Win 95 statup problem

[68vetteracer]

First of I need to saw that I don't know very much about any of the 9x systems so i may be a little slow in understanding things so the clearer the explaination the better.
My problem is that I have a Win 95 computer that wont start normally. When I first start it up it run throught the normal routine and then it stops after this is displayed
TIME: 00:00:00

C:\>
C:\>
C:\>

C:\>SET SOUND=C:\PROGRA''1\CREATIVE\CTSND

C:\>SET MIDI=SYNTH=1 MAP:E

C:\>BLASTER=A220 IS D1 H5 P330 T6

C:\>REM **** The Following Line Was Added By Ca$hGraF ***

C:\>SHARE.EXE /F:2048 /L:20
Bad Command Or File Name

C:\>REM -By Windows Setup- C:\WINDOWS\COMMANMSCDEX.EXE /D:MSCD001

C:\>
C:\>
C:\>

After it displays this for a few second the computer shuts down, When you restart it automatically asks if you want to start into safe mode.
I really don't know what to do.
Thanks for the help
Ben

[glc]

If you can get to the boot menu - start tapping F8 when it's starting up - choose "safe mode command prompt only" - it should just go to a C prompt. Then type the following:

ren config.sys config.old
ren autoexec.bat autoexec.old

Then see if it will boot into Windows.

[68vetteracer]

when I typed in the first command it accepted it and the second command it told me that it was a duplicate command and was already in use.
When you say to boot into windows do you mean by resarting the computer or using the command prompt, if you mean the command prompt then could you tell me waht command to use(I'm not up to snuuf on my commands lately)
Thanks
Ben

[glc]

Okay - then try ren autoexec.bat autoexec.pcm - any extension will do as long as it's not already in use.

Boot into Windows = try doing a normal restart.

[68vetteracer]

I tried the new command but this time it told me that it could find the file config.sys
i tried just the ren config.sys and it told me that it was missing a parameter.
I'm not quite sure why it would have found the file this morning but not tonight.

Just out of curiosity what exactly am i telling the computer to do, or trying to get it to do?
thanks again for the help
Ben

[glc]

You already renamed config.sys - now rename autoexec.bat. You are trying to start it up with neither file.

[68vetteracer]

That seemed to wrok but now i get the message
error loading lmouse.drv
you must reinstall windows
Please tell me that i don't have to reinstall windows
I have th2 windows 95 cd but i really don't want the work
Thanks for the help this far
Ben

[glc]

You have enough problems where a reinstall over the top would be best. You might want to run hardware diags on the ram and hard drive first.

[68vetteracer]

What is the best way to reinstall over the top. I have reinstalled and installed XP on a few different computers but im not sure how to do it on a windows 95 system and still keep all the programs still working if that is possible.
Is it just as simple as putting the 95 cd in and booting from the cd and selecting and install
Thanks again for the help
I hate to take up all your time
Ben

[glc]

The 95 CD is not bootable. You need a bootdisk with CD drivers. Once you do that, it's just like installing 98 over the top, check out the procedure in Tips and Tricks.

[68vetteracer]

I know that this is kind of a stupid question but where do i find directions for the type of boot disk you reccomend.
You are a life saver
Thanks again
Ben

[GaryRouth]

Here's a webpage with links to bootable diskettes for Windows 95 original, and Windows 95 "B" (also called OSR2 - it's a later version that supports the FAT32 file system, along with other improvements). Might as well use the one that matches the version you have. [Though it's not that important, since all you'll be doing with the disk is starting the computer in DOS to rename the files, & to start the "over-the-top" reinstall]. If your Win95 is a later version, it's likely printed as such on the CD's label.

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

Here's the forum link to the over-the-top guide:
http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=70846

Best of luck
. . . Gary


And, just in case you wondered how many versions of Windows 95 there were, here's a list -- the first two in the list are "original version", the last three are OSR2 "B" versions:

Windows 95 retail, OEM 4.00.950 7/11/95
Windows 95 retail SP1 4.00.950A 7/11/95-12/31/95
OEM Service Release 2 4.00.1111* (4.00.950B) 8/24/96
OEM Service Release 2.1 4.03.1212-1214* (4.00.950B) 8/24/96-8/27/97
OEM Service Release 2.5 4.03.1214* (4.00.950C) 8/24/96-11/18/97

[68vetteracer]

When i look up the product key I only get a the number xxxxx-OEM-xxxxxxx-xxxxx Is this what i need, I thought that it needed to be 25 characters but if this is what i need then i will use it, If not then I might be in trouble

[oryx]

That is a proper key for Windows-95.

[Kareeser]

I'm not so sure. When you input the 25 character CD key, the program automatically generates a corresponding product key.

The product key 68vetter mentioned probably won't work during the install...

[glc]

Windows 95 did not use 25 character CD keys, these did not come till Windows 98. Your key is correct.

I edited yours to stop piracy.

[68vetteracer]

thanks glc i didn't even think about that when i posted it. I will give the key a try to today and hopfully it will solve my problems

[68vetteracer]

i started the over the top install but when I typed in setup under the cd drive it said that it was an invalid command
I think it might be the boot disk but i'm not sure
Any suggestions?
Ben

[glc]

You have to change directory to the win9x directory. If you are at a "naked" prompt, type cd win9x and hit enter so you get a "x:>win9x" prompt. (x being the drive letter)

[68vetteracer]

wheb i tried the promt it tells me that it is an invalid directory. I typed in dir to check what directories there were and the only one i got was mssetup so i tried that but it said that was also an invalid directory
Ben

[glc]

So, that is the only directory off the ROOT of the CD? Then you don't have a real Win95 CD.

[68vetteracer]

I suppose i should check to make sure that that is the only directory. I typed in the command dir and it was the only one listed but the cd came with the computer and it looks like all the other legit cds that i have seen but if its not then i will just toss it
Thanks for the help
Ben