Hello everyone!

I hope you all can help me out with the following problem:

I was given a Tiger computer running windows 95. The computer ran for about a week and then shut down and came up with the blue screen of death with the error vfat initialization failure system halted. There is apparently more wrong with the windows OS then this and other files are missing as well.

I have a windows 95 boot up disk from this computer that will bring me to the a: including cd support but I am unable to load into windows from there. I cannot enter even into safe mode though it did bring up a prompt for this.

I also own a compaq presario computer which has also died in the past month that did run Win95 as well. I have an official Win95 disk with a 10 digit number on the sleeve but no product ID code documentation. However, I do have an official certificate of authenticy (CA) for Win95 that goes with the bootup disk used to reformat the Compaq machine.

Can I do any of the following and if so how?

1) can I reformat c: then use the bootup disk created to recognize the cd and do a clean reinstall of win95 with the cd and use the Product ID# I have even if it belongs to another lost disk?

2) Being unable to get into windows, is there a way besides My Computer that I can find out the Product ID loaded currently in the computer from dos and then use the win95 cd I have to reinstall windows?

3) Is there a way to get the correct product ID off the 95 disk that I have and reformat c:?

4) Would it be possible at all to do Win95 set up from the compaq restore disk onto this tiger and use the CA that goes with that disk?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jade

Thanks,
Jade

So you have one 95 cd with a 10 digit number and two non-working systems with 95 on them installed from a different 95 cd?

Some earlier 95 disks used a 3 + 7 number so if you have a disk with that number associated with it, it'll probably work OK.

I have a dos program that will read the product key from the registry but you have to be able to boot from the hard drive in order to use it. If you start tapping the F8 key (or it may be CTRL for 95) before windows starts to load you should get a boot menu. Choose command prompt only and then run the program. If your system can go that far I can email you the program.

The compaq restore disk almost certainly will not work with the tiger.

Dave

It would be great if you can email me that file for reading the registry from dos. I think I can get the system that far.

Also for clarification I have an official Certificate of Authenticity but I just don't think it belongs with the exact Win95 disk I have. Can that number be used if I am fully reformatting the HD?

For that matter is there a way to put the Win95 cd into the cd drive of one of my other systems and use my computer to read the product id from the CD?

Thanks,
Jade

Thanks,
Jade

Thanks,
Jade

OEM product keys will work with any OEM cd. Retail product keys will work with any retail cd. But oem product keys won't work with retail cd's and vice versa.

The 3 + 7 type of number is something different. I don't know, but I assume those numbers will only work with disks designed with that numbering configuration.

The 95 cd doesn't have a specific number associated with it. It has a formula or algorithm to determine if the number you enter is correct. That's why any valid number works with any cd. So there's no way to read the product key from a cd.

I'll send the file. I'll change the extension as some email services block .exe files. When you get it, change the extension back to .exe. Let me know if you have trouble receiving it.

Dave:

I sent you an email back but I'll also type the question here so this can be full post for anyone else who has a similar problem:

When I attempted to reinstall windows the system asked for an ___OEM ___ ___ format ID number. The Certificate I have does not match the installation of windows that is currently on the computer so it would not accept the OEM number I provided from the Certificate I have. If I understand your post above, then I should be able to reformat the c: drive and use the OEM format Win95 disk I have with the OEM format Certificate I have and reinstall windows that way.

Also, I received the file you offered and copied it onto a disk which I then inserted into the broken computer. I did get loaded up with f8 key to the command prompt only and copied the file from the a: to the c: drives. I then switched back to the c: drive and attempted to run the file. I get a box with DIAG:RETRIEVE REGISTRY SETTINGS FROM DOS followed by error 2 opening A:\system.dat and nothing more. Please advise.

Thanks,
Jade

Yeah, if you have an OEM cd with the OEM number you shouldn't have a problem. If you do have a problem with it accepting your number, post back and I'll see what I can do.

There may be a problem with the registry on your machine. I know DIAG will give that error if you boot from a: but if you boot from the HD it should work--at least it does with 98. I assume it'd be the same with 95.

I just read your email. I'm surprised it didn't take the number. Is the 95 cd a plain white disk with black lettering identifying it and with the 'for distribution only with a new pc message?

I retried the boot and must have done something right this time. I now have an OEM number from the machine using the file you sent me. I put that in with the disk I have and am currently reinstalling windows!!

Thanks so much!!

Thanks,
Jade

Error Message: VFAT Device Initialization Failed

Check to see if you have the following line in the Config.sys file:

DEVICE=C:\Windows\Ifshlp.sys

Also check to see if the Ifshlp.sys file is in the C:\Windows folder.

You're welcome. I'm glad you got it going. Keep Caza's link for future reference.

I did the whole ifshlp thing or at least tried. I couldn't get the extract thing right. Thats why I was going for the reinstall.

Your program did get me back into windows and the reinstall was successful. However, I get nothing but errors on top of errors now so I think reformatting may be my own solution at this point.

Thanks,
Jade

Yeah, that may be best. Post back if you have further problems.