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Locked out of Windows 98SE, but can get in safe mode, any ideas?

essential

essential

Senior member
CPU: PIII-500
RAM: 256 (2x128)

Yesterday, I had a normal lock and crash of Windows 98se, but this time, when I rebooted, I got the error:

"While initializing device IOS:
ERROR: Real mode system memory allocation failed"

I can get into safe mode, but everything I have done has not worked so far. What I have done includes:

1) Did some research, and found some answers on another forum, all the people there said they were able to do a step-by-step boot, choosing Yes for everything except "Viagart.vxd" and Windows would load normally. Then they ran some "Via4in1" chipset upgraded drivers and everything worked after that. I tried this and "Viagart.vxd" was not listed as a Yes/No option in the step-by-step boot. Another guy said he just deleted the "Viagart.vxd" entried from his reg and it worked. So in safe mode, I backed up my reg, then deleted the "Viagart.vxd" references, and still get the same error.

2) Tried reinstalling Windows. Each time it gets through the first step, then after restart, it goes to "Microsoft Registry Checker" and says found an error in the reg, and fixed it, then restarted, and I get the same error again.

3) http://support.microsoft.com/d...x?scid=kb;en-us;311108
Type cd\Windows\system, and then press ENTER.
Type ren iosubsys iosubold, and then press ENTER. And reinstall Win98.
I did this, same results as #2.

4) I tried installing those Via4in1 chipset drivers from safe mode, and it does not allow me.

I cannot think of any more information. If anyone has any ideas of what could have happened, or how to resolve it, I would be deeply appreciative.


Thanks,


Joe
 
Update:

Figured something out. In safe mode, if I remove my display adapter "maxtrox g400" windows will then boot normally. But when in Windows, if I install the maxtrox g400 again, it goes back to the same error message on boot, "Real mode system memory allocation failed". Any ideas?



Thanks.
 
it sounds like you have some major corruption in the registry or the registry has become too big for windows 98 and windows setup

I'd look in the SYSBCKUP folder which is hidden and in the Windows folder for the oldest RB cab file you can find.

which are your scanreg registry back ups

 
Update:

I just formatted. I'm back up and running. For some reason now though, when I hit "reply" to reply to a topic on the forums, nothing happens, heh. Guess i'll just always have to use this "quick reply" from now on. If it's not one thing it's another. Sign.
 
For future reference, I believe that the Win98 registry can be rebuilt from DOS. I have done it on a Win95 machine, and I think that it can be done with 98.
 
Originally posted by: essential
Update:

I just formatted. I'm back up and running. For some reason now though, when I hit "reply" to reply to a topic on the forums, nothing happens, heh. Guess i'll just always have to use this "quick reply" from now on. If it's not one thing it's another. Sign.
Click to expand...

Don't forget to download all updates available - I think Microsoft is still allowing the downloading of them, even though they aren't developing any additional ones for old OSes.
 
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