Peirre
asked on
Missing Files or Device Files for win98.
Hello Everyone!
My name is Pierre, and the problem I am having today is similier to others that I have seen here earlier,except that the files or device files my desktop reads that I are missing are different than the ones I saw. When I go to load win98 I get a screen that reads " cannot find a device file that may be needed to run windows or a windows application. The windows registry or SYSTEM.INI file refers to this device file, but the device no longer exists" I am sure you are all familiar with this ?. These are some of the files that show up as missing. " \vmouse.VXD, \vfbackup.VXD, \vcom.VXD, \vfat.VXD, \vcache.VXD, \vcond.VXD, \vxdldr.VXD, \reboot.VXD, \dynapage.VXD and so on. After all the files are exhibited it reads "windows protection error- restart your computer". Nomatter what I try this is as far as I get, I cannot get to the start ,run, control panel nothing. Can someone please help me! I appreciate everyones time and help. There are alot of other files that are missing that I did not list above in order to cut it short but if you need that info I would be more than happy to send them in.
Thanx Everyone.
My name is Pierre, and the problem I am having today is similier to others that I have seen here earlier,except that the files or device files my desktop reads that I are missing are different than the ones I saw. When I go to load win98 I get a screen that reads " cannot find a device file that may be needed to run windows or a windows application. The windows registry or SYSTEM.INI file refers to this device file, but the device no longer exists" I am sure you are all familiar with this ?. These are some of the files that show up as missing. " \vmouse.VXD, \vfbackup.VXD, \vcom.VXD, \vfat.VXD, \vcache.VXD, \vcond.VXD, \vxdldr.VXD, \reboot.VXD, \dynapage.VXD and so on. After all the files are exhibited it reads "windows protection error- restart your computer". Nomatter what I try this is as far as I get, I cannot get to the start ,run, control panel nothing. Can someone please help me! I appreciate everyones time and help. There are alot of other files that are missing that I did not list above in order to cut it short but if you need that info I would be more than happy to send them in.
Thanx Everyone.
dbrunton
First check is for memory problems. Download a memory tester from www.memtest86.org and run that. The floppy disk version is adequate.
Pierre,
Tap F8 at startup and select Command Prompt.
At the C:\ prompt type:
SCANREG /RESTORE (space between G and /)
Press Enter, select a date just BEFORE the problem started and reboot when finished.
See if this helps.
Zee
Tap F8 at startup and select Command Prompt.
At the C:\ prompt type:
SCANREG /RESTORE (space between G and /)
Press Enter, select a date just BEFORE the problem started and reboot when finished.
See if this helps.
Zee
Hello Pierre. That is good advice from dbrunton, because memory problems can cause a lot of strange behaviour.
The problem is that the link seems to be dead for some reason, even though it is a well known site.
Try the dot com page instead, maybe the other is down for maintenance.
http://www.memtest86.com/
To make your boot floppy you need to download the following zip file to a working computer:
http://www.memtest86.com/memt32.zip
Insert a blank formatted floppy disk and then Unzip "memt32.zip" it to its own folder with WinZip or other similar program.
Double-click on the file "install.bat" and it will ask you to enter the "target diskette " drive letter. Type the letter A and press <Enter>
Just press <Enter> when you see the next line:
"Please insert a formatted diskette into drive A: and press -ENTER- :" and it will then show a success message:
Done!
To run Memtest86, leave the floppy in the drive and reboot.
Just ignore that and take the floppy out. Put it in your problem computer and start it up. It will boot automatically to a blue screen and start running the memory tests. It will take a long time to complete the 9 tests, but you will see details of any errors. To see an error summary at any time, just press "c" and then "4".
You can power off at any time without going through any special shut-down procedure.
Don't be surprised not to see any files on your memtest floppy, but some space taken up, because it's not like a standard DOS Boot Floppy.
