Error after Fdisk'g, recovery CD installation, and Win98SE upgrade

[Woodcycl]

This is my aunt's HP Pavillion Celeron 266Mhz PC. After some troubleshooting, it appeared as though the best option was to start over. So, I fdisk'd, reformatted, installed via the Recovery CD, and Upgraded from 95 to 98SE. Everything looked and ran fine.

I began installing individual apps with no problem. I then installed Palm Pilot Software and the HP Pavillion color scanner software, rebooted, and the following error now appears each time I reboot (even after a shut down for a few minutes):

"Configuration Manager cannot load because of the Following files is either not present or has an invalid version number: VMM.VXD SHELL.VXD VTD.VXD VXDLDR.VXD VPIDC.VXD VWIN32.VXD"

The error occurs right after the Windows splash screen is up for a few seconds. After pressing "Any Key" the system shuts down (or shuts down on it's own after 15 seconds).

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks,
Brian

[biglaker]

Don't know of a firm solution but maybe you could go into safe mode and try and remove the offending software, since it sounds like the problem started when you were putting in the Palm software. Hope this helps.
Biglaker

[Woodcycl]

Unfortunately, I'm unable to go into safe mode. Regardless of whether I choose safe mode or Normal, etc. ...the same error occurs right after the splash screen appears.

Thanks,
Brian

[Bellbus]

If you can't get into the system, I can only suggest a couple of things.

1] Go down to DOS and manually copy the missing files (but this will bw a problem, since you may not know where they are).

2] Windows 95 (and I'm assuming 98) had a backup of the registry from the last successful Boot. I should point out that Microsofts version of a 'last successful boot up' isn't alway everybody elses.

a] Boot down to DOS (press f8 on boot up and choose command prompt only).

b] type: cd\
c] type: cd Windows
d] type: rename system.dat system.xxx

e] type: rename system.dao system.dat
(i'm not sure but, in Windows 98 it may be:)
rename system.000 system.dat

These instructions are usually on the back of the Windows book you got with your CD.

3] Reinstall Windows 98

4] Windows also takes a backup of the Registry from the first time the system boots up after windows is first installed. I should point out that this is almost the equivalent of a reinstall, since all software and drivers will need reinstalling (you may get away with a few things since it was an upgrade).

[I'll assume that you don't have the path command in the autoexec]

a] Boot down to DOS (press f8 on boot up and choose command prompt only).

b] type: cd\
c] type: cd Windows
d] type: cd command

remove hidden property and read only property.
e] type: attrib -h -r c:\system.1st
f] type: copy c:\system.1st c:\windows
g] type: cd..
d] type: rename system.dat system.xxx
e] type: rename system.1st system.dat

I'm a little concerned about which System.1st file will be lying on your C: disk since you've used an upgrade from Windows 95.



If either 2] or 4] go wrong simply rename the old file back to system.dat

eg.
rename system.xxx system.dat