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Don't know what happened, but my computer now refuses to start up. I press the button, it gears up, shows the windows logo on the screen, then shuts itself off. I tried starting in safe mode, but the same thing happens.
This morning, after a period away from the machine, OE stopped receiving emails and my internet wouldn't connect. I clicked to restart it, and that's the first time it happened: Shut down, then restarted, then shut itself off.
I am devastated!
Only a few different things have been going on in the last few days. My disk space was getting used up, and I had lots of popups appearing, so I spent some time deleting old or suspicious files. I've also been scanning a lot of photos for a Christmas project. But everything has been working fine, no glitches, no warnings.
Can my computer be saved?
your computer have a serious problem you can creat a startup cd or a floppy which start a opreting system in your computer .your computer is not work but do at your friends computer to creat a startup cd.you start you friends computer go to controlplanel and the go to add/remove in this 3 option is startup disk you enter a floopy and creat a startup floopy for your computer and this you can try to your computer you you start it you enter the floopy in and you may ask boot from cdrom support you enter it and you problem is solve.
when your problem is solve you save all your files and format the partitions of your computer
ishalallah your problem is solve
0 
First determine if it's hardware or O/S related. Try starting with an EBD. (Emergency Boot Disk or Startup Disk) If the system runs OK then it's not a hardware or overheating problem. The problem lies within Windows.
Post back with the results of the above. In the meantime, here's a couple of links to MS shutdown articles;
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;141898
http://support.microsoft.com/common/canned.aspx?r=d&h=shutdown+articles&ll=kbwin98search+or+kbwin98sesearch&sz=w98shutdown&cdid=en-us-kb&lcid=1033
0
You mentioned pop-ups and your HD being used up. This sounds like malware or virus activity. If you have removed a valid file this would add to the problem.
A bit late now but the best way would have been to run a malware fixer such as Ad-Aware (free) and your virus checker.
See if you can get into Safe Mode, like this:
Tap F8 key while booting. If the start menu arrives (list of options) then choose Safe Mode. If this works then maybe there is something we can do - will think about that if you get there so post back.
Derek.W
0
I'm hoping to copy the necessary file onto floppy from this other computer, but I'm not sure where to find it. (wininit.exe?) I can't find my startup disks atm, but I don't want to use them if I can avoid it, cause won't that delete all my data?
I had used adaware and others to clear malware, but it ignored so many sources. So I googled the names of files I didn't recognize and then deleted accordingly. I think I must have deleted the crucial file (although this problem didn't start til a couple days after that).
My husband mentioned a virus that is now doing exatctly this to computers. But I think it more likely that I deleted an all-important file.
Can you folks guide me through finding the file (whatever it is) on this other machine, copying it onto floppy, and then getting it to work in my own computer?
How will I get it to read the file in the floppy before it shuts down, though?
I did try opening in safe mode, but it shuts off right after it gets into that mode.
Thanks!!!
0
There must be some reason you feel that wininit.exe is missing ???
Go through that F8 stuff again but this time choose one of the two command prompts.
Then type dir c:\windows\wininit.exe (hit Return key).
If it says "File not found" it is indeed missing. If it shows a file of about 42KB then there is obviously some file there.
If need be I can send you a file and instructions on how to put it back.
Are you Windows First Edition or Windows Second edition (W98SE)? I think this file is the same for both but it is better to put back the correct one just in case.
Do that F8 stuff again any this time type:
dir c:\command.com (hit Return).
If the date is 23 April 1999 then it's second edition, if it's 11 May 1998 then it's first edition.
Derek.W
0
I posted #5 some time back but somehow it never appeared (finger trouble I expect). I've been some time trying to find your post again.
I'm going to take a chance and send you the first edition file. Get it put onto a floppy then insert it into the machine with the problem. Tap F8 again and choose one of the command prompts.
Type this:
copy a:\wininit.exe c:\windows (hit Return).
This will put your file back. If it asks whether you want to "Overwrite" then there is already a file there.Am doing this because it's past 3pm in the UK here and I need to hit the sack.
Derek.W
0
Email was returned. Either your address is not valid or maybe you are set to not receive .exe files.