*.VXD files are "Virtual Device Drivers" and are a bit like driver files you would install for physical hardware devices like a sound card, but are used for some software functions that it refers to as "virtual devices". When you install Windows, it creates one large file named VMM32.VXD into which it packs a whole load of other *.vxd files that are called when needed. Some installations add their own *.vxd files to, or update the ones already inside, vmm32. If you search for a *.vxd file, you often won't find it in a folder anywhere on your system because it is packed into that vmm32.vxd file, and this file can sometimes become corrupt.
There is a way of trying to fix a problem of a corrupt VMM32.VXD file, but it involves extracting new copies of the affected *.vxd files from your Windows 98 CD, dropping them into a special folder C:\Windows\System\VMM32, and then rebooting the computer. Usually that finds the files there and packs them into VMM32.VXD.
The methods are explained here:
http://www.easydesksoftware.com/news/news10.htm
A good way to get a list of the *.vxd files that are packed into that single VMM32.VXD file is as follows, and perhaps you could do this and post the contents of the text file it creates:
1. Press the F8 key repeatedly as windows starts booting, and it should show a Boot Menu
2. Arrow down to "Command Prompt" in the Menu and press <Enter>
3. It will quickly stop at the C:\> Prompt
4.Type the following command and press <Enter> to get to the C:\WINDOWS> Prompt
cd windows
regedit /e %TEMP%\vmmlist.txt HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\
5. Insert a blank floppy disk and type the following command:
regedit /e a:\vmmlist.txt HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\
That's all one single line, so just keep typing it exactly as it is, even if it continues onto a new line in the DOS Window. There are 3 spaces that you have to make sure you add in that command, so I've shown these below as <sp> where they have to go:
regedit <sp> /e <sp> a:\vmmlist.txt <sp> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\
6. It won't take long, and will return to the C:\WINDOWS> Prompt.
7. Remove the floppy and power off the computer.
8. Take the floppy disk to a working computer, open the file "vmmlist.txt" in Notepad, then copy the details to paste the list here.
Yours may well be different, but here's the list of VXD files inside MY VMM32.VXD file. You will see that I have pointed to the files that you have named, so it tends to indicate that you have a corrupt VMM32.VXD file.
"vdd.vxd"=hex:00
"vflatd.vxd"=hex:00
"vshare.vxd"=hex:00
"vwin32.vxd"=hex:00
"vfbackup.vxd"=hex:00 <---------
"vcomm.vxd"=hex:00 <------------
"combuff.vxd"=hex:00
"vcd.vxd"=hex:00
"vpd.vxd"=hex:00
"spooler.vxd"=hex:00
"udf.vxd"=hex:00
"vfat.vxd"=hex:00 <-------------
"vcache.vxd"=hex:00 <-----------
"vcond.vxd"=hex:00 <------------
"vcdfsd.vxd"=hex:00
"int13.vxd"=hex:00
"vxdldr.vxd"=hex:00 <-----------
"vdef.vxd"=hex:00
"dynapage.vxd"=hex:00 <---------
"configmg.vxd"=hex:00
"ntkern.vxd"=hex:00
"ebios.vxd"=hex:00
"vmd.vxd"=hex:00
"dosnet.vxd"=hex:00
"vpicd.vxd"=hex:00
"vtd.vxd"=hex:00
"reboot.vxd"=hex:00 <------------
"vdmad.vxd"=hex:00
"vsd.vxd"=hex:00
"v86mmgr.vxd"=hex:00
"pageswap.vxd"=hex:00
"dosmgr.vxd"=hex:00
"vmpoll.vxd"=hex:00
"shell.vxd"=hex:00
"parity.vxd"=hex:00
"biosxlat.vxd"=hex:00
"vmcpd.vxd"=hex:00
"vtdapi.vxd"=hex:00
"perf.vxd"=hex:00
"vkd.vxd"=hex:00
"vmouse.vxd"=hex:00 <-------------
"mtrr.vxd"=hex:00
"enable.vxd"=hex:00
Tell us what happens with the memory test first.
Also run Scandisk and see if it reports any disk errors.
We can take things from there.
