Command interpreter

[Jp1095]

Alright, I'm stumped. I'm up at college right now and my brother seems to have come across quite a problem in my absence. He started defragmenting yesterday morning, but it was taking too long and he closed the program before finishing. Then he went to restart the computer, it shutdown, but was unable to open windows. The computer goes to a black screen containing white text asking for the "command interpreter". I've instructed him in opening windows in safe mode, but that doesnt work either. Any help would me much appreciated.

[andyms18a]

try a boot with a windows floppy disk (make shore its the same version your runing ie win 95 98fe 98se or me ) and at the a prompt type sys c: and hit enter

[Jp1095]

Did the above:
New message:
Esolo ect, then the c:\>
Anything else we got?
Thanks in advance.

[andyms18a]

at the c:\> type cd windows and hit enter the screan shod now look like this
c:\windows> type win and hit enter and post back
ps if it boots to windows do not turn it of till we fix the boot sector

[Jp1095]

himen.sys is missing make sure thta the file is in the windows directory.

Thats the messgae it gives us. This is not my specialty.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Rectify the path to C:\Windows\Command

That's where himem.sys lives.

[Jp1095]

Damn this thing.
When attempting to boot up, it goes straight to the command prompt. If I try to go to windows from there It gives me an error saying:
VFAT Device Initialization Failed
A device or resource required by VFAT is not present or is unavailable. VFAT cannot continue loading.
System Haulted.

Other times it will give the same message as before, I've looked in c:\windows\command, and was unable to find himem.sys.
I tried to use ext to copy it form the boot disk to c:\windows\command but it gives an error saying it connot open A:\(null).

Not enjoying Dos too muhc today.
Thanks in advance.

[andyms18a]

affter repleycating your problam on our test computer we can get back to windows but the system becomes very unstable as a lot of files wear damaged by the shut down during defrag
the best way to fix is boot with a win98 floppy and put your windows cd in the drive and do a over the top install of windows this will rewright the boot sector and replace any damaged files.
post back if you nead any moor help
andy

[mike breck]

If you still have problems after a Windows reinstall, then scan for Viruses (I'm thinking Boot Sector virus here) and test your Ram with Doc Memory

http://www.simmtester.com/

[Jp1095]

I was hoping to avoid a reinstall, but, guess there is njot choice. Thank you both for helping out. I'll go and try this and post back with the results.

[Jp1095]

Did the install and the computer is now running fine. Thanks again, this sint the first time Pcmech has saved me, and I've a feeling it wont be the last.

[mike breck]

If you do an overlay or "over the top" install as Andy suggested, then, on a good day, you won't lose any data or preferences.

You're not formatting the HD, so it's not too bad.

I would recommend the virus check and testing the Ram, sooner rather than later. All the symptoms you describe could be attributed to either.

If you can swop the Ram with known, working Ram, then you might find that was the cause all along.

No guarantees of course - only trial and error.

:)

[andyms18a]

as mike points out it may well be a ram problam my thinking is defrag put files in to ram to move it had problams geting them back and then the program was shut down then windows was shut down and the data was lost in the ram as it needs power to hold data.
any way glad its fixed all ways happy to help
andy