vmm32.vxd is required to run windows...

[zoe girl]

I am receiving this message that vmm32.vxd is required to run windows. If this is not in your PATH you may have to reinstall windows. My system has windows 98. I have checked my path, and the file is not there. I am trying to reinstall windows 98 over what is already there (so I don't lose everything-I just had to wipe my hard drive a few months ago, and don't want to do that again!) Anyways, I have tried reinstalling using both my system restoration disk, and windows 98 disk, and either way I get part way through, then get an error message saying my computer already has an operating system, and I can not install windows 98 again. Any ideas?? I appreciate any help I can get. Thanks

[Nick Grana]

Boot to dos using the bootmenu or bootdisk. Choose command prompt only.
Now type cd c:\windows\system
Now type dir vmm32.vxd
Does it come up as a valid file?
If yes, type c:\
Now type edit autoexec.bat
Now type path=c:\windows\system
alt f and exit.
Answer yes to save.
Reboot and see what happens.
If vmm32.vxd was not present, different story.:michaelan

[zoe girl]

I did that already, It does not come up as a valid file. This is why I have to reinstall windows. Any suggestions on how to get windows to write itself over itself?? As I said, I get an error messsage saying I can't install windows 98 because I already have an operating system. Thanks

[AnnMarie]

See here (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=191874) and here (http://www.easydesksoftware.com/news/news10.htm) if the first article does not apply zoe girl

[zoe girl]

The first article did not apply. I need to read the second article more carefully. I'm not sure if I am brave enough to try to extract files, I'm not really that computer literate. But I have another question. A friend of mine (who is alot more computer literate than me) seems to think that the windows media player my son downloaded (and was using at the time the problem occured) is the root of my problem, and thinks that if we can find that file and delete it then the problem will be solved. Does anyone think this will work?? And if so, how do I find the file for windows media player and delete it....remember, my system is stuck in dos mode. Thanks.

[AnnMarie]

Windows Media Player installs more than one file zoe girl.

If you are stuck in DOS, type scanreg /restore after the prompt and hit Enter.

(note the space between "scanreg" and the forward slash)

At blue screen, use your mouse or keyboard arrows to choose a date which you know the registry was fine. The date you choose must say "Started" next to it. (try not to choose the oldest date, it probably will not restore).

Make sure the word "Restore" is highlighted, and press your keyboards Enter key. At the "You have restored........." prompt, press your keyboards Enter key.

Your computer will restart in MS-DOS mode again. Type: exit after the prompt and press your keyboards Enter key. Your computer should now re-start in Windows. See if that helps.

[zoe girl]

Thanks, I'll try that and let you know if it works!!!

[AnnMarie]

Good luck zoe girl. :)

[zoe girl]

Hey, I tried it twice, neither time did it work. System just said restore was unsuccessful. I am probably going to have to restore windows. I was hoping to reinstall windows over current windows so not to lose all of my info, however my system won't allow. I get an error message telling me that I already have an operating system and need to install a windows 98 upgrade. Any suggestions before I wipe my harddrive and start over?? Thanks.

[AnnMarie]

If you have the disk space, you could try a parallel install zoe girl. See How to Install Windows 98 Into a New Folder (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=193902).