Help - Startup problem

[spicychicken]

Hi everyone,

I am trying to fix a friends computer. The problem was a message at startup which said invalid system disk. So I used the WIN98 startup disk and done a sys c:

Now that error message has disappeared, another has appeared!

The error message thats is displayed now is:

Verifying DMI pool data

C:\>set blaster=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 T6

C:\>720897-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}then a smiley face?
Bad command or file name

C:\>


The PC is running WIN98. Would be very grateful for any help :)

[BFD Deadeye]

Does it just hang after the error message? Or are you able to boot into Windows, or at the very least Safe Mode?

[spicychicken]

Hi BFD Deadeye,

When that message appears i am unable to boot into windows at all or safe mode. It stops at that message with a command prompt, but cannot go any further.

[BFD Deadeye]

Sounds like the Master Boot Record got corrupted somehow. Hopefully one of the other 'MECHers will read and give some advice.

[Cricket]

Hi spicychicken,

I don't know what "C:\>720897-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}then a smiley face?" is, but the first line is for a SoundBlaster soundcard.

What did your friend do with his computer right before this problem occured? Did he install anything new? Did he delete or uninstall anything? Did he open a e-mail attachment?

You could try booting with a boot disk and navigate to the c: prompt and type "edit autoexec.bat" or "edit config.sys" and then try deleting everything you find in those startup files. Save and exit. It might at least let you get to Windows. You don't need anything in those startup files as they're only used in DOS for DOS programs.

If the master boot record is corrupt, get to the a: prompt and type "fdisk /mbr" and hit return. That resets the master boot record.

What kind of PC is it? Do you know the system specs for it?

:) Cricket

[freezinbutt]

Hello spicychicken,

I did a little search for you and came up with this article:

http://www.plasma-online.de/index.html?content=http%3A//www.plasma-online.de/english/help/solutions/win9x_dmi.html

I hope this helps,
freezinbutt

[spicychicken]

Brilliant, Thanks for the information Cricket & Freezinbutt. I will try these suggestions and I will let you know how i get on. Many Thanks.:)

[spicychicken]

OK i have tried all of your suggestions guys. The error message has disappeared, but it just sits at command prompt now.
Also the himem.sys is not loading for some reason as i tried to run scandisk and it told me. I have edited the config.sys by putting in either of these commands:

device=a\himem.sys & device=c\windows\himem.sys

These don't work

Any more help appreciated :-)

[Cricket]

Hi spicychicken,

When you boot up your system, exactly what screens do you see? Do you ever see the "Verifying DMI Pool Data..." message?

Are you ending up at the c: prompt? Try typing cd Windows, then at the c: windows prompt type "win" and hit Enter. Let us know what happens.

:) Cricket

[spicychicken]

Hi Cricket,

Verifyng DMI pool data does appear. Then a command prompt appears. I changed the directory to windows like you said and it started to load up. Whilst it is loading up a blue screen suddenly appears saying:

VFAT devive initialization failed

A device or resource required by VFAT is not present or is unavailable. VFAT cannot continue loading.

System Halted

I guess this maybe something to do with the himem.sys?

Thanks:)

[Cricket]

Hi spicychicken,

Check out these MS Knowledge Base Articles:

MS Knowledge Base Article: VFAT Device Initialization Failed (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q139063)

MS Knowledge Base Article: Missing Himem.sys (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q116253)

There articles involve editing the DOS startup files config.sys and autoexec.bat. It's funny...normally when you first install Windows 98 the autoexec.bat and config.sys files are totally empty. They get filled with command lines by programs that require certain parameters or functions while in DOS.

Did your friend have a virus on his system recently?

:) Cricket

[freezinbutt]

Hello again spicy chicken,

Did a bit more digging on this and here is what I found:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q139/0/63.asp

I am now starting to wonder if this is a RAM problem or perhaps a virus of some kind. Do you happen to know what your friend did to this computer before they brought it to you.

Hang in there...we're gonna figure this thing out yet.

freezinbutt

[freezinbutt]

Wow....cricket beat me by 4 minutes. :)

I guess timing is everything. :)

freezinbutt

[spicychicken]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the help once again. It is not even getting to the Blue VFAT error message screen now. Still saying that himem.sys is not in the windows directory. I don't have any background information on this PC such as Viruses or other things the user has done to it. I have tried the above suggestions from the links but no luck.
Do you think it would be best to reinstall windows just to be on the safe side??

[doubledragon5]

Hi spicychicken

If all ideas have failed I would FDISK thd HD and MBR and try reinstalling windows, I have done this only if all else fails.

Alsto when done and if working I would check for updated drivers for that audio card before installing the original.

Good Luck