my computer shut down when playing a CD. When in rebooted I get an error in line 10 for C:\CDROM\OAKCDROM.SYS This error keeps me from using the system recovery disks as well. I also am getting a general protection fault [35] in SCANPM.exe 3E20:28E4. it says to push any key continue. When I do so, it freezes on the windows98 blue screen. Help!!!

Hi David, hi everyone "...when playing a CD." What kind of CD, Audio, Game/Software installation CD-ROM? Start with booting to the command prompt only by tapping the [F8]key and select the option Command Prompt only, if that also fails try Command Prompt only (Safe Mode). Either way you should get to the DOS-prompt, C:\>_ from there type in for starters: ren config.sys config.sy_[Enter]key ren autoexec.bat autoxec.ba_[Enter]key Reboot to see if you can get Windows to load. With the above commands we temporarily renamed both Config.sys, containing a reference to C:\CDROM\OAKCDROM.SYS, and Autoexec.bat containing a reference to Mscdex.exe related to the CD-ROM driver. Best Regards and Wishes, The Count, Co-webmaster of mesich.com

Yeah - Windows doesn't need oakcdrom.sys, that is one of the DOS CD drivers - although if you need to use the CD in DOS, you would want to correct the actual problem. SCANPM.EXE appears to be a McAffee AV DOS scanner - again, not essential, although if it's not running you aren't benefitting from the DOS level virus scan. Computers in the future may have only 1,000 vacuum tubes and perhaps only weigh 1 1/2 tons. - Popular Mechanics, 1949

Hi David, jboy, hi everyone jboy, I was thinking of first trying to get Windows to load normally again and afterwards look to fix the DOS CD-ROM driver issue. Navigating in Windows Explorer might be easier for David and others whom may do a actual search on the topic. :-) Also I might need to take some time to look in to Scanpm.exe myself, in my own Autoexec.bat I have two lines that read: C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\NETWOR~1\VIRUSS~1\40~1.XX\scan.exe C:\ @IF ERRORLEVEL 1 PAUSE These lines are inserted during the setup of McAfee version v5.21.1000 and are obviously to scan the memory and root files on boot, if there aren't any viri found it continues without delay. I haven't had to use the DOS scanner for so many years and therefor am unknown with Scanpm.exe and it's parameters. Will look in to it soon... Best Regards and Wishes, The Count, Co-webmaster of mesich.com

Oh sure - the main issue would be the GPF seemingly caused by scanpm. Another tack to take might be to try for Safe Mode (F8 for the menu at startup) and use the msconfig tool to investigate or disable. A great many Win9x users 'feel' that the DOS startups are essential parts of Windows. In the case of the AV scan, sure, that's another level of protection - - as far as the CD drive goes, if they never need the CD from a DOS start it's a bit pointless to load the DOS driver. Using any sort of 'recovery' disk seems a bit premature based on what's been reported - a problem with a DOS driver and with McAffee (big surprise there). Problem is likely with the AV software or else might be a hardware issue. Computers in the future may have only 1,000 vacuum tubes and perhaps only weigh 1 1/2 tons. - Popular Mechanics, 1949

I renamed those files. Now it just sits on the blue windows screen. when i tried to enter in safe mode is said it fixed a file in system data. i hit the o.k. and then it said that i don't have enough extended memory to start windows. I rebooted in safe mode again this time it said that it was unable to fix a system file in C:\windows\user.dat and then the same thing about moving windows to a new directory or freeing up space. I would like to do a system recovery. I have nothing on my comp. I want to keep. Thanks in advance, db

It'd be more helpful if you could relate the exact error message rather than "something like" Seems like you're having registry problems (or maybe even RAM trouble) - although normally starting in Safe Mode doesn't lead to repair messages. You may want to see if reverting to a previous version of the registry helps - - from a DOS start enter: scanreg /restore ... although those vague error messages may have been telling you that there isn't a good version to go back to... Might want to try a RAM test, or see if reseating the RAM helps Computers in the future may have only 1,000 vacuum tubes and perhaps only weigh 1 1/2 tons. - Popular Mechanics, 1949