The problem is that the link seems to be dead for some reason, even though it is a well known site.
Try the dot com page instead, maybe the other is down for maintenance.
http://www.memtest86.com/
To make your boot floppy you need to download the following zip file to a working computer:
http://www.memtest86.com/memt32.zip
Insert a blank formatted floppy disk and then Unzip "memt32.zip" it to its own folder with WinZip or other similar program.
Double-click on the file "install.bat" and it will ask you to enter the "target diskette " drive letter. Type the letter A and press <Enter>
Just press <Enter> when you see the next line:
"Please insert a formatted diskette into drive A: and press -ENTER- :" and it will then show a success message:
Done!
To run Memtest86, leave the floppy in the drive and reboot.
Just ignore that and take the floppy out. Put it in your problem computer and start it up. It will boot automatically to a blue screen and start running the memory tests. It will take a long time to complete the 9 tests, but you will see details of any errors. To see an error summary at any time, just press "c" and then "4".
You can power off at any time without going through any special shut-down procedure.
Don't be surprised not to see any files on your memtest floppy, but some space taken up, because it's not like a standard DOS Boot Floppy.
*.VXD files are "Virtual Device Drivers" and are a bit like driver files you would install for physical hardware devices like a sound card, but are used for some software functions that it refers to as "virtual devices". When you install Windows, it creates one large file named VMM32.VXD into which it packs a whole load of other *.vxd files that are called when needed. Some installations add their own *.vxd files to, or update the ones already inside, vmm32. If you search for a *.vxd file, you often won't find it in a folder anywhere on your system because it is packed into that vmm32.vxd file, and this file can sometimes become corrupt.
There is a way of trying to fix a problem of a corrupt VMM32.VXD file, but it involves extracting new copies of the affected *.vxd files from your Windows 98 CD, dropping them into a special folder C:\Windows\System\VMM32, and then rebooting the computer. Usually that finds the files there and packs them into VMM32.VXD.
The methods are explained here:
http://www.easydesksoftware.com/news/news10.htm
A good way to get a list of the *.vxd files that are packed into that single VMM32.VXD file is as follows, and perhaps you could do this and post the contents of the text file it creates:
1. Press the F8 key repeatedly as windows starts booting, and it should show a Boot Menu
2. Arrow down to "Command Prompt" in the Menu and press <Enter>
3. It will quickly stop at the C:\> Prompt
4.Type the following command and press <Enter> to get to the C:\WINDOWS> Prompt
cd windows
regedit /e %TEMP%\vmmlist.txt HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\
5. Insert a blank floppy disk and type the following command:
regedit /e a:\vmmlist.txt HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\
That's all one single line, so just keep typing it exactly as it is, even if it continues onto a new line in the DOS Window. There are 3 spaces that you have to make sure you add in that command, so I've shown these below as <sp> where they have to go:
regedit <sp> /e <sp> a:\vmmlist.txt <sp> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\
6. It won't take long, and will return to the C:\WINDOWS> Prompt.
7. Remove the floppy and power off the computer.
8. Take the floppy disk to a working computer, open the file "vmmlist.txt" in Notepad, then copy the details to paste the list here.
Yours may well be different, but here's the list of VXD files inside MY VMM32.VXD file. You will see that I have pointed to the files that you have named, so it tends to indicate that you have a corrupt VMM32.VXD file.
