Help! Closing MS-DOS Prompt crashes Win98

[mboyaj]

Whenever I try to close the DOS prompt from Win98SE my system crashes with this error message:

An exception OE has occurred at 0028:c00025E6 in Vxd VMM (01) + 000015E6. This was called from 0028:C024831A in VxD Vmm (11) + 0000031A.

Any ideas on how to fix this without re-formatting

[BipolarBill]

Originally posted by mboyaj
Any ideas on how to fix this without re-formatting Nope - other than installing Windows over itself. You can do that you know.

[gjimene2]

try a dos emulator. that way you won't have to use the built in dos for win98

[mboyaj]

Originally posted by BipolarBill
Nope - other than installing Windows over itself. You can do that you know.

I have never installed windows over itself, I usually just reformat. How will this affect the programs I have installed and settings such as icons, etc. My programs are all on a separate partition.

[BipolarBill]

Setup will see your registry and use it as a template. Don't worry - just do it. ;)

[AllGamer]

I'll suggest Scanning for Viruses

DOS screen is the most stable thing in Win9x

and the only time i've seen exactely the same problem you were having is when it was infected by a virus

so, give that a try

run and updated NAV or McAfee, or AVG or anything you can get your hands on

:t

[mboyaj]

Norton AV did not detect any virus so I guess i will have to reinstall.

[mboyaj]

Any tips on reinstalling Win98SE, i have never done it before. Do I boot from the 98SE CD?

[BipolarBill]

Jeepers! Just put in the CD while in Windows and choose Install Windows. :p

[mboyaj]

Originally posted by BipolarBill
Jeepers! Just put in the CD while in Windows and choose Install Windows. :p

THe problem with this is that setup will crash once it runs winoldapp. Can windows be reinstalled in safe mode?

[Cluedo]

Ref winoldapp… would be a good indication that you are having a conflict with something else, e.g., device driver….installed any new programs lately?

Have you ran SFC yet? Checked VCM? (version conflict manager)

I’d at least give a clean boot startup a chance to tell you if you're having a solvable conflict.

Click here for clean boot troubleshooting (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;192926)

If you want to try installing over top and have space, copy the Win98 file from your setup disk to your hard drive. Then click on setup.exe. Easier that way. (But a reinstall will only overwrite some things, not all. If Windows thinks it’s ok…it will leave stuff alone….which still leaves the possibility of a third part conflict.)

[BipolarBill]

I would just create a startup floppy in Add/Remove Programs, reboot and install from DOS. Nothing will be lost.