If you want to post another address do it in this form:
Fred
dot
smith
"at sign"
hotmail
dot
comThis will ensure that the spammers search engines don't pick up the "at sign" and put you on their junk email list.
Pick you up later tomorrow (or maybe someone else will). I still think you might have some spyware but if we can get wininit.exe replaced and get to Windows, or even Safe Mode, then we can deal with that if necessary.
Derek.W
0
Just to clarify;
"... I can't find my startup disks atm, but I don't want to use them if I can avoid it, cause won't that delete all my data?"
I'm talking about the EBD (Emergency Boot Disk), *not* restore disks or CD's. It's made through Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, Startup Disk. Or downloadable files to make one can be found at bootdisk.com. The file is downloaded to say the desktop, then clicked on to create the startup disk on one of your floppies. The downloaded file in NOT saved to a floppy, it MAKES a startup floppy. These disks only start your system in dos mode for troubleshooting purposes. They won't delete anything unless you specifically instruct them to once in dos.
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DEREK!!!!!
Don't know why the email didn't go through. Maybe yahoo blocked it.
Try again:arbeej
dot
"at sign"
yahoo
dot
comor
RLBJ1161
"at sign"
bellsouth
dot
netThanks to you and everyone who's trying to help with this!
0
Dan,
Went to add/remove programs on husband's pc, but nothing called "startup" was there. Was I misunderstanding? Also, he has windows 2000 while I have '98. Is that a problem? Went to bootdisk.com but didn't know which option to choose. Can you guide me?I didn't know you weren't talking about a restore disk. I am so ignorant about computers!
Thanks for your help.
0
Dan,
Went to add/remove programs on husband's pc, but nothing called "startup" was there. Was I misunderstanding? Also, he has windows 2000 while I have '98. Is that a problem? Went to bootdisk.com but didn't know which option to choose. Can you guide me?I didn't know you weren't talking about a restore disk. I am so ignorant about computers!
Thanks for your help.
0
Derek,
To my amazement, it stayed on in safe mode just long enough for me to type that string and get a "file not found" confirmation. Then it shut off.The reason I thought I was missing that specific file was because when I was deleting suspicious files, I googled the name of that file and one of the links said it was malware and should be deleted. Or rather, it must have said something else that looked similar and I deleted the wrong thing. Anyway, you're right, this proves it's not there.
If my account won't accept .exe files, how can I get what you're trying to send me?
Merry Christmas, by the way!
0
arbeej,
Win 2K is a different animal from 98. Especially if it's been loaded under a NTFS realm. It takes four floppies to boot one of those.
If it's a 98 machine with the problem, go to my webspace (in the header of this message) and download WIN98SE.exe. This file will make a 98 boot floppy on one of your floppy disks. Just download it (to say the desktop), put a floppy in your "A" drive, then click on the file. It will format the floppy and create a 98 boot disk for you. Then you'll have one if you need one in the future.
Have you determined yet if you have 98FE (First Edition) or 98SE (Second Edition)? I have 98SE loaded (on this machine, Win 2000 Professional (NTFS) on my other machine) and I have the FE CDROM. If your email won't accept .exe files, I can upload the proper one (if there's a difference, I'm not realy sure) to my webspace for you to download.
0
Sent W98 version of wininit.exe to 2nd address and it looks like it went OK. As I said, pretty sure it's exact same file on W98FE & SE.
If you want to know your Windows version see my #5.
Derek.W
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Derek and Dan,
Thanks, guys, for helping me with this. I just now checked the posts on this site, as I first found Derek's email with the wininit file. I've been out of state this past week for the holidays.
Derek:
1: I can't believe what you've been going through this past week. Just learned of it and posted. I'm so glad your family is safe!
2: Disregard my email saying the procedure didn't work. A typo on my part prevented success, but that has been remedied. So that file problem, at least is solved.BUT, when I tried to boot up, I then got a message saying "HIMEM.SYS is missing." Argh. I have a feeling this is possibly the first of many that might have to be restored.
Now what do I do to replace the HIMEM.SYS file?
