invalid system disk on laptop

[dylandog]

I just bought an older Gateway Solo 2500 laptop over the weekend. Everything was working good and I was just deleting and moving some files from the previous owner. So I must have moved or deleted a file I shouldn't have because now it says invalid system disk at startup even though there isn't anything in any of the drives. I'm pretty sure my hard drive is still good, I'm just missing a file or two. The cd rom doesn't work but the floppy does. I have a few old 98 start up disks from my old desktop, will those help with anything? Thanks for any input.

[Necviper]

Do you recall any of the names of the files you deleted?

[jtdoom]

Hi
Welcome to CTH.

I would like to know which VERSION ran in there.
Do you know?
I think the missing files will have the same names.

[dylandog]

I think it was just windows 98, not sure which version. Some of the files said they were system files, so I did not delete them. I just made a folder for them called system files on the c drive.

[jtdoom]

Hi
aha?
so you moved some system files from root to a folder called "system files"

we'll try put them back. We'll use the MsDos command prompt...
boot from a windows 98 floppy.
you are at A:\>_

C:
dir syst* \*.*

this should show you the files you moved, and the name of the folder they are in. The folder shown could be like system~1
dir syst*
now you have the name as it will be typed in

copy C:\system~1\*.*
if it copied, you see the message it did

pull the floppy out
restart

[dylandog]

Thanks for the help. When I enter C:
dir syst* \*.*

My laptop says...
volume in drice C has no label
volume serial number is 050B-3FE9
Path not found

Any other ideas. Thanks!!!!

[dylandog]

Okay, I did the C:
dir syst* \*.*

My laptop says...
volume in drice C has no label
volume serial number is 050B-3FE9
Path not found

Tried it again and just typed in dir. Got the list of files and saw system~1

Copied that like you said and restarted but still get invalid disk at startup. Any other suggestions?

The files that were copied are...
c:shortc~1.pif
c:shortc~1.lnk

[dylandog]

Also when I type in dir syst*

it shows 0 files and 1 dir

[jtdoom]

Hi
these were not the files that would get it going again.
Let me say I just thought I am an idjut.

C:
dir sys.com /s
I believe it is in C:\windows\command
but it "could" be in C:\windows\command\ebd

if you found that sys.com is in C:\windows\command

C:\windows\command\sys C:
if in that ebd, and not in command
C:\windows\command\ebd\sys C:

(If this don't do it, I'll have to connect the 98 rig up.. the workspace is free atm)

[dylandog]

Thanks for all your help. I'll try that tonight and see what happens. :D

[dylandog]

jtdoom,

okay, I found the sys file in the c:\windows\command and so I type in...

c:\>windows\command\sys c:

I then get cannot specify default drive. It feels like we're getting close though :happy:

[dylandog]

Also when typing in dir sys.com /s, while it is searching it first says...

volume is drive C has no label
Volume serial number is ...

Not sure if drive C not having label is messing anything up??

[jtdoom]

hmmm
c:
cd windows\command
command (this should open a new instance of the command prompt)
ver (this should tell you version number like 2222)
report the version

was there and ebd folder?
dir ebd
copy ebd\*.*
sys c:

if that again fails (it should put systemfiles in root of c: and even have to overwrite some) we will need the version info
2222 is windows se
now, when you boot from the floppy, hit VER and it says 1998 than you have to get a 98SE bootdisk

you can run sys c: from the floppy if it has the same version.

[jtdoom]

hi
no label is no problem
actually if you would want to label it, NEVER call it WINDOWS or DOS

[dylandog]

okay, first off no ebd file. When I type in dir ebd it says file not found.

I can get to C:\windows\command, but when I type command to get the new prompt it says bad command or file name (eg c:\windows\command>command)

When I type c:\windows\command>ver...it says

windows 98 [version 4.10.1998]

Does that help at all?

[jtdoom]

that is the version on the floppy still...

I am not really sure wether 1998 would make a problem for 2222a
but I rather not risk it
besides, if we sys the C; from a floppy, you would just have a dosprompt.

tell you what
C:
dir base4.cab /s

if it finds that, it gonna be in a folder
probably windows\options\cabs\
if you have that folder
CD windows\options\cabs
setup /id /is /im

[dylandog]

Yes it finds a sys file in the windows\options\cabs

So I type cd windows\options\cabs and the prompt changes to that.

Then when I write...

c:\windows\options\cabs>setup /id /is /im

it says bad command or file name, not sure if I'm entering it right though.

[dylandog]

it also finds the base4 cab when I type dir base.cab /s in the folder you mention.

[jtdoom]

and you are still in cabs?

[jtdoom]

dir setup

if setup is no in there... dang.

[dylandog]

yes, still in cabs.

when I type dir setup one file comes up. It is setup TXT

[jtdoom]

dang

setup.exe missing

okay
i say you risk it
get to a:

a:

sys c:
if it says bad command or filename
copy C:\windows\command\sys.com
sys c:

[dylandog]

okay, all transferred. Do I reboot now?

