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Win95 Protection Error on Boot up

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15 replies

by loopyh

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Old Toshiba Satellite 110CT (No CDRom). OS became corrupted on loading Antvirus software will now no longer boot-up in normal mode - "Windows Protection Error, You need to restart your computer". Will only go into safe mode.
Q1 - Is there anyway ofgetting it working in normal mode again without reinstalling the OS (win95/98).
Q2 - If I do need to reinstall OS (Win95/98) can anybody direct me in how I can create a set of installation discs from a CDrom.

Thanks in advance :)

15 replies

by ann777

Situation:
When you start the computer, you see one of the following error messages:
- Windows initializing device IOS: Windows protection error. IOS failed to Initialize, Please restart
- While initializing IOS: Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer

Solution:
This is a known Microsoft Windows 95 problem that occurs on a very small number of system configurations. After the error message is displayed, you may not be able to start Windows 95 normally. However, you should be able to start Windows 95 in Safe mode, and then rename the Smartdrv.exe file. Follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Shut Down. The Shut Down Windows dialog box appears.
2. Click Restart, and then click Yes. Windows will shut down and the computer will restart.
3. When "Starting Windows 95..." appears on the screen, press F8. The Windows 95 Startup Menu appears.
4. Select Safe mode, and then press Enter. Windows will start in Safe mode.

by ann777

NOTE: In Safe mode, Windows uses the default settings: VGA monitor, no network, Microsoft mouse driver, and the minimum device drivers required to start Windows. You will not have access to CD-ROM drives, printers, or other devices.

5. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.
6. Make sure that Look in is pointing to the drive where Windows is installed.
7. Type smartdrv.exe in the Named box.
8. Check Include subfolders.
9. Click Find Now. Windows will find the file and display it in the lower pane of the Find window.

NOTE: The Smartdrv.exe file will normally be found in the /Windows folder.

10. Right-click Smartdrv.exe, and then click Rename.
11. Rename the file to Smartdrv.old
12. Close the Find Files dialog box.

NOTE: If after doing this, you see error message that refer to Smartdrv.exe when you restart the computer, you need to remove any references to the file from the Autoexec.bat and Config.sys files. Please see your Windows documentation for information on how to do this.

For additional information, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base Article, Err Msg: "IOS Failed to Initialize" on Boot, Article ID: Q157924.

by loopyh

Thanks for tip but unfortunatley did not help. Error still occuring after rename and no mention of smartdrv within autoexec.bat or config.sys. Also checked out your link to the Microsoft knowledge base - still no luck.

by jesselou

rename your autoexec.bat and config.sys.uninstall your antivirus software and restart.

by curacao_dejavu

Check
http://search.support.microsoft.com/kb/psssearch.asp?FR=0&DU=C&SPR=&LPR=&D=win98x+or+winmil&LQ=win98+and+kbwinprotecterr&VA=&T=B&KT=BOOLEAN&T1=&S=F&A=T&sh=0&SG=&PSL=&LNG=ENG&VR=http%3A%2F%2Fsupport%2Emicrosoft%2Ecom%2Fsupport&CAT=Support&VRL=ENG&CND=1&SA=GN&H=Windows+98+Windows+Protection+Error+Articles

(it's one big link)

in particular MS KB 186351

regards,

btw
you can not create installations disks to install win98.
you need to install a cdrom, zipdrive or if you are on a network you can copy the cab files from the network.
and do a reinstall in the existing win98 folder.
I think you need to start uninstalling the nav since it seems like this is causing the problem.

by curacao_dejavu

I meant if updating the videodriver doesn't work than uninstalling norton.
(seems it's the videodriver since in safe mode the pc uses vga and in normal mode it will try to load the drivers of the videocard.)

by tmway

The first answer is basically correct but the answerer forgot one step. Before you rename the Smartdrv.exe make sure that in Windows Explorer under the tab view-folder options-view that it is set to show all files. If it is not set to show all filesthen the rename you did was not valid. I know because I did this the first time and I came up with the same error. So please, when you get this just do as I said and then after renaming it again it will work.

by phil.hall

Boot into Safe Mode, uninstall the antivirus software, and then reboot. It should boot into normal mode now. If it doesn't then the antivirus was not the actual cause, rather the catalyst.

by loopyh

Thanx for all replies. Managed to get a set of Win95 disks in the end for re-formatting.

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