msconfig.exe for the command prompt?

[elzmaddy]

I'm troubleshooting a Windows 98 system for a friend. It won't even boot into safe mode. I have a strong feeling McAffee Antivirus is the culprit. I installed it yestday and it gave me problems with the new TV tuner & software. Since I can't get into the GUI, is there like a command prompt version of msconfig.exe? Or is it possible to edit the registry manually with a text editor ? Suggestions appreciated, thanks!

 

[gdtaylor]

How far through the boot process does it get? Does the Windows GUI load but freeze partway through or does it stop before the GUI loads?

You CAN edit the registry from the command line using REGEDIT but it is not easy. Type REGEDIT /? for a list of the available commands. My personal preference is to create a registry file (.reg) and import that into the registry.

Have you tried stepping through the startup process?

 

[elzmaddy]

I did a full virus scan. I also tried deleting the folders of McAfee and the TV Tuner software, and I deleted the tuner's drivers as well from \windows\system32\drivers.

I think something is wrong with the video settings. I am using my own monitor now rather than my friends. But I cannot get into safe mode. The computer does not get into the graphical screen, rather, it locks up after HIMEM tests extended memory. Normal mode gets me to a completely blank screen (no cursor). However, I can tell that I am in Windows because when the disk activity stops, I press ESC and suddenly the disk activity starts again heavily, meaning that I probably just bypassed the Windows Login prompt and now applications and desktop is loading. Also, Step-by-step mode loads the components properly.

Very strange for safe mode not to work. I believe this will probably need at least a reinstall over C:\Windows. The user profiles should be maintained this way.