Win 98 comp boots to C:/windows>

[JCB]

I am working on my buddy's comp that is running WIN98 and it boots to a DOS prompt that says C:/WINDOWS>. I tried to reinstall windows but I still get the same thing. Any idea what I need to do to get it running again? If he had come to me with this problem 5-6 years ago I would probably remember what to do!

[glc]

If you type WIN does it go into the GUI?

Check msdos.sys to make sure it's not defaulting to "command prompt only".

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/118579

[JCB]

Originally Posted by glc If you type WIN does it go into the GUI? Check msdos.sys to make sure it's not defaulting to "command prompt only". http://support.microsoft.com/kb/118579

If I type in "win" at the command prompt it says "You are currently running in MS-DOS mode. Do you want to return to normal mode, to run windows applications again [Enter=Y, Esc=N]?

I type Y and it reboots, goes back to the win 98 splash screen then boots to the command prompt.
I have looked at the msdos.sys file and bootgui is set to 1. I took it to 0 for the heck of it and it boots to the command prompt regardless of whether it is set to 0 or 1....

[sgtspector]

Have you tried hitting "F8" after the bios screen goes off?

[glc]

At the C:\windows> prompt, type the following:

cd\ (enter)
edit autoexec.bat (enter)

Write down everything in there and post it, please. I suspect there may be a line that says:

dos=single

If so, delete that line.

[JCB]

Originally Posted by glc At the C:\windows> prompt, type the following: cd\ (enter) edit autoexec.bat (enter) Write down everything in there and post it, please. I suspect there may be a line that says: dos=single If so, delete that line.

Autoexec.bat file consists of the following:

@ECHO OFF
SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND;C:\
lh C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND/MSCDEX.EXE /D:IBMCD001 /l:g /M:8
MOUSE.COM
C:\WINDOWS\CWDINIT.EXE /0
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 T4
C:\WINDOWS\CWDMIX.EXE /M=15 /L=15 /C=15 /W=15 /F=15
LH C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\DOSKEY
REM
REM The following lines have been created by windows. Do not modify them.
REM
C:
CD C:\WINDOWS
CALL C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM

WHEW!!!
That was a lot of typing. It's times like these that I forget how much we depend on copy and paste!

Anywho, I dont see the dos line that you mentioned GLC.

P.S. This comp is and IBM Aptiva. Not sure if that helps any.

[sgtspector]

I am not sure but I don't think that last line belongs there. Save the file as autoexec.??? or whatever and edit the file and type win in place of it. You can always go back to your original if that is not the problem.

[glc]

Just rename autoexec.bat to autoexec.old and start it up with no autoexec.bat. You do not need it.

[juppy]

Originally Posted by glc At the C:\windows> prompt, type the following: cd\ (enter) edit autoexec.bat (enter) Write down everything in there and post it, please. I suspect there may be a line that says: dos=single If so, delete that line.

It's been awhile since I messed with DOS, but I thought that "dos=single" line was usually in the config.sys file, not the autoexec.bat.

[JCB]

Originally Posted by glc Just rename autoexec.bat to autoexec.old and start it up with no autoexec.bat. You do not need it.

OK, did that but it is still giving me the "You are currently running in MS-DOS mode. Do you want to return to normal mode, to run windows applications again [Enter=Y, Esc=N]?

I type yeah and it loops back to the splash screen and back to above message.....UGH!!!!

[TwoRails]

Originally Posted by JCB Autoexec.bat file consists of the following: @ECHO OFF SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND;C:\ lh C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND/MSCDEX.EXE /D:IBMCD001 /l:g /M:8 MOUSE.COM C:\WINDOWS\CWDINIT.EXE /0 SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 T4 C:\WINDOWS\CWDMIX.EXE /M=15 /L=15 /C=15 /W=15 /F=15 LH C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\DOSKEY REM REM The following lines have been created by windows. Do not modify them. REM C: CD C:\WINDOWS CALL C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM ....

Remove the "CALL' statement. Call "CALLs" another program to run and won't "return" until the program is finished. Since your returning back to Windows, you're in a loop.

Since this is a Win 98 box, you will need the other statements (SET BLASTER, etc) for thing to work right. -- Is the system using on-board sound??

[JCB]

Originally Posted by TwoRails Remove the "CALL' statement. Call "CALLs" another program to run and won't "return" until the program is finished. Since your returning back to Windows, you're in a loop. Since this is a Win 98 box, you will need the other statements (SET BLASTER, etc) for thing to work right. -- Is the system using on-board sound??

I restored autoexec to load once again and deleted the CALL line but.....it is still giving me the "You are currently running in MS-DOS mode. Do you want to return to normal mode, to run windows applications again [Enter=Y, Esc=N]?

Yes, it has on-board sound. I just found the specs if that helps.

IMB Aptiva E2N
Features. The Aptiva E2N is a $799 system ($1098 with monitor), packed with a 266MHz AMD K6-2 processor with 3D Now! Technology. The unit sports 512KB L2 cache, a 4GB hard drive, and 32MB RAM, which is upgradeable to 256MB. Ready to support all of your multimedia requirements, the E2N has a 56K V.90 compatible modem, 32X CD-ROM drive, an ATI Rage Pro chip with Direct 3D, and AGP support accompanied by 2MB SGRAM video memory.

[glc]

Okay, now let's see your config.sys.

TR, Win98 does NOT need an autoexec.bat as long as the OS has 32 bit drivers for all devices.

[TwoRails]

I think we are looking at the "need" of the Autoexec file from different angles, glc. Just Windows does not need it but there are many programs that use the PATH statement to load and run: without their specific line, they either won't run or run correctly. You can not use the memory benefit of LH, either, not neat little "tricks" like DOSKEY.

[JCB]

Originally Posted by glc Okay, now let's see your config.sys. TR, Win98 does NOT need an autoexec.bat as long as the OS has 32 bit drivers for all devices.

The config.sys had the dos=single line in it.
I deleted that and it is booting up into windows now.
Thanks for all the help guys, I really appreciate it!

[glc]

TR, you have valid points, but for troubleshooting down to the basics you don't need it.

Good call, Juppy - I knew it was *somewhere* - .........

[juppy]

Heheh.....I'll still give you credit for this one, glc, because I hadn't even thought of that line until you mentioned it. But after reading your suggestion, I just thought "That's not where that's at, is it???"