Win95 only loading in msdos mode.

[MrEd]

Okay, a friends computer seems like windows95 is loading here, but its also starting in msdos prompt mode. Not normal Dos. Can't seem to get out of it and back to windows. I've had this happen to me once before, but it was so long ago, that I can't remember how I got out of it. All it is, is a blank screen with a C prompt. Typing win at the prompt says can't run in msdos mode. Any help would be extemely appreciated. CTRL>ALT>DEL reboots it back to dos mode. HELP

Thanks
-MrEd
/forum/smile.gif


[This message has been edited by MrEd (edited 08-24-99).]

[fishboy]

Did you try sys c: from a Win95 boot disk? Is the win.com file being loaded?

[ANTONIO E GUERRA]

Hi, Mr Ed! Would you please the config.sys and autoexec.bat? It may need to add files and buffers in the config.sys. Please, check also the win.ini file. Hope it helps.

[socalgal]

Hi MrEd - here's a couple things I found, I hope something on this thread works for you.

Any chance of an ERU backup on a floppy? If so,
To restore the backup information, start your computer at a command prompt and then run Erd.exe. If you do not want to restore all the files, press SPACEBAR to select or deselect files. Note that you cannot run Erd.exe within Windows 95. You must run this utility at a command prompt. If you saved your backup information to a network drive, you must be able to access the network drive at the MS-DOS level.

To start your computer at a command prompt, restart your computer, press the F8 key when you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, and then choose Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu. Then, change to the floppy drive or directory containing the backup information and run Erd.exe.

OR

To access Safe Mode when you can't get there otherwise, type at the C: prompt
win /d:m

OR

Do you have access to your CD-ROM drive??

This article describes how to gain access to your CD-ROM drive at an MS-DOS prompt so you can copy the Windows 95 Setup files from the CD-ROM drive to a hard disk and then reinstall Windows 95. You may need to do this if:

You are unable to start Windows 95 in normal mode.
You do not have access to real-mode CD-ROM drivers.
Your CD-ROM drive was functional using protected-mode drivers before you became unable to start Windows 95 in normal mode.

You want to reinstall Windows 95.

MORE INFORMATION
To gain access to your CD-ROM drive, copy the Windows 95 Setup files from this CD-ROM drive to a hard disk, and then reinstall Windows 95, use the following steps:

Restart the computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press F8, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only on the Startup menu.

At the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:
cd windows
edit system.ini
Locate the "shell=explorer" line in the [Boot] section of the System.ini file.
Change the line to read shell=command.com.
Press ALT+F, and then press S. Press ALT+F, and then press X.
Restart the computer.

NOTE: After your computer restarts, it should operate in an MS-DOS virtual machine with access to the CD-ROM drive, but this may not work correctly. If you are unable to access the CD-ROM drive, you may need to enable the Mscdex.exe line in the Autoexec.bat file or you may need to install real-mode drivers. To enable the Mscdex.exe line, use any text editor (such as Edit) to open the Autoexec.bat file in the root folder of drive C. Look for a line containing "Mscdex.exe," and then remove the "REM" statement at the beginning of the line. Save the changes, quit the text editor, and then restart your computer. For information about how to install real-mode drivers for your CD-ROM drive, contact the manufacturer of your CD-ROM drive or computer, or view the documentation included with your CD-ROM drive or computer.


At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command:
md flat
<CD-ROM drive letter>:
cd win95
copy *.* c:\flat

At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command:
c:
cd windows
edit system.ini
Locate the "shell=command.com" line in the [Boot] section of the System.ini file.
Change the line to read shell=explorer.exe.
Press ALT+F, and then press S. Press ALT+F, and then press X.
Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, and then click Shut Down.
Restart your computer, press the F8 key at the "Starting Windows 95" message, and then choose "Safe Mode Command Prompt Only".
At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command:
cd\
cd flat
setup


Apologies for the long post and if you already know this.

[MrEd]

Hey all. Thanks for the replys, already tried them all, and it doesn't help. Tried booting in safe mode, and every option entered takes computer right back to dos prompt. Running out of solutions, guess we'll just reinstall windows when she gets the cd tomorrow.

Sorry if my post was vague, after reading it again, if I ran across this, I'd wonder what the hell the guy was talking about. I've been talking her through all this over the phone, and havn't even had my hands on it yet. So everything I've relayed here, is second hand. Anyway, thanks for the replys, and if reinstall works, I'll let y'all know.

P.S. No backup/rescue disk was made for this, so that won't work, and come to find out, the computer was on loan from her brother. (hope he doesn't find out /forum/wink.gif )

-MrEd
/forum/smile.gif


[This message has been edited by MrEd (edited 08-25-99).]

[MrEd]

Okay all, I found the solution. Microsoft actually has had this problem reported, and has the resolution posted on thier site. If anyone else ever runs across this problem, you should really check out this page. Thanks again for the replys.

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q151/7/17.asp

-MrEd
/forum/smile.gif

[MrEd]

oops, dup reply.

-MrEd
/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by MrEd (edited 08-25-99).]

[socalgal]

Makes me wonder how MS KB has their search queries sorted.... hmm.

Anyway, glad to hear you found the solution MrEd! /forum/smile.gif

[Jin Vitas]

MrEd,

Your friend is stuck in what is called a dos loop.. there are several solutions to this problem.. the cause is if your friend was in a dos game or so.. and improperly exited out of dos.. which rewrites the autoexec.wos files.. as autoexec.bat files therefore generating a dos loop..

Solution1:

rem > autoexec.wos
rem > config.wos
EXIT (make sure you type exit dont warm boot)

Solution2:

Edit autoexec.bat and rem out all the lines.. from CD\ to the end of autoexec.bat

and in config.sys I forgot which exact line.. but you will know the line when you see it.. Not a normal line..

Solution3:

rename autoexec.bat and config.sys


Your welcome,

Jin-Vitas

Didn't read the article but once read it.. the config.sys line was dos=single.

[This message has been edited by Jin Vitas (edited 08-25-99).]