Can't load Windows

[talltony]

I was downloading a wmv.file to the hard drive and went off to make a cuppa when I returned I was faced with the dreaded blue screen telling me: "Unable to write to drive C some data my be lost".
So I "clicked here to return to Windows" as instructed and nothing happened so I switched off and tried to restart.I now get "C:\HOCDROM\UM11010.SYS followed by " there is an error in CONFIG.SYS FILE in line 1" then command prompt(?) C:\>_
I'm now running on my old hard drive.I should mention this is an old machine running Win98. The file was from a link on Adv.rider and has been viewed by others so I guess it's OK.I have AVG anti virus also.
Any suggestions please?
Thanks
Tony

 

[Ste@SSB]

Couple of questions...

Are you able to plug that drive in with the one you are using now?...
Do you know how to scan a drive for errors?...
Has the drive been making noises like a washing machine?...
Do you have a Win98 disk?...

...and last but not least ... have you tried safe mode?...

 

[talltony]

Couple of questions...

Are you able to plug that drive in with the one you are using now?...
Do you know how to scan a drive for errors?...
Has the drive been making noises like a washing machine?...
Do you have a Win98 disk?...

...and last but not least ... have you tried safe mode?...

Yes,it looks like I can plug in both drives
It doesn't get past the page where it says " verify DMI data" or similar so I can't run scandisk (or anything else)
No noise from the drive,it's about 3 mths old.
No disk I'm afraid.
It won't start in safe mode.All I get is C:\>_ but I don't know what to type
Thanks,
Tony

 

[Mick_rw]

When ....

It won't start in safe mode.All I get is C:\>_ but I don't know what to type
Thanks,
Tony

you get to the C:\ prompt....type the following

Dont type this bit 'Enter' = Press the Enter/Return Key

CD Windows 'Enter'
CD Command 'Enter'
edit c:\ config.sys 'Enter'


Go to the line which shows the C:\HOCDROM\UM11010.SYS and at the start of the line type REM so it should look like this.

REM C:\HOCDROM\UM11010.SYS

save the file and reboot the PC.

If I remeber rightly when you try to boot in safe mode with Win98 you get the option to step through you config.sys and autoexec.bat files you could try that, when it comes to the C:\HOCDROM\UM11010.SYS say No

Been along time since I played with 98, so hope I got it all right.

Mick

 

[talltony]

Hi Mick,
Just to confirm that I actually type
CD WINDOWS (hit Enter)
CD COMMAND (hit enter)
edit C:\CONFIG.SYS (hit enter)
If so,when I type those commands I get 'bad command or file name'
I can't bypass autoexec.bat and config.sys as it won't start in
safe mode,just gives me the command prompt again.
Tony

 

[Mick_rw]

Ummmm...

Hi Mick,
Just to confirm that I actually type
CD WINDOWS (hit Enter)
CD COMMAND (hit enter)
edit C:\CONFIG.SYS (hit enter)
If so,when I type those commands I get 'bad command or file name'
I can't bypass autoexec.bat and config.sys as it won't start in
safe mode,just gives me the command prompt again.
Tony

Ok, do you get the bad command after each line?.....sounds as though it can't see the windows directory, to check if it's there.....

Firstly check the config.sys is there type

Dir config.* 'Enter'

then at the C:\ prompt type...

dir *. /p 'Enter'

the *. will list directories only and the /p will do them page at a time,

this will list all the directories on the C: drive, check it has a windows folder.

the command CD = change Directory

If the windows directory is there type

dir c:\windows\*. /p to check if the command directory is there.

In the command directory are all the dos programs.

if you see the command directory try this

c:\windows\command\edit.exe c:\config.sys

Hope the above makes sense...

If the Windows directory does not show up then either windows was not installed with default settings or ...... If that is the case then you may have to reinstall from the Windows CD.

 

[talltony]

Mick,

Dir config.*

''VOLUME IN DRIVE C IS HARD DRIVE
VOLUME SERIAL NUMBER IS 44CD-A6F3
DIRECTORY OF C:\
File not found''

dir*./p

''Bad command or file name''

Looks like a Windows CD reqd. to start again?

Thanks for your help,
Tony

 

[ssbrown19]

Not sure if you did this but you need a space between the dir and the *./p

so if i were to insert _ as a space it would read

dir_*./p

if you type it all without a space you will get 'bad command.....'

Hope that helps