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Can't boot past Win98se Splash Screen

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15 replies

by ybro2

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Trouble started when my comp froze solid while burning a cd and had to reset.
My comp flashes the Win98se splash screen then goes to C prompt.
When I run step-by-step confirmation @ startup the sequence goes==> Prompt:Create a startup log file(Bootlog.txt)?..Yes
Prompt:Process your startup device drivers(Config.sys)? ..Yes Prompt:DEVICE=C:WIN~\HIMEM.SYS?..Yes
Prompt: C:\>SET PATH=C:\Progra~1\Ultrae~1
SET PATH=C:\Progra~1\Ultrae~1?..Yes
C:\> It then ends here at C prompt.
There is no Bootlog.txt file in the C directory..is this unusual? It appears my startup files have been damaged or erased??..How do I replace these if so? I have win98se boot disk AND startup disk I made some time ago.
Scandisk says there are no problems..When I slave the hard drive to my other one, that runs win95, I can access all its files with no problem. I can also browse through its directories at the C prompt.

15 replies

by ybro2

I forgot to mention it loads to the C prompt if I try to startup regularly or in safemode

by thechas

I would start by booting to the W98 startup floppy, and re-installing W98.

Your settings will be retained.
To keep software updates, answer yes when asked if you want to keep a newer file.

You might also want to check out this Tech Republic article.

Learn to rebuild the Windows registry from DOS

Aug 7, 2000
John Kowaleski

use all lower case letters in the TR search box.

Chas

by ybro2

That article was helpful..in the end I had to reinstall windows..everything came out great..thx

by pocono

Try not processing the C:\>set path=C:\Progra~1\Ultrae~1. See if it boots....

by pocono

Try not processing the C:\>set path=C:\Progra~1\Ultrae~1. See if it boots....

by zbopz

Try restoring the master boot record. Insert your Windows Startup disk and boot it. At the prompt type fdisk /mbr and then take the disk out and reboot.

by Former member

Will it boot using Safe Mode? Try editing msdos.sys (you'll have to take the hidden,system & read only attributes off it) >
c:\attrib msdos.sys -h -s -r
& check the line
BootGUI=1
if the value is 0 the Windows GUI doesn't load.

by ybro2

This led me directly to the source of the problem...somehow my msdos.sys file had been modified and it contained no command lines. I was able to rewrite it to further figure out my comp's ailments...I'm not sure what happened but it ended up that mywhole "Iosubsys" and "Vmm32" directories in the windows\system folder had gotten deleted....I am fortunately back up and running... Thanx

by ybro2

TER 1!!!!! NO..I cannot boot to safe mode
I just checked that file "msdos.sys" and it ONLY contains the text ";SYS". From what you just posted this seems like a BIG PROBLEM. Is it? It appears this file has been corrupted. Can I replace it from my win98 cd? This seems like the right path..please post again..also my e-mail is nyates787@cs.com thanx to all in advance

by 7nt

There should be backup files of your MSDOS.SYS file. They will be called either MSDOS.BAK or MSDOS.---

Rename one of them to MSDOS.SYS and reboot, but first view the file and ensure that it contains the line "BootGUI=1". You may have to check theproperties and untick the "hidden" and "write only" options first. Make sure you reset them when finished editing.

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