Need help with Windows 98 1

[imbac]

I'm currently having too many problems to list, but I will start with the following. To begin with, I was using WinBoost 2001 to tweak my system (I've uninstalled this). At the same time, I upgraded from 64meg to 256meg. Also downloaded Norton Antivirus 2001 or 2002. After doing all this, I began having difficulties restarting my system (HP Pavilion 6355). I've worked through the windows troubleshooting with no success. I've seen post regarding Norton Antivirus difficulties and decided to remove the program. Still no change. Next, I found this website and have been reading all the excellent input and trying what seemed relevent. Still nothing. I've tried reloading my system recovery but it will not work.
Things I've found:
"The following file is missing or corrupted: user.exe"
"The following file is missing or corrupted: c:\icu\dwcfgmg.sys"
(I don't know how to retore these at this time)
"There is an error in your config.sys file on line 5"
(I don't know how to confirm and/or fix this)

I saw a post recommending looking in my hwinfo /ui
What I found there:

Class: fdc
This Device Has a Problem: Code=22 (0x16)
This device is disabled.
DeviceDesc: Standard Floppy Disk Controller
Registry Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\enum\ROOT\FDC\0000
Hardware Resource Section
Inst1 resources:
Alloc resources:
Logical Configuration 0
IO Range: Base=x0108 End=x010F Min=x0108 Max=x0108 Alias=x00, Decode=x00
IRQ Mask: x0000, Alloc Num 11
DMA Mask: x0000, Alloc Num 0
Extra Registry information Section
Driver Information section
Driver: fdc\0001
DriverDate: 5-11-1998
Driver: HSFLOP.pdr
File Size: 25741 (0x648D)
File Date: 5/11/1998 8:1 AM
CompanyName: Microsoft Corporation
FileVersion: 4.10.1998
LegalCopyright: Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp. 1988-1998
FileDescription: HSFLOP Virtual Device (Version 4.0)

Class: Unknown
This Device Has a Problem: Code=28 (0x1C)
The drivers for this device are not installed correctly. To install the driver
for this device, click the Driver tab, and then click Update Driver.
DeviceDesc: LT Win Modem
Registry Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\enum\ROOT\UNKNOWN\0000
Hardware Resource Section
Inst1 resources:
Alloc resources:
None
Extra Registry information Section
Driver Information section
Driver: No Information

Class: System
This Device Has a Problem: Code=22 (0x16)
This device is disabled.
DeviceDesc: IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
Registry Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\enum\PCI\IRQHOLDER\60
Hardware Resource Section
Inst1 resources:
Alloc resources:
None
Extra Registry information Section
Driver Information section
Driver: System\0018
DriverDate: 5-11-1998

Class: System
This Device Has a Problem: Code=22 (0x16)
This device is disabled.
DeviceDesc: IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
Registry Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\enum\PCI\IRQHOLDER\62
Hardware Resource Section
Inst1 resources:
Alloc resources:
None
Extra Registry information Section
Driver Information section
Driver: System\0020
DriverDate: 5-11-1998

Thanks in advance to anyone that can help.

Brett

 

[Guest_imported]

You need to reload Windows as per Microsoft's web site.

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q243/3/72.asp

 

[reghakr]

Brett,

Your biggest problem is uninstalling WinBoost if you did not change all the settings and modifications the program made back to the default settings.

Don't worry about the IRQ steering entries. I take it you're running ME.

Rename the c:\autoexec.bat to autoexec.old and c:\config.sys to config.old.

c:\icu\dwcfgmg.sys....This relates to old drivers that are probably are not neccesary for ME.

I'm on my Win2000 machine right now, but I believe you can replace the user.exe file by using msconfig. I would uncheck everything in msconfig on the startup tab except for systray, scan registry, Load Power Profile and *StateMgr. Then shutdown and restart.

That's a start.

reghakr

 

[imbac]

Reghakr,

I'm just headed out the door for work, but wanted to let you know that I did remember to set everything back to default in Winboost before uninstalling it.

Also, I'm running Windows 98 currently. Will this change any of your recommendations above?

Brett

 

[reghakr]

Brett,

Wait a minute, can you get into Windows?

I would still uncheck everything in msconfig, but the *StateMgr only applies to ME.

reghakr

 

[imbac]

Reghakr,

Sometimes I have no problems getting into Windows, other times all I get is blue screen.

I have unchecked everything you recommended.

