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"Help needed - BIG problems"

I turn on my PC, and the BIOS loads up as normal. It gives all the normal info, as the BIOS does. But then the problem arises. Usually, the Windows 98 logo would appear as Windows is booting up. Instead, the BIOS displays this message:

Cannot find device file that may be needed to run Windows or a Windows application.
The Windows registry or SYSTEM.INI file refers to the device file, but the file no longer exists.
IF you deleted the file on purpose, try uninstalling the associated application using its uninstall or setup program.
If you still want to use the application associated with the device file, try reinstalling that application to replace the missing file.

----

There is then a long list of missing files, starting with JAVASUP.VXDis2sup.vxd

and then, after that, it seems that every file in teh C:WINDOWSsystemVMM32 folder is missing, judging by the list. All the files from this file/folder start with C:WINDOWSsystemVMM32, then there are 8 letters, and they end with XDis2sup. For example, here are a few of the listed fielnames:

C:WINDOWSsystemVMM32NTKERNMGXDis2sup
C:WINDOWSsystemVMM32VTDAPIATXDis2sup
C:WINDOWSsystemVMM32COMBUFFPXDis2sup

There are many, many more. The list ends with the following two files, WITHOUT the destination folder at the start:

vnetbios.vxdYSTEMvfixd.vxd
viagart.vxdYSTEMvfixd.vxd

So the last two files appear as shown above, NOT as C:WINDOWSsystemVMM32viagart.vxdYSTEMvfixd.vxd

After all this, Windows boots up. It is NOT in safe mode, but it has all the aspects of safe mode - no DVD-ROM drive, no sound, Media Player doesn't work, 16 colour palette, 640x480 resolution etc. Also, no cursor appears on screen, so everything I do is done using hotkeys and controls on the keyboard.

What's up with it? What do I do? How do I fix it?

Oh yeah, one last point. After seeing the problems, I ran ScanDisk and it found 11 errors and fixed them all. Still got the problem. Scanned for viruses using NAV, and no viruses were found. I also ran System File Checker, which found loads of problems, and requested that I inserted a CD so that it could recover the files, but it doesn't say which CD, and it doesn;'t seem to be the Win98 Boot Disc. Yes, I know, above I said I can't use teh DVD-ROM drive, but what I meant was it won't play games, music or films. It'll only run programs liek Word and stuff.

Any help will be greatly appriciated.

Thanks in advance

erm, not as far as I know.

But, as far as I am aware, none of their settings changed, and they are still listed in the Device Manager.

Start > Settings > Control Panel > System > Device Manager tab

Have you reinstalled your graphics and sound card drivers/software?

Okay, new problem:

I have reinstalled Windows 98. When it loads up, all is fine except:

- Still no sound except for the default ones that Windows plays on startup, when dialogs appear etc.
- Stiil 16 color palette
- Still 640x480 resolution

I have tried to change the colour depth and the resolution, but it always says I have to reboot for the chanegs to take affect, and when I do, it reverts back to how it was, with 16 colours, 640x480 resolution. Why? How do I fix it?

Oh yeah, I now have a cursor on the screen, which is a relief, so I can use the mouse.

Miserableman wrote:
> It should be printed on some kind of greenish certificate, above a
> barcode. I have 3 here, and they all form the front covers of the
> Win98 manuals I got with the CDs.

According to the site Garin pointed me to, it is on the Win98 instruction manual, which I've lost somewhere, which is probably why I couldn't find it.

Thanks loads Garin! It's all sorted! I owe you big time! You've been a huge help!

Twain wrote:
> There is no number/code like that.
>
> I am looking in the General tab.

Ok, as I said, doesn't appear in all versions...
Try this then...

http://www.myfavoritepc.com/support/tnproductkey.html

It should be printed on some kind of greenish certificate, above a barcode. I have 3 here, and they all form the front covers of the Win98 manuals I got with the CDs.

There is no number/code like that.

I am looking in the General tab.

No, if its displayed it'll be of the format of

XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

5 groups of letters/numbers.

Is it that long number mentioned below my surname in the Registered to: section?