autoexec.bat is empty?!

[KellyK]

I am trying to reinstall Windows. I don't have a boot disk but I'm booting through DOS. DOS cannot find the CD-ROM drive where my Windows CD is. I went into autoexec.bat to see where the mscdex.exe path is and my autoexec.bat file is empty!! What could be the reason for this and what can I do? The computer crashed when I installed a Monster 3D card. I'm trying to reinstall Windows 98.

Thanks for the help in advance!

 

[FatesWebb]

if you are running win95 or ANY win9x or winNT or win2k or winxp then AUTOEXEC.BAT is not needed at all... and it being empty is usually best.....

you should just make a boot disk it will have the drivers loaded on it... js error; 67 on line; 36 of signature.class

 

[KellyK]

Thanks FatesWebb, I did not know that.

I keep getting errors when I try to create a boot disk, so I was trying to figure out a different way to tackle this.

 

[edfair]

To get access to the cd you need an autoexec.bat and a config.sys with the proper drivers loaded. Once you get DOS loaded you rename both to something that w9x won't try to use to create its files of the same name.
Exp. When windows loads , it takes the config.sys and autoexec.bat that exist and modify them by deleting anything it knows it doesn't need. And it adds anything it knows it needs. If you rename both before you start setup it starts with nothing and creates files with nothing. Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[SAseeker]

Redfair is correct. You need the device driver file to see the CD-ROM in DOS. The CD-ROM must have come with a stiffy which contains these files. Go to your vendor if you dont have them. When you have access to the CD copy the WINDOWS directory onto your HD, this will speed up the install process. Then run setup from the HD. then when Windows wants the install CD it will get all it needs from the HD

 

[KellyK]

Thanks guys, I got a boot disk from a friend and everything is working now. I appreciate the help!