"vdd.vxd"=hex:00
"vflatd.vxd"=hex:00
"vshare.vxd"=hex:00
"vwin32.vxd"=hex:00
"vfbackup.vxd"=hex:00 <---------
"vcomm.vxd"=hex:00 <------------
"combuff.vxd"=hex:00
"vcd.vxd"=hex:00
"vpd.vxd"=hex:00
"spooler.vxd"=hex:00
"udf.vxd"=hex:00
"vfat.vxd"=hex:00 <-------------
"vcache.vxd"=hex:00 <-----------
"vcond.vxd"=hex:00 <------------
"vcdfsd.vxd"=hex:00
"int13.vxd"=hex:00
"vxdldr.vxd"=hex:00 <-----------
"vdef.vxd"=hex:00
"dynapage.vxd"=hex:00 <---------
"configmg.vxd"=hex:00
"ntkern.vxd"=hex:00
"ebios.vxd"=hex:00
"vmd.vxd"=hex:00
"dosnet.vxd"=hex:00
"vpicd.vxd"=hex:00
"vtd.vxd"=hex:00
"reboot.vxd"=hex:00 <------------
"vdmad.vxd"=hex:00
"vsd.vxd"=hex:00
"v86mmgr.vxd"=hex:00
"pageswap.vxd"=hex:00
"dosmgr.vxd"=hex:00
"vmpoll.vxd"=hex:00
"shell.vxd"=hex:00
"parity.vxd"=hex:00
"biosxlat.vxd"=hex:00
"vmcpd.vxd"=hex:00
"vtdapi.vxd"=hex:00
"perf.vxd"=hex:00
"vkd.vxd"=hex:00
"vmouse.vxd"=hex:00 <-------------
"mtrr.vxd"=hex:00
"enable.vxd"=hex:00
Tell us what happens with the memory test first.
Also run Scandisk and see if it reports any disk errors.
We can take things from there.
Another good page for reference IF needed later:
http://www.helpwithwindows.com/techfiles/vmm32.html
One issue with UMAX Scanner Software causing problems:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=191874
http://www.helpwithwindows.com/techfiles/vmm32.html
One issue with UMAX Scanner Software causing problems:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=191874
if you can boot to safe mode (hit F8 key during boot) - then run sfc from the run box.
ASKER
Hello again. Pierre here. Here are the files that were inside my VMM32.VXD FILE
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM
"vdd.vxd"=hex:00
"vflatd.vxd"=hex:00
"vshare.vxd"=hex:00
"vwin32.vxd"=hex:00
"vfbackup.vxd"=hex:00
"vcomm.vxd"=hex:00
"combuff.vxd"=hex:00
"vcd.vxd"=hex:00
"vpd.vxd"=hex:00
"spooler.vxd"=hex:00
"udf.vxd"=hex:00
"vfat.vxd"=hex:00
"vcache.vxd"=hex:00
"vcond.vxd"=hex:00
"vcdfsd.vxd"=hex:00
"int13.vxd"=hex:00
"vxdldr.vxd"=hex:00
"vdef.vxd"=hex:00
"dynapage.vxd"=hex:00
"configmg.vxd"=hex:00
"ntkern.vxd"=hex:00
"ebios.vxd"=hex:00
"vmd.vxd"=hex:00
"dosnet.vxd"=hex:00
"vpicd.vxd"=hex:00
"vtd.vxd"=hex:00
"reboot.vxd"=hex:00
"vdmad.vxd"=hex:00
"vsd.vxd"=hex:00
"v86mmgr.vxd"=hex:00
"pageswap.vxd"=hex:00
"dosmgr.vxd"=hex:00
"vmpoll.vxd"=hex:00
"shell.vxd"=hex:00
"parity.vxd"=hex:00
"biosxlat.vxd"=hex:00
"vmcpd.vxd"=hex:00
"vtdapi.vxd"=hex:00
"perf.vxd"=hex:00
"vkd.vxd"=hex:00
"vmouse.vxd"=hex:00
"mtrr.vxd"=hex:00
"enable.vxd"=hex:00
As for the memory test; I could not come up with anything. I feel I was doing it right, yet I was not seeing the blue screen as mentioned by BillDL nor did I get it to boot up automatically. still stuck
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM
"vdd.vxd"=hex:00
"vflatd.vxd"=hex:00
"vshare.vxd"=hex:00
"vwin32.vxd"=hex:00
"vfbackup.vxd"=hex:00
"vcomm.vxd"=hex:00
"combuff.vxd"=hex:00
"vcd.vxd"=hex:00
"vpd.vxd"=hex:00
"spooler.vxd"=hex:00
"udf.vxd"=hex:00
"vfat.vxd"=hex:00
"vcache.vxd"=hex:00
"vcond.vxd"=hex:00
"vcdfsd.vxd"=hex:00
"int13.vxd"=hex:00
"vxdldr.vxd"=hex:00
"vdef.vxd"=hex:00
"dynapage.vxd"=hex:00
"configmg.vxd"=hex:00
"ntkern.vxd"=hex:00
"ebios.vxd"=hex:00
"vmd.vxd"=hex:00
"dosnet.vxd"=hex:00
"vpicd.vxd"=hex:00
"vtd.vxd"=hex:00
"reboot.vxd"=hex:00