I hope this is not against Board rules, but I'm going to post this new problem under a new heading and refer back to this post.
Dan,
Would the reboot disk you gave directions for replace all the missing essential files, or was it just for wininit.exe? If you sent the file to my yahoo account, I just haven't found it yet in all the emails I missed while away.I did find out this is windows 98 Second edition. (Thanks for the procedure in post #5, Derek.)
I so appreciate the help you folks have given me!
Rhonda
0
Further mystery: The himem.sys file is not actually missing, although I consistently get a message saying it is. On a tip through my new thread "himem.sys file missing," I learned to check the directory for it. It's still listed at 33,191 bytes. What to do?
Rhonda
0
"Would the reboot disk you gave directions for replace all the missing essential files, or was it just for wininit.exe?"
From my #8;
"These disks only start your system in dos mode for troubleshooting purposes."
They just start your system, that's it.
(As an aside, I'm pretty sure yahoo mail accounts won't accept .exe files. They'd have to be renamed.) But it looks as though this wininit file issue has been put to bed, correct?
It ~could~ be that your c:\msdos.sys file has become corrupted. This file has boot paths in it. It should look something like this; (NOTE: Mine will be different (somewhat), but it's the path statements we're looking at here)
[Paths]
WinDir=C:\WINDOWS
WinBootDir=C:\WINDOWS
HostWinBootDrv=C[Options]
drvspace=0
dblspace=0
BootMulti=0
BootGUI=0
BootWarn=0
Network=0
LOGO=0
DoubleBuffer=0
AutoScan=1
WinVer=4.10.2222
Bootkeys=1
BootMenu=0
BootMenuDelay=30
;
;The following lines are required for compatibility with other programs.
;Do not remove them (MSDOS.SYS needs to be >1024 bytes).
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxa
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxbIf there's only one or two lines in yours then it's been quashed and will need to be replaced.
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Firstly thank you for your kind thoughts about my fam. They were so obviously heartfelt and restored any doubts I might been tempted to have had about humanity.
Fine, you are W98SE which is the same as mine so if necessary we can exchange "original" files without any hassle.
Having said that hymem.sys on mine is exactly the same size as yours so it seems rather unlikely that this is corrupt. Happy of course to send it to you but I have doubts now that it will help.
We seem to have a chicken and egg situation here. Subject to looking at your new post (sorry haven't spotted it yet) then I still rather fear some virus or other nasty is lurking on your machine.
You can overlay Windows using your W98SE CD(assuming you have one) and normally this would sort things out, apart from the odd program that might need re-installing. You do not loose your own stuff.
BUT, if there is some nasty still in there it is unlikely to remove it and there is therefore a possibility that the sytem will still think himem.sys is missing or any other such thing.
If nobody has advised otherwise (or there have been better suggestions) I would just install Windows again. If it holds together long enough to get you to Windows then you can throw all the virus/nasties checkers at it that you can get your hands on in order to sort this problem out.
Err....the above was a broad statement. Only use those checkers that the forum approves because (would you believe?) there are malware checkers around that are corrupt in themselves.
Shout back on here if need be and in the meantime hopefully I shall stumble across your new post. Happy to use email as long as we keep the forum updated about what is going on.
Derek.W
0
Dan,
You said:
"It ~could~ be that your c:\msdos.sys file has become corrupted. This file has boot paths in it. It should look something like this;"
How do I call up this file to compare it to yours?
Sorry to be such a dunce!
Dan, Derek:
No, I do not have the W98SE disk.Rhonda
0
If you are getting into windows;
(You may have to set VIEW, FOLDER OPTIONS, VIEW, FILES AND FOLDERS, in Explorer to Show All Files and NOT hide files of known types.)R-Click on it while holding down the SHIFT key. There should be an OPEN WITH:, use this and then choose Notepad.
If your only in dos;
If at the A:\> prompt, type in;
c:
to get to your hard disk, then type in;cd windows\command
then type in;edit c:\msdos.sys
This will open the file in the dos editor and allow you to see whats in there. Use the arrow keys to move around. To exit hit ALT, then F then X.
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