w98 missing devise file

[mikemnf]

I am having a problem trying to log on to my wife's computer. I get the message - Cannot find a device file that may be needed to run Windows or a Windows application.
Windows register or SYSTEM.INI file refers to this devise file but the devise file no longe exists. -
It then goes on to explain that I should either use the programs uninstall, or reinstall.
At the end of the message the following appears- z:vvinesd.386 - What is going on? The last thing it says is to press any key to continue, but I get nowhere doing this. If I press (cont + alt + del) I get into safe mode, then from there I get back into regular mode by restarting. I can't run a program Print Shop, but other programs run ok. I tried to re-load Print Shop, but for some reason I haven't been able to get it to download from disc. Does any of this make sense to anyone? HELP!!!!

Mike

[newme]

you can read this hope it helps http://members.aol.com/don5408/uaskb/vines.html

[mikemnf]

Thank You newme;
I am trying the instructions listed on the site. So far step 1 doesn't apply, and in step 2, I got the first half done but now I haven't been able to restart. I have to leave now, but will try again tomorrow.

Thanks again
Mike

[pointd]

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.p...8se+error+code

[mikemnf]

Thank You pointd;

How do I back up my registry? It amazes me how trying to find references to common terms, in the 3 different W98 manuals I have, proves to be fruitless.

With regards to your allergies, don't worry, they go away with age. Enjoy them while you can.

Mike

[Redo40]

Start/run/type regedit/click registry button/export/I just save mine to the desktop and name it reg.bak. If something happens and you need to restore it all you have to do is click on it, if not just right click and delete.

[mikemnf]

Hi Redo40;

I am always afraid to start a string unless I know all that is to be done or where it is going. Even then I get myself into these problems. After "/export/" do I then type "desktop/reg.bak" then press OK? I like the idea of having it on the desktop. Would I also update it every time I added a new program or connected to another computer?

Mike

[newme]

after you click export you will have a sve in box come up,select desktop from the drpo down box,at the bottom name it (in file name box)reg.bak,click save.the reason to do this is when your making changes to the registry,if you have problem you can always restore the original settings.

[pointd]

What Redo means is that when you click the Export button the normal file Save dialog box will open. At the top of this is a box where you can click the dropdown arrow and select Desktop. Call the file RegBackup (or similar), make sure that the option at the bottom of the dialog box is set to Export All and NOT Selected Branch, and then Click Save.

You only really need to do this whenever you are editing the registry manually. Most installations of Windows 98 backup the registry once a day by default anyway.

The allergies will be around for a while yet.

[joe merc]

simply testing to see if i can post

[joe merc]

The advice you have been getting has been on the right track.

What has happened is that someone has installed the banyan vines protocol on the computer.

The computer is looking for the z: drive on another computer to join with in a network. This is being called for from the registry

You need to do the following

backup registry and save it (desktop is good place)
remove the banyan vines protocol as per the article
remove the z:vvinesd.386 located in the registry.

I found that by continually tapping enter at the screen in win98se I could get the computer started. Try that it could work depending on your os.

If you can get in via safe mode do so.

once you have found z:vvinesd.386 in the registry and deleted it the computer should start fine.

I finished it off and deleted the vines or vvines folder also. ( cant recall exact name)

run regedit
find
type z:vvinesd.386

simply deleting this entry will be sufficient but deleting the folder containing the entry will also do the trick.

[joe merc]

Hmm Im not sure what operating system you use. I use win 98
In MY autoexec.bat I found a number of commands which had been trying to execute but were stopped by windows, since the computer could not connect.

Go into autoexec.bat and take a look at any extra commands you may have in it. Depends on your OS I suppose.

The z: vvines.386 message was also found here. I deleted all these extra entries from here also to clean out junk.

When I had cleaned these out I rebooted and found that the registry entry still brought up the error message. Then I assaulted the registry

Good luck

[mikemnf]

Hello All;

I went into the registry and deleted the file, now when I boot up I get a screen of what looks to be a dos program. If I wait a minute I finally boot properly.

Mike

[joe merc]

What do you mean by a "dos screen" ? Are you talking about a black screen with white writing giving you the same message?

What operating system are you using?

Have you looked at your autoexec.bat?

If not what does it contain?

[mikemnf]

4th attempt at replying. I am moving on to replaceing the hard drive. I have installed W98, Quick Books and other programs. I am hoping I can retrieve the information I need in Quick books.
Thanks for your help

Mike