booting problems on windows 98

[Stern]

A friend has asked me to look at his computer because it won't boot anymore. He says it would be OK to reformat but he would prefer if I could save the files. When the computer boots up, it gets past post, then the windows 98 loading screen comes up, then the options for selecting what you want to do because windows wasn't shutdown properly the last time

-normal
-safe mode
-etc

when i choose safe mode, i get a brief loading screen, and then a black screen that says:

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 file no longer exists

If you deleted this file on purpose try uninstalling the associated
application sing its uninstall or setup program.

If you still want to use the application associated with this device file,
try reinstalling the application to replace the missing file.

C:WINDOWS\system\VMM32\ifsmgr.VXD
Press a key to continue."


The files this screen lists here start off with "C:WINDOWS\systemzVMM32\ifsmgr.VXD"
and continue once a key is pressed with:
"C:WINDOWS\system\VMM32\ios.VXD"
"C:WINDOWS\system\VMM32\IFSMGR.VXD"
"C:WINDOWS\system\VMM32\IOS.VXD"

Sometimes there are more

What happens eventually is that you get a screen that says:

"Not enough memory to initialise Windows
Please end programs in memory, or remove service programs from CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT and restart your computer.

Press a key to continue..."

*NOTE* that last bit is translated from german because this is a german copy of windows. The first bit i was able to translate properly because its happened before on another computer and i was able to copy it directly from that. Here is what is says in german:

Zu wenig Speicher zum Initialisieren von Windows.

Beenden sie speicherresidente Porgramme, oder entfernen Sie Dienstprogramme aus CONFIG.SYS und AUTOEXEC.BAT und starten Sie neu.

Weiter mit beliebiger taste..."

Now, my problem is. How do I fix this? The Windows 98 CD he has given me doesn't seem to want to boot, and I don't have any german copies lying around, so even if I did just want to format it and reinstall windows, how do I do it?

 

[Stern]

some more files that are listed missing:

vnetsup.vxd
JAVASUP.VXD
C:WINDOWS\system\vrtwd.386
C:WINDOWS\system\vfixd.vxd
vnetbios.vxd
Intelsdb.vxd
vredir.vxd
dfs.vxd
LMOUSE.vxd

 

[Stern]

Now I have discovered that I can't even run Windows98 Setup from the disc because there are errors on the harddrive so it refuses to install...

*sob* I really don't know what to do

 

[IamElectro]

Put the drive in another box as a slave recover the needed data then format and reload.

 

[Slikkster]

Why not use a bootdisk and run some diagnostics on the hard drive itself. Sounds like the drive might be the root of the problem here, not Win98.

You can download boot diskettes (files that expand and create boot disk diskettes) at www.bootdisk.com

Or, maybe a better solution would be to burn this FREE CD called "Ultimate Boot CD" that has all kinds of diagnostic programs on it:

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

 

[blemoine]

i would say attach it as a slave and run chkdisk or scandisk. see if you can fix any errors then try to run setup over the existing installation (system repair). if none of this fixes your problem back it up replace the hard drive and install from scratch.

 

[DuDeImn00b]

yea I would say steal Microsoft XP

 

[Stern]

ok maybe the other computer is faulty but i put it in as slave into one of my old computers and it just wouldn't boot at all, probalby some weird issues with that old comp though. I ran a scandisk from a bootdisk and it showed up and error, surface scan was fine though. I will try again to get files through putting it as a slave somewhere, if I manage it i will just fdisk the thing.

Problem is even if I get the files off and then fdisk it, I still won't be able to install a german copy of win98 because the german cd i have for it is not bootable

 

[Fern]

"Legit" copies of win98se CD aren't bootable. You gotta have the startup disk in there.

While it's in the working rig you might try to use the German disk and re-install over top of existing install (repair install).

 

[Stern]

i can't, it won't allow me to install. I boot the computer with cd support. i use "setup.exe", it does a scandisk, tells me there are errors, and goes back to the dos screen