose the option to "Boot with CD Rom Support".<< I got this far but when I power up again it doesn't ask me about the cd rom support....it says "Starting Windows 98.......it goes straight to the A:> prompt and when I type in SETUP....response is "bad or invalid command" then I tried typing the dir....and it said volume in drive e has no label...? Any ideas on how I get it to recognize my cd-rom? (I ordered a floppy w/Boot98 w cd-rom support on it) it'll be here tomorrow so I'm not totally at a loss but.....hey do you think my BIOS order of boot devices is the issue? 1.Removeable Device 2.Atapi CD-Rom 3.HD 4.Network Boot 5. Intel Boot Agent ...Thanks somuch by the way for all your detailed info, and help I REALLLY appreciate it...
Now power up, and when it prompts you, choose the option to "Boot with CD Rom Support".<< I got this far but when I power up again it doesn't ask me about the cd rom support....it says "Starting Windows 98.......it goes straight to the A:> prompt and when I type in SETUP....response is "bad or invalid command" then I tried typing the dir....and it said volume in drive e has no label...? Any ideas on how I get it to recognize my cd-rom? (I ordered a floppy w/Boot98 w cd-rom support on it) it'll be here tomorrow so I'm not totally at a loss but.....hey do you think my BIOS order of boot devices is the issue? 1.Removeable Device 2.Atapi CD-Rom 3.HD 4.Network Boot 5. Intel Boot Agent ...Thanks somuch by the way for all your detailed info, and help I REALLLY appreciate it...
Try making the CDROM the first boot device and the HD ( IDE0 )second. Disable everything else for now. It should boot to the CD disk.
If it does work, don't forget to take the CD out on the first reboot. : )
Yes, strange that it isn't seeing the boot floppy when you power up with it in the drive. The first boot device is certainly shown as "removable device" as you detailed above, although I wonder if there is a setting that specifies "floppy disk" rather than "removeable device".
Try coral47's suggestion first.
Try coral47's suggestion first.
ASKER
Hi ..thanks for your help ...sorry it took so long my computer crashed....
Thank you msbeth.
Boot from a bootfloppy and C: If you can see your HD, go to WINDOWS\SYSTEM and type SFC and then either scan for missing/corrupt files OR extract 1 file from CD
From bootfloppy run scanreg /restore and pick a date from before the problem.