Startup problem

johng · #1 October 14th, 2003, 04:34 AM

I've managed to create a new problem. OS is W98FE. On startup, I get the following message in DOS:

Cannot find a device file that may be needed to run windows or a windows application. The windows registry or system.ini file refers to this device file, but the device file no longer exists. If you deleted this file on purpose, try uninstalling the associated application using its uninstall or setup program. If you still want to use the application associated with this device file, try reinstalling that application to replace the missing file.

hfdrv.vxd
press any key to continue

Upon pressing any key as instructed, the system then boots up normal. I tried unchecking all of the startup programs
but no luck. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Topdog · #2 October 14th, 2003, 08:37 AM

Two ways to go:
1. If you know the program the file belongs to, you may be able to extract that file and install it in your Windows/System directory.

2. Open Regedit and select Edit/Find and type the file name in the dialogue box and click OK. You should be able to delete any references to this file name. You may have to hit F3 to find all instances..

What has happened is that you have either deleted or removed the program that uses this file, but the pointer in the Registry was not removed..No harm has been done, except the annoying message and your PC will work as normal, as you have probably already found out..

johng · #3 October 14th, 2003, 01:42 PM

Thanks for the reply. I haven't the foggiest what I did to do this, which of course, is my standard operating procedure. Along that line, no way of knowing what file is missing. My question now is what are the chances of solving the problem by reinstalling windows? Thanks again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by johng

I've managed to create a new problem. OS is W98FE. On startup, I get the following message in DOS:

Cannot find a device file that may be needed to run windows or a windows application. The windows registry or system.ini file refers to this device file, but the device file no longer exists. If you deleted this file on purpose, try uninstalling the associated application using its uninstall or setup program. If you still want to use the application associated with this device file, try reinstalling that application to replace the missing file.

hfdrv.vxd
press any key to continue

Upon pressing any key as instructed, the system then boots up normal. I tried unchecking all of the startup programs
but no luck. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks.

johng · #4 October 14th, 2003, 02:26 PM

If you can bear with me, I have discovered something since my reply. I did what you said on opening regedit/edit/find and for openers typed in the name of a program recently uninstalled. What I found amazed me which in itself doesn't take much. . .In the registry under: my computer/hkey current user/software/microsoft/windows/current version/explorer/menu order/start menu/programs I found a whole list of long forgotten program names that had been uninstalled eons ago, including the sample one that I originally entered. My question: Can I just right click on each of these program names and delete? Thanks again.

oink · #5 October 14th, 2003, 04:33 PM

I will try to leave this one to one person to answer, but I must add: Don't get carried away. Back up your registery first, before doing anything, and then again, when you get it working and before you start experimenting. Also, as the error atated, you should check the system.ini before messing with the registery. You can back it up by making a copy and renaming it system.joh or .old, whatever.

johng · #6 October 14th, 2003, 04:58 PM

Absoutely. However, one of the nice things that I like about W98 is that by default, as you know, it carries registry backups for the previous five days, easily accessed from dos. As a matter of fact, I did go back to the last day that I knew it was good and but in this case didn't help, although this has bailed me out several times. Saving the system.ini to another file though is a good idea. This has gotta be an easy fix. . .if I just knew what it was.

**AnnMarie** · #7 October 15th, 2003, 03:00 AM

Hi johng - you might like to try a reg cleaner that I use on all my OS's, jv16. You can download the last freeware version from here. If you decide to use it, instructions for use below:

Install then restart your computer. Shut down everything in systray that will close and make sure that your browser is closed and you are off the net.

When you open the program, click on Registry Tool. It will give you a complete listing of the programs on your computer. Search that list VERY carefully and make sure that you put a checkmark in front of the ones that you KNOW that you dont have anymore (previously uninstalled) then click "Remove". On the same screen, click "Tools" then "Registry Cleaner". Make sure that there is a checkmark in "I want to manually verify deleted entries". and "Dont pop up the registry cleaner when finished". Make sure that the other options in this section are NOT checked. Where it says "Update The Screen While Scanning", choose the option that best suits you. Click "Continue", and make sure that all the options in the next screen are checked and then click "Start" again and let it find everything that its going to. Click "Select", then “Special Select” and click "All items that are safe to remove"" and then "Remove". You will get a message saying that you have selected all items, are you sure? (or words to that effect), the answer is Yes and when all entries are removed, click on Close and then Close again to return to other options.