[jtdoom]

yep, pull floppy and boot

I am afraid it will just sit there at C:\>_

[dylandog]

Ahhh, I thought it was going to boot. I saw the windows 98 screen for a second then it went back to the DOS prompt like you said. C:

[jtdoom]

you have a Windows 98 Startup diskette.
you have a working computer

on the working computer
Copy and paste the following text into a Notepad Document: (Only the text in Bold)

[Paths]
WinDir=C:\WINDOWS
WinBootDir=C:\WINDOWS
HostWinBootDrv=C

[Options]
Bootdelay=1
BootMulti=1
BootGUI=1
DoubleBuffer=1

;
;The following lines are required for compatibility with other programs.
;Do not remove them (MSDOS.SYS needs to be >1024 bytes).
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxa
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxb
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxc
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxd
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxe
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxf
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxg
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxh
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxi
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxj
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxk
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxl
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxm
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxn
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxo
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxp
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxq
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxs

Insert the Windows 98 Startup diskette into the floppy drive. Save this document as MSDOS in the A:\ drive (Floppy disk drive). The file will be saved in the startup diskette as MSDOS.TXT
Remove the startup diskette and insert the diskette into the problem computer and boot it with it. At the Menu select Command Prompt without CD Support. At the A:\ prompt type the following pressing Enter after each line:

C:
cd\
attrib -r MSDOS.sys
rename MSDOS.sys MSDOS.old
Copy a:\MSDOS.txt
Rename MSDOS.txt MSDOS.sys
Attrib +r MSDOS.sys

Remove the Startup diskette and restart the computer.

edit, below were for another fix, moved them out
AutoScan=1
WinVer=4.10.2222
BootMenu=0

[jtdoom]

before you start first hit F5 button to refresh
above was edited

[dylandog]

Wow...so when do I hit F5?

I'll have to do this at work tomorrow because my desktop doesn't have a floppy. I'll let you know how it works tomorrow night. Again thanks for all your help, you sure know your computers!!!

[jtdoom]

when you do this tomorrow, no need to hit the F5
good luck; I am off to get some zzzz

[dylandog]

when I type c:\>attrib -r msdos.sys it says...

not resetting hidden file c:\msdos.sys

[jtdoom]

Hi

strange. But entirely possible.
without feedback, one cannot know
after you made the MSDOS.TXT

Remove the startup diskette and insert the diskette into the problem computer and boot it with it.
At the Menu select Command Prompt without CD Support. At the A:\ prompt type the following pressing Enter after each line:

lets modify the sequence of commands some...
each line is followed by hitting enter...

C:
cd\
attrib -r -h C:\MSDOS.sys
rename C:\MSDOS.sys C:\MSDOS.old
del C:\MSDOS.sys
Copy a:\MSDOS.txt C:\MSDOS.SYS
Attrib +r +h C:\MSDOS.sys

Remove the Startup diskette and restart the computer.

[dylandog]

Okay tried that but still the same thing. Here is what I did...

A:\>C:

C:\>cd\

C:\>attrib -r -h c:msdos.sys
This came up...Not resetting system file c:\MSDOS.sys

I went on even though I got that

C:>rename c:msdos.sys c:\msdos.old
This came up...Invalid parameter - c:\msdos.old

C:\>del c:\msdos.sys
This came up...File not found

C:\>copy a:\msdos.txt c:\msdos.sys
This came up...overwrite c:msdos.sys (yes/no/all) I said yes
Access denied - c:\msdos.sys
0 files copied

C:\>attrib +r +h c:\msdos.sys
This came up...Not resetting system file c:\MSDOS.sys

Got any other ideas. Seems like this msdos file is giving us troubles:dizzy:

[dylandog]

and yes I'm booting with the disk and going without cd support

I also did the dir of my c: and found that the msdos.txt file was copied there so I deleted it after the above to start over, just so you know.

Did one more thing and searched for the msdos.sys file like we did with the base4 file

C:\>dir msdos.sys /s
Found it in the directory of c:\windows (1 file from 4-23-99)

Maybe that will help??

[jtdoom]

Hi
got the old box running (found out it had a bad stick of ram in it)
anyway, looked at some things

lets not get to C:
it is a system file, and the old way did not remove the attribute
from A:\>_ prompt

attrib -r -h -s C:\MSDOS.sys
rename C:\MSDOS.sys C:\MSDOS.old
del C:\MSDOS.sys
Copy a:\MSDOS.txt C:\MSDOS.SYS
Attrib +r +h +s C:\MSDOS.sys

[dylandog]

When I type the line

A:\>rename c:\msdos.sys c:\msdos.old... I get invalid parameter - c:\msdos.old

[jtdoom]

rename c:\msdos.sys msdos.old

[dylandog]

okay that worked, on to the next step...

I type in...del c:\msdos.sys

I get File not found.

[jtdoom]

and if msdos old existed, it would not let u

rename c:\msdos.sys msdos.2

[dylandog]

When I rename c:\msdos.sys msdos.2

I get, once again, file not found - c:\msdos.sys

[jtdoom]

I am surprised this went not as easy as it should have been.
the original instructions were posted long ago.

maybe I ought to find another page with those...
they looked okay when I read them, but apparently they weren't as thourough as would have been nessecary.

[dylandog]

I was hoping it would be easy :D

[jtdoom]

timewarp

and when the file got renamed, it were no longer neccesary to delete.
this is my error.
the original said
copy bla sys bla old
del bla sys

bla bla I thought, ren bla sys bla old et viola

OK, if it cannot be deleted because it is not there, then it is not in the way.
I am truly sorry I made that error.

[jtdoom]

left to do

Copy a:\MSDOS.txt C:\MSDOS.SYS
Attrib +r +h +s C:\MSDOS.sys

[dylandog]

Okay finished out typing in the rest of the lines, shut her down and rebooted.

IT WORKED!!!!!!!!!!!!:D :rotflmao:

Thank you so much! Back in business.

[jtdoom]

Good God, Finally
thanks.

and I will now do something stupid
I'll write the entire session as it should be done in one single page, so I can use it as reference

[dylandog]

Yeah we did go through a lot of pages...

Thanks again.