configsys file problem

[bullbran]

Hello-- I have researched to only find possible resolutions to similar problems. I have yet to find anyone with the following problem exactly.

The problem is all of a sudden my PC won't boot up. It begins fine until after I hit cancel to get pass the password box and the start up sound is still fine, but right after that the following error appears:

c:\windows\emm386.exe

There is an error in your configsys file on line 2.


After this, another error box appears:

Explorer has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.


Once I click on "close" I am left with a blank screen with no programs loaded. I can't even start in safe-mode. My boot disk just scans the PC and goes to a command prompt. I have not installed any new software lately, this just began out of the blue.

I urgently need the files on the hard drive and would greatly appreciate any helpful suggestions.

Thx-- Bullbran

[The Dude]

Open your CONFIG.SYS file with NOTEPAD and look @ line 2 and see what it is,or better yet,COPY/PASTE it here and 1 of US will try to help you

Heres my config.sys file: (The 1 in my Windows Directory -- Theres 2 of them with data in them,1 is empty)

dos=high,umb
device=%SystemRoot%\himem.sys (This is Line 2)
emm=ram
files=20

[degsy]

Welcome

There are a few options
You can delete/rename your config.sys file
You could edit the config.sys file and find out what the line two problem is and fix it or REM it out (make it hidden).

You can do this by booting into DOS using the F8 key & menu or by using a Windows startup floppy disk.

[The Dude]

He can also edit the config.sys file and correct line 2 Degsy,i have done this in the past with diff. problems Mate

YES,Welcome Ashore Bullbran

[degsy]

Originally Posted by The Dude

He can also edit the config.sys file and correct line 2 Degsy,i have done this in the past with diff. problems Mate

YES,Welcome Ashore Bullbran

Hard to open Notepad if Windows won't boot

[The Dude]

Hmmmmm,yes your right.......Didnt think of that

Oh well,i hope we can help him!!!!!

[oink]

How about from the dos prompt: C:>edit config.sys

[Nick Grana]

Get into config.sys as oink suggests and check or amend it there.
Or, while in dos at the c:\ prompt, rename config.sys config.sav
Also rename autoexec.bat autoexec.sav
Try boot and see what happens.
If you are not running any dos programs, Windows 98 does not even need these two files.

[The Dude]

Originally Posted by oink

How about from the dos prompt: C:>edit config.sys

Thats basically what i was talking about above,using a dos prompt and doing:

C:> edit config.sys

But when degsy said "Hard to open Notepad if Windows won't boot" I got confused and lost my train of thought!!

YES,hopefully we can help him 1 way or the other......

[bullbran]

Thx everyone for the suggestions thus far, but I have yet to even be able to bring my config.sys file up from the dos prompt. The only way I can get a prompt is by using a boot disk...F8 won't even work - it says keypad error in the upper left corner. When I type "edit config.sys" it just come back with the damn bad command or file name response. I know I am stuck trying to fix this problem from the dos prompt but it seems as though it is limiting my actions here as well. I would love to post the lines of my config.sys file but am becoming increasingly something has really gone wrong.

Thx again...I will check back for a reply. I am not good at all in the dos prompt, so any suggestions with this area should be very detailed.

I Appreciate it guys.

[Nick Grana]

Put in your bootdisk and choose 2: without cdrom support.
This should bring up A: or C: (I forgot)
If the A: prompt comes up, type c: and then hit enter key.
If the c: prompt comes up, just type this for both cases.
dir c:/w and then just hit enter key.
Do you see config.sys or autoexec.bat in those files that came up?
If yes, type these two things:
ren config.sys config.sav
and ren autoexec.bat autoexec.sav
If this worked, take out bootdisk and reboot.

If none of the above (??) get back.

[bullbran]

Hey Darth-- tried that to no avial. It scrolled through the files and then back to the c: prompt. I typed what you said to, but it says neither of those files can be found. Does this mean I am in trouble? How could this gotton so out of whack all of a sudden?

I'll keep checkn' back for any more suggestions if there are any.

Thx

[degsy]

edit config.sys

Try edit C:\config.sys

[Nick Grana]

First you have to establish config.sys is there or not.
Start/find/files and folders
Type config.sys in 'named' box
Hit Find Now tab
Does it find the file config.sys?
Make sure you keep spelling that file the right way= Config.sys and Autoexec.bat

Ok, that was the Windows way. In dos, at the the C: prompt
Type dir config.sys
Does it come up or not? If yes, do the ren c:\config.sys c:\config.sav
If not, you do not have that file in your root directory.
You may have to overinstall windows.

[bullbran]

Sorry for the delay in reply but I have to go to a different location to get access to the web.

Well, it appears as though config.sys is not able to be found. I have already tried to reinstall windows but I can't even get to the D drive from the c: prompt. It will only switch between A and C drives. I have also tried all combinations I can think of to get the CD to run from the c: prompt.

Still trying to work it out. How do I get the CD to run or setup from here?



Thx all -- Bullbran