Windows will not start.... help please.

bigdaveinnj · #1 November 9th, 2005, 03:06 PM

OK... This time I really managed to screw things up. I downloaded a program called FREE-BROWSER http://www.lilsarge.com/FreeBrowser.htm.

While installing it I got a message saying something about problems regestering a file and unfortunately I didn't write it down but I chose the option of RETRY, and then it said theb installation was complete and to restart the computer.

Well... after restarting, my wallpaper will load, my taskbar will flash once and then all I have is a wallpaper with no icons or anything.... I don't even have an ERROR message. When I hit control/alt./delete it shows nothing is loaded and I get the option to shutdown/restart. Rebooting several times has produced the same results. I can move my mouse... but that's about all I can do.

I am now at the library and will attempt to download a BOOTDISK from BOOTDISK.COM and put that in the floppy and just see what happens.

Any suggestions? evidently I stupidly forced a file onto my PC that has interfered with my Windows and unfortunately I don't have my Win98se CD. Hopefully I will be able to correct this issue.

One more thing.... how are issues like these fixed when you don't have any ERROR MESSAGES to work with?

So.... what do i do now?

Thanks in advance

DAVID

DELTREE · #2 November 9th, 2005, 03:23 PM

You might try this?
Start in DOS; C:\scanreg /restore
and also try this? C:\scanreg /fix
I hope this maybe of some help?

bigdaveinnj · #3 November 9th, 2005, 03:29 PM

Hi.. thanks. Well, last night I tried scanreg/restore. That is a little different than what you suggested. In your suggestions, is there a SPACE after SCANREG?

Thanks

DAVID

Idnew · #4 November 9th, 2005, 03:31 PM

After you restore it then look all over in your files and delete anything that might still be there on that browser. It should be gone after the restore but won't hurt to check.

scanreg/restore will work with or without the space, restore it back to the date it was working

bigdaveinnj · #5 November 9th, 2005, 03:33 PM

Again... last night I tried SCANREG/RESTORE ... exactly like that. Isn't that basically the same as the suggested command?

Thanks

DAVID

Idnew · #6 November 9th, 2005, 03:34 PM

Sorry we must have been posting at the same time. Did the restore work for you?

bigdaveinnj · #7 November 9th, 2005, 03:37 PM

SCANREG/RESTORE did not do anything... unforutunately.

DAVID

Idnew · #8 November 9th, 2005, 03:45 PM

Really that's unusual if you went back to a date before you installed the browser. Did you do the scanreg/fix?

Idnew · #9 November 9th, 2005, 03:47 PM

Also see if you can boot in safe mode. Click on f8 while it's booting till you hear a beep then choose safe mode. If you get in there delete the browser

bigdaveinnj · #10 November 9th, 2005, 03:50 PM

No... cannot boot in safe mode. Didn't try scanreg fix either. I will give it a shot though.

Again... the command suggested above is slightly different than the scanreg/restore that I used. Any reason why?

Just curious.

DAVID

bigdaveinnj · #11 November 9th, 2005, 04:36 PM

One more note... I spoke with someone here at the library who SEEMS to be computer saavy and he suggested that scanreg/restore and scanreg/fix deals more with registry problems and he said that it appears that my problem could be related to a FILE VERSION issue. of which, he claims scanreg won't address. Whether or not that's true, I have no idea.

Thanks

DAVID

DELTREE · #12 November 9th, 2005, 05:10 PM

Put the space between; it should look like this:scanreg /restore.
I spoke with someone here at the library who SEEMS to be computer saavy and he suggested that scanreg/restore and scanreg/fix deals more with registry problems.
Try it, then post back.
This forum is one of the leaders of helping people with computer problems.
I would put my faith in this forum, that some person at the library who SEEMS
to know what he/she is doing.
Do I hear a second, on that?

Idnew · #13 November 9th, 2005, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Again... the command suggested above is slightly different than the scanreg/restore that I used. Any reason why?

How is it different and what did you use?

**Tom** · #14 November 9th, 2005, 10:25 PM

Howdy,

Most likely the browser installed different IE file versions than you were using. Try the following:

From the startup menu (tap F8 at startup) select Command Prompt Only.
At the C:\> prompt type

cd windows\system (hit enter)

At the C:\windows\system prompt type

copy shdocvw.bak shdocvw.dll (hit enter)

You should get a "1 file copied" message.

Hit Ctrl-Alt-Delete to restart. See if this restores your desktop.

If you can't enter Command Prompt, load the bootdisk you created and startup.
At the A:\> prompt, type

c: (hit enter)

Then follow the steps from the C:\> prompt above.

bigdaveinnj · #15 November 10th, 2005, 12:15 AM

Thanks... I am here at the library. This is my only PC access. Of course I like using this forum and didn't imply that the person here knew more than any of you guys.

It's just sometimes when you get a little bit desperate you'll listen to all opinions.

OK... well, I went home and I can get to the command prompt without any problem. The BOOT DISK, which I created, does nothing. I see the little green light by the floppy drive flicker and I hear a sound coming from the floppy but evidently the BOOT DISK wasn't seen because nothing different happened.

I am a little bit hesitant to try the above suggested fix only because if it's not that file that's causing this to happen isn't there a possibility that it could make things worse?

Again... when I was installing this browser, the error message (which I should have written down) was saying something about problems REGISTERING a certain file... whatever that means.

I'll be back here in the morning and see if there are any more responses here before I try the above fix.

Thanks for all the help!

DAVID

PS: This is the first time I have ever had a Windows 98se system have start-up problems without some kind of error message. for whatever that's worth.