"vdmad.vxd"=hex:00
"vsd.vxd"=hex:00
"v86mmgr.vxd"=hex:00
"pageswap.vxd"=hex:00
"dosmgr.vxd"=hex:00
"vmpoll.vxd"=hex:00
"shell.vxd"=hex:00
"parity.vxd"=hex:00
"biosxlat.vxd"=hex:00
"vmcpd.vxd"=hex:00
"vtdapi.vxd"=hex:00
"perf.vxd"=hex:00
"vkd.vxd"=hex:00
"vmouse.vxd"=hex:00
"mtrr.vxd"=hex:00
"enable.vxd"=hex:00
As for the memory test; I could not come up with anything. I feel I was doing it right, yet I was not seeing the blue screen as mentioned by BillDL nor did I get it to boot up automatically. still stuck
Pierre,
Could you, please, try the registry restore I posted?
Thanks,
Zee
ASKER
Thanks for that info Blue zee, I attempted it about 3 times but the outcome was the same.
Pierre
Pierre
to replace the files, you can run sfc from the run box, and pick the files from the win98cd
ASKER
Hello nobus,
How exactly would I pick those missing files from the win98 cd?
How exactly would I pick those missing files from the win98 cd?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Pierre, when you run SFC it launches the System File Checker.
The process is explained with screenshots here:
http://www.helpwithwindows.com/windows98/start-142.html
Your problem will be that the CD-Rom Drive will probably not be accessible from Safe Mode.
The batch file that I posted will specifically extract all the VXD files that were revealed to have been in your VMM32.VXD file. It uses the DOS EXTRACT.EXE command as laid out in the batch file:
extract /a /y CD:\win98\BASE4.CAB filename.vxd /L C:\Windows\System\VMM32
The /a tells it to search ALL CAB files in the "win98" folder of the CD for "filename.vxd" starting from BASE4.CAB and working its way through all the CAB files, and the /L tells it to extract that file to the destination folder specified after that. The /y option tells it to overwrite any file of the same name in the destination folder without asking.
The process is explained with screenshots here:
http://www.helpwithwindows.com/windows98/start-142.html
Your problem will be that the CD-Rom Drive will probably not be accessible from Safe Mode.
The batch file that I posted will specifically extract all the VXD files that were revealed to have been in your VMM32.VXD file. It uses the DOS EXTRACT.EXE command as laid out in the batch file:
extract /a /y CD:\win98\BASE4.CAB filename.vxd /L C:\Windows\System\VMM32
The /a tells it to search ALL CAB files in the "win98" folder of the CD for "filename.vxd" starting from BASE4.CAB and working its way through all the CAB files, and the /L tells it to extract that file to the destination folder specified after that. The /y option tells it to overwrite any file of the same name in the destination folder without asking.
if possible, try to boot in safe mode with cd rom support; otherwise, boot from a win98 bootdisk with cd rom support, and copy the windows cd to a folder on your disk.
when you run sfc, and it finds a missing file, it will ask you to replace it , and give as standard option from cd, but you can point it to another location too.
when you run sfc, and it finds a missing file, it will ask you to replace it , and give as standard option from cd, but you can point it to another location too.
Thank you, Pierre.
Did you manage to get the system functional again?
Did you manage to get the system functional again?