Boots to a DOS prompt

[noprisonerbe]

Thanks for your service.

I'm running Win95b on a TI Extensa laptop. I've run FixIT Utilities WinCustomizer many times successfully before, but this time it hung up and crashed (FixIT Utilities did, not the OS) the OS ran for the remainder of my session, but the next time I started up it goes to the start-up screen (which I had customized, by the way) for a quick second then gives me a C:\> prompt.

I've tried sys C: does that replace the IO.SYS? I'm thinking that was corrupt. It didn't fix it.

OH yeah, for awhile it said "Missing HIMEM.SYS -- make sure it is in \WINDOWS\SYSTEM" I replaced that and now no error, but no workie either.

Thanks for any ideas or tips.

Christopher

[mikeh77586]

It sounds like the wini file has gotten corrupted someway. Windows 95 unlike me or XP doesn't have a system restore function. And I am not sure that if you even did a Registry Restore that it would solve the Problem because I'm not sure that's where the glitch is. Check and see if you machine is set up where the Windows setup files are located in "Windows/Options/Cabs" The setup were usually installed in the Cabs files and you Re-install windows and this, in most cases, will fix the problem. Even if you have a worm or virus this will restore the Windows Initialization files so that you can run a virus Checker. I hope this will help.:happy:

[Idnew]

Will it boot in safe mode so you can run a virus scan on it? Tap on F8 as it's booting until you hear a beep.

[Idnew]

Another possibility is a dead BIOS battery or the hd is failing.
or try this
Boot with a boot disk and type in sys c: and tell what happens

[noprisonerbe]

Thanks, I'm heartened to know there are still people who remember 95.

I did sys C: and with no success. It will not boot to safe-mode. And I'm fairly sure I don't have a virus...I never connect to the internet and have done very little work with it besides seting it up.

And no, the C:\windows\options\cabs directory is empty (well I think there are two files) but no setup.exe or data there, I'm assuming I chose to not have stuff put there when I ran setup.

The HD seems fine I've been running it as a DOS machine since this happened and all goes well. It holds the BIOS as well. I'm fairly certain FixIt messed up some system file, I'm just not sure which one(s)

Sounds like I'd better just reinstall. I hate to do that because I did a lot of updates on the winsock and stuff for my packet ham radio (which is what I'm using this beast for.)

Thanks for your time. If anything else pops in your mind...let me know.

Christopher

[noprisonerbe]

She's up and running again!

I checked the MSDOS.SYS file, and it only contained ;SYS (from when I did the SYS C: command) so I reconstructed the contents according to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/118579/EN-US/
And voila!

Thanks to those who offered suggestions, sometimes all you need is a few more cooks in the kitchen to chop the onions

95 is Alive!

Christopher

[Idnew]

WTG glad it's back up now think about installing Win98 upgrade over it as you can restore 98 where you can't that I know of 95.

[mikeh77586]

Thats's terrific. I am glad your'e back up and running. just for your info, you can Re-install windows right over your current system without losing any data, should the need ever arise. If i have something happen like what you had, Before i format and re-install I'll try an install over what is there. Just copy the setup files into the cabs dir and run setup. So.. your a HAM. I am preparing for my Test. I wish there were more people interested. 73's...

Regards,
Mike

[noprisonerbe]

Just copy the setup files into the cabs dir and run setup. So.. your a HAM. I am preparing for my Test. I wish there were more people interested. 73's...

Yeah, I tried to do that, but I misplaced my Key#. Now that I've got it runing I recovered it using KeyFinder95. I may still have to do that as I think more was corrupted than the MSDOS.SYS file, it's behaving prudishly.

Good luck on your exam, hurry up and get that so you can get your General before they take away the CW requirement!

CUOTA (see you on the air)

Christopher KD7REM