Windows can't find vredir.vxd, dfs.vxd, msnp32.dll when it boots 1

[petey]

Using Win 98. Here's the deal:

I just installed MSN broadband, and now my machine says it can't find some files when it boots up: vredir.vxd, dfs.vxd, and msnp32.dll.

First it goes to a DOS-looking screen with text that says an application listed in the registry or system.ini can't find a certain file. This happens once for vredir.vxd and once for dfs.vxd. Then it thinks for awhile, displays the wallpaper, and pops up a small box saying it can't load msnp32.dll and I won't have access to the Microsoft network. I click okay and Windows is up and running.

I still have internet access, so apparently my DSL service works. I'm not sure if the MSN ISP part is functioning, or if it's failing over to my previous ISP, which I haven't dropped yet.

Anyways, I've downloaded the three files from the web but don't know where to put them. c:\windows\system didn't work. Is there a way to find where they need to go? Anybody have more insight?

Thanks,
Petey

P.S. I've seen several other forum postings with very similar problems; all involving these same files. Never seen an answer that was usable. I'll mark this thread helpful if an answer can be found, hopefully helping others with the same problem.

 

[Kento]

You can delete the files you downloaded. They won't get you anywhere. See the third question-answer posted here and see if that fixes it. It should.

http://www.cnet.com/software/0-429669-8-4833919-1.html

 

[xkjdhdg]

SOLUTION FOR ERROR MESSAGES ABOUT
THESE FILES: dfs.vxd, vredir.vxd, and msnp32.dll
(WINDOWS 98).

DFS.VXD, VREDIR.VXD:

"Start" Menu > "Run" and type in sfc. This starts the
"System file checker".
Select the "extract one file" option.
Type in the name of the first file you are missing (with the
.vxd extension) and press "start".
A window will appear with the destination and source
paths requested. Type in :\win98 for the source and
C:\windows\system for the destination.
Repeat the process again substituting
C:\windows\system\vmm32 for the destination path.
Do this for every file reported missing.

MSNP32.DLL:

"Start" Menu > "Configurations"/"Settings" > "Control
Panel" > "Network" > "Configurations"/"Setting" Guide >
CLIC "Microsoft network client" AND "Microsoft
products logon" > CLIC "Remove" button > CONFIRMS
AND RESTARTS THE MACHINE.
ATTENTION: IF USES NETWORK RE-INSTALL
THESE COMPONENTS/ITENS. ("TO
ADD..."/"ADDITION...&quot

 

[dinosnake]

You reconfigured, or removed, some of the network devices and Windows did not properly reconfigure the driver stack to reflect that change. The Registry still has entries for files it no longer uses.

Do this very carefully. Since your DSL service works (sound like it's USB) you should be able to do this with no damage.

Start RegEdit. Surf down - by clicking on the 'plus' next to each of the folllowing names:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
System
CurrentControlSet
Services
VxD

and click, in the left window pane, one at a time each of the names that gave you a problem:

vredir.vxd
dfs.vxd
msnp32.dll

After clicking on one hit the 'Delete' key and answer 'Yes' to remove the key. Then reboot. Your mileage may vary...

 

[petey]

Yarf! My machine boots normally now! Woo-Hoo!

Thanks Kento, I followed the instructions in the article you listed, and it worked. I didn't need to try the other suggestions, but thanks for your responses.

For posterity, I'll paste the text of that article here for everyone else's benefit.

--------------------------

http://www.cnet.com/software/0-429669-8-4833919-1.html

Missing file messages at start-up

Q: When I start my PC, a message says that device drivers in the system.ini file are missing. The files are vredir.vxd and dfs.vxd. Windows starts up, but then I get an error message showing that a dynamic link called msnp32.dll is missing. What are these files, and how do I fix the problem?

A: All of these files are related to Microsoft networking, and the error messages mean you need to change or reinstall your networking components. You'll need your original Windows installation CD or the installation files on your hard disk.

With the installation CD in place, right-click Network Neighborhood (Windows 95/98) or My Network Places (Windows Me) and select Properties from the menu. You will see references to a client for Microsoft Networks, TCP/IP, your dial-up adapter, or your network card. Select "Client for Microsoft Networks," choose Remove, and click OK. Windows will reconfigure for the absence of this component and prompt you to restart the system, which you should do.

When the system restarts, you may or may not see the same error messages, depending on how misconfigured the system is. After Windows has started, repeat the steps to get to the Network properties window. Now click Add and double-click Client in the "Select Network Component Type" window. Select Microsoft as the manufacturer in the left half of the window and choose "Client for Microsoft Networks" in the right window. Click OK twice to accept this setting and to complete the properties configuration. Then restart the system as prompted. The errors should vanish, and networking should function properly.

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-petey