I renamed the Autoexec.bat to Autoexec.old. However, the bat file said that it was just a place holder for the real file which is called Autoexec.tsh. Should I have renamed the tsh instead?

After renaming the bat and the config.sys, I get the following message when I open the sysedit refering to both the autoexec and the config: Cannot open this file.
Is this what I should see, or should it have created new files for me on reboot?

You mentioned earlier about re-creating the user.exe using the msconfig. How do I do this? Do I need to do This?

Brett

 

[Mosaic1]

Reghakr said he was on the way out the door otherwise I wouldn't be posting. However, a couple things. DO NOT use SFC to extract a new copy of User.exe from the cabs. It will extract the wrong version and then you won't be able to get into Windows. I will post more in a second. I want to get this in now before you try that.

 

[Mosaic1]

Try using SFC (System File Extractor) to replace the problem files.(not config.sys or autoexec.bat)

However, DO NOT REPLACE USER.EXE until you know the exact location. SFC will extract the wrong user.exe and you will be locked out of Windows.
Please post back which version of Windows you are using. First or Second Edition. Then someone will be able to tell you the exact location of the correct USER.EXE
I have an HP Pavilion too. All the files you need should be located here:
C:\windows\options\cabs
Here's a site with step by step instructions on how to extract Windows files using SFC

http://users.erols.com/dj-paulen/ss/

You have no working floppy according to what I see. Try going into Device Manager and scrolling to Floppy Disk Controllers and click on the + to expand the Branch.
Double click on Standard Floppy Disk Controller. Look at the bottom of the page to see two boxes. Be sure Exists in all Hardware Profiles is Checked and NOT Disable in this Hardware Profile

The IRQ steering you can ignore.

I don't know about the Unknown Device.

You say sometimes you get a Blue Screen. What is the error message, please. That is an important clue. I'll only be around for a short time. Hopefully someone else will be able to come back and pick this up.

 

[reghakr]

Excellent advise by Mosaic on the use of SFC. Thruthfully, if you're getting into Windows that many successful times, I doubt the file is even corrupted.

Here's the article relating to it:

System File Checker Tool Extracts Incorrect File Versions


The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 98


SYMPTOMS
When you use the System File Checker (Sfc.exe) tool to restore a Windows 98 system file (for example, the User.exe, Gdi.exe, or Krnl386.exe file) from a Windows 98 cabinet (.cab) file, the wrong version of the file may be extracted from the Mini.cab cabinet file. This can result in the inability to start Windows 98 (for example, your computer may stop responding) or "Windows Protection Error" error messages in normal and Safe mode.

NOTE: This symptom can occur when the System File Checker tool prompts you to restore a corrupt system file during a scan or when you extract and replace a system file using the System File Checker tool.

CAUSE
This behavior occurs because the System File Checker tool baseline file (Default.sfc) contains incorrect information about the source cabinet file locations for some Windows 98 system files. As a result, the System File Checker tool searches for the system file in the specified folder (if it is not in a cabinet file) and then in all cabinet files in the specified folder. The System File Checker tool searches cabinet files using their MS-DOS folder order and extracts the first instance found. If the Mini.cab cabinet file appears in an MS-DOS folder listing before the correct Windows 98 cabinet file (for example, the correct cabinet file for the User.exe file is the Win98_42.cab cabinet file.), the System File Checker tool may find the mini-Windows mode version of the system file in the Mini.cab cabinet file first.

NOTE: The Mini.cab cabinet file contains mini-Windows mode files used only by Windows 98 Setup and DriveSpace.


RESOLUTION
To work around this behavior, restart your computer using the Windows 98 Startup disk, choose Start Computer With CD-ROM Support from the Windows 98 Startup menu, and then re-extract the file at a command prompt using the Extract.exe tool. For information about how to extract a file, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q129605 How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files
NOTE: The Extract.exe tool does not search the Mini.cab cabinet file by default.

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

This problem has been addressed in the Default.sfc file included with Windows 98 Second Edition.

MORE INFORMATION
For more information about the System File Checker tool, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q185836 Description of the System File Checker Tool (Sfc.exe)
Q188186 How the System File Checker Baseline Is Determined

reghakr

 

[reghakr]

To remove the error message when opening sysedit, open Windows Explorer to the root of the c: drive. Right-click in the right pane window, choose new>Text Document, name it autoecex.bat. Simply ignore the warning. Do the same for config.sys.

reghakr