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Windows Forum / Windows 98 / General Topics / May 2007Booting problem
I have been running Windows 98SE on a Dell PC for 8 years. Today, all of a sudden, it started strange behavior. When it is booting and after the first Windows splash screen comes up, then it goes to the cursor in the upper left hand corner, the hard disk has some activity, then it shuts itself off. I tried booting it repeatedly in Normal mode, but it never worked. It seems to boot most times in Safe mode. I reinstalled Windows 98, but to no avail. Same behavior. I tried running with the boot logging option, but I could find no BOOTLOG.TXT file afterwards. Any idea on what I could try? Thanks, Alan Go to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm and create a Windows 98 boot floppy. Use it to start the computer in question, insert your Windows 98 CD and type the following command line, then remove the floppy and restart: for %j in (%path%) do extract /a /y /L c:\windows %jwin98\base4.cab wininit.exe If that doesn't help, you should be able to view the "bootlog.txt" file by typing "c:\windows\command\edit c:\bootlog.txt" at the command prompt. Ben > I have been running Windows 98SE on a Dell PC for 8 years. Today, > all of a sudden, it started strange behavior. When it is booting and [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Any idea on what I could try? Thanks, Alan Ben, Thank you for your help. . . . I tried the command for %j in (%path%) do extract /a /y /L c:\windows %jwin98\base4.cab wininit.exe, but I had to change it to for %j in (%path%) do extract /a /y /L c:\windows e: \win98\base4.cab wininit.exe However, I had the same problem as before in both Normal and Logged modes (shuts itself off). I looked at the bootlog. Not that I really know what I am doing, but the only thing that looked abnormal to me was: "LoadFailed=ndis2sup.vxd". The last entry in the file was: "Initializing KERNEL." Any idea where to go from here? Format C: and start over? Thanks, Alan Start the computer in "Command Prompt", type "scanreg /restore" and restore a previous registry. Also, try renaming "c:\windows\wininit.ini", if it exists, to "wininit.bk". Ben > Ben, > Thank you for your help. . . . I tried the command [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Thanks, Alan Selective Startup did not help. On restart, it said "Windows protection error" before shutting itself off. What does this mean? I booted from disk with Step-by-Step Confirmation. It appeared to go through all the prompts. Last thing it did was load drivers (msmouse.vxd), then after probably 10 seconds, it shut itself off. Thanks, Alan I did the scanreg /restore and tried a cab file from yesterday and then one from the day before. In both cases, I got "Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer." I was going to rename wininit.ini, but it was not found in the windows directory. I`m getting closer and closer to "format c:" Thanks, Alan I used the System File Checker in Safe Mode. It said that the file setupx.dll in c:\windows\system may be corrupt. How do I know from what CAB file this can be extracted? Thanks, Alan > I used the System File Checker in Safe Mode. It said that the file > setupx.dll in c:\windows\system may be corrupt. How do I know from > what CAB file this can be extracted? See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/231793 Also, you might try extracting a fresh copy of "msmouse.vxd" from your Windows 98 CD to the Windows\System folder. Ben How do I know which .cab file contains which file? > How do I know which .cab file contains which file? I found this info and extracted original versions of setupx.dll and ndis2sup.vxd (the one showing failed in the bootlog). No change. Any idea on how I could access a USB drive to get files off, without a normal boot? Thanks, Alan Try extracting a fresh copy of "c:\windows\system\msmouse.vxd". Ben > > How do I know which .cab file contains which file? > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Thanks, Alan See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/129605/EN-US/ Here's the perinent part: Extract Files by Using Startup Disk To start your computer with CD-ROM support and then extract files, follow these steps: 1.Insert the Windows 98 startup disk into drive A, and then restart your computer. 2.When the Microsoft Windows 98 Startup menu appears, choose Start computer with CD-ROM support. Note If you purchased your computer with Windows 98 installed, the cabinet files may be installed in the C:\Cabs folder. If these files are on your computer, you do not have to have CD-ROM support at this step, and you can extract the files that you must have from the folder on the hard disk. To do so, click Start computer without CD-ROM support, and then continue to step 4 without using step 3. 3.Insert the Windows 98 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive. 4.Type ext at the command prompt, press ENTER, and then follow the instructions on the screen. > How do I know which .cab file contains which file? I extracted msmouse.vxd, but no improvement. I copied some pertinent files to D: (partition of my hard drive). I think if I format c:, then it will not affect D:. Alan If you used System File checker to extract "setupx.dll", see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/192832 Ben > I extracted msmouse.vxd, but no improvement. > > I copied some pertinent files to D: (partition of my hard > drive). I think if I format c:, then it will not affect D:. > > Alan No. I used SFC to find any problem files. But I used the extract tool to extract the file. Thanks, Alan On May 28, 9:04 pm, "Ben Myers" <benjmy...@mindR-e-m-o-v-Espring.com> wrote: > If you used System File checker to extract "setupx.dll", seehttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/192832 > > Ben You can try a reinstall, but I honestly think your symptoms point more to a hardware problem. Yes, if the files you want to save are on D:\, then a reinstall will not affect them. Good luck!  SignatureGary S. Terhune MS-MVP Shell/User www.grystmill.com > I extracted msmouse.vxd, but no improvement. > > I copied some pertinent files to D: (partition of my hard > drive). I think if I format c:, then it will not affect D:. > > Alan Gary, I did not realize that it might be hardware --- and at such a young age :). Anything else I should do to diagnose? Thanks, Alan Hard to say for sure, but since startup seemed to have problems loading the mouse you might try using a different port, i.e. if the mouse is now a USB mouse, try a PS/2 mouse, or vice versa (or use a PS/2 converter on your USB mouse.) Then again, I have a hard time believing it's the mouse or its controller if it works in Safe Mode. Last thought... If it's a USB connection, you might be having problems with the USB devices rather than the mouse itself. Since you can get into Safe Mode, try using Device Manager to remove the mouse, restart and see what happens. If it's a USB mouse, remove all USB devices, also. Did you follow my previous advice about using MSCONFIG to disable all optional startup items? Probably won't make any difference. When a machine automatically reboots during startup, it's almost always a hardware problem. (I'd say "always", but then someone would come up with an exception, <s>.) Of course, a reformat and clean reinstall would probably be the best proof. Do you have lots of disk space? If so, you could use BootIt NG to resize the partitions and make room for a test partition to install to, rather than destroying the existing system. SignatureGary S. Terhune MS-MVP Shell/User www.grystmill.com > Gary, > I did not realize that it might be hardware --- and at such a > young age :). Anything else I should do to diagnose? > > Thanks, Alan Gary, Thanks, but after all day I was feeling destructive. Format and reinstall seems to be working so far. Alan Other ideas: 1. In Safe Mode, run MSCONFIG from the Start>Run box. Choose Selective Startup and uncheck the Startup items, autoexec.bat and config.sys (if those last two exist.) Click OK and restart in Normal Mode to see if that fixed things. If not: 2. Choose the item in the Startup menu that creates a bootlog. That will start the system in normal mode and log each step. When it fails, restart and use Safe Mode. Find bootlog.txt and see what the last item(s) are. They should indicate what the problem is (probably some hardware failure.) 3. Instead of the logged boot, choose Step-by-Step. Keep track of each item, you're interested in the last item that you OK before the machine reboots itself. Post back with the results for further advice. SignatureGary S. Terhune MS-MVP Shell/User www.grystmill.com > I have been running Windows 98SE on a Dell PC for 8 years. Today, > all of a sudden, it started strange behavior. When it is booting and [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Any idea on what I could try? Thanks, Alan |
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