While you are there, lets clean up your drive. Click on "File Tools". Go to Preferences and make sure that "Create a backup" is selected. Now choose your Source (drive) and select "Find Only Broken Shortcuts". Click on Start and let it find them all, then click on "Select" > "All" and then "Remove" (at the bottom). When the files have been removed, click on Close. Now, repeat the process for "Find only Temp Files" (but please dont use the other selections unless you really know what you are doing).

If you still have that error message after running jv16, we "might" see the culprit in a Hijack This log. We could give it a try anyway. Go here and download and run a scan with Hijack This. Most of the files listed will be harmless and/or required so do not make any changes, just click on Save Log, copy it and post it back in this thread.

Topdog · #8 October 15th, 2003, 07:45 AM

Leave it in Annemarie's hand's for now. I was going to suggest one of the register cleaning programs anyway..The good ones will have a backup option so you can restore back if necessary, so you're pretty safe as long as you follow the instructions.
Meanwhile we'll watch this space....

PS: Reinstalling Windows will not fix this problem as it won't write a new registry in the process, assuming it's an over the top reinstall.

johng · #9 October 16th, 2003, 01:58 AM

Thanks for responding. I have jv16 and have gone through the steps. I would like to mention that I really like the latest version of RegSeeker (1.3) the best. You probably are aware of it but it is a "no install" on or off program that in my opinion digs out more info than the jv16. Some time ago and long before this problem, after using jv16, I executed RegSeeker registry clean and it displayed 816 invalid entries! Dumped them all with no ill effect. ( By the way, in reference to my earlier post about questioning the deletion of long ago uninstalls from regedit, I went ahead and did that with no problem.) In any event, I still have my DOS startup screen problem. I downloaded the Hijack This exe and works fine. Now for the " difficult to explain part:" I can't for the life of me get it to save to Notepad per instructions so I can post. When trying to save, it goes into Microsoft Project. I'd be happy to forward it but I can't make a copy of it. . .really feel stoopid.

**AnnMarie** · #10 October 16th, 2003, 02:11 AM

Try downloading and running the beta version John from here and see if it makes a difference. When you click on "Save Log" and the new window opens, where it says "Files of Type", do you have an option to save as a .txt file?

johng · #11 October 16th, 2003, 03:34 PM

The gods are against me. I have only two choices under save as type. Either (1) log files (*.log) or (2) All files (*.*) That's it. No option for .txt Either way, it goes into Microsoft Project. . . Sure would be alot of stuff to try and copy by hand. Frustrating.

**AnnMarie** · #12 October 16th, 2003, 10:44 PM

Sorry John, my post should have read "do you have an option to save as a .log file?" A .log is a text document, my apologies for confusing you.

I'm not quite sure what you mean when you say "it goes into Microsoft Project.

johng · #13 October 17th, 2003, 04:21 PM

Roger. It does have the option for log file. When I go to save it, it brings up the screen for where to save it, i.e., desktop, c drive, programs etc. etc. Let's say I want to save it to the desktop. I click on that and some program called Microsoft Project jumps up. This is true no matter where I try to save the thing. I can't figure out how to do the thing in notepad. (In the meantime, it sure is aggrevating to sustain an additional 30 seconds or so now for boot up, having to click the ##*@ dos prompt screen to continue, not to mention the principle of the thing. . .Yours truly obviously bergered something up)

blackkettle · #14 October 17th, 2003, 04:24 PM

Hi johng: Where might I find a freeware copy of regseeker v1.3
Tks.blackkettle :cheesy:

johng · #15 October 17th, 2003, 07:18 PM

RegSeeker is at:

http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm