how and where can i download a system.ini file back into my computer/

Technet article Q140441 NOTE: These instructions assume that Windows is installed in the Windows folder on drive C. If you are using a different drive or folder, adjust the following instructions accordingly. 1. Restart your computer to a command prompt. To do so, restart your computer, press the F8 key when you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, and then choose Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu. In Windows 98, restart your computer, press and hold down the CTRL key until you see the Windows 98 Startup menu, and then choose Command Prompt Only. 2. Type the following line to change to the Windows folder: " cd \windows " (without the quotation marks) 3. Type the following line to rename the current System.ini file: " ren system.ini system.xxx " (without the quotation marks) 4. Type the following line to create a new System.ini file: " copy system.cb system.ini " (without the quotation marks) 5. Type the following line to edit the new System.ini file: " edit system.ini " (without the quotation marks) 6. Add the following lines at the top of the file: [boot] mouse.drv=mouse.drv drivers=mmsystem.dll Add the following line in the [386Enh] section of the file: [386Enh] mouse=*vmouse 7. Save the System.ini file and then exit the editor. To save the file, press ALT+F, press X, and then press Y. 8. Type "win" (without the quotation marks) to start Windows. NOTE: If your mouse does not work when Windows starts, it is likely that it is not supported by the standard Windows mouse driver. You can install the Windows 3.1 driver included with your mouse to regain mouse functionality. For information about installing the driver, consult the documentation included with the mouse. 9. Click the Start button, click Run, type the path to the Windows Setup program in the Open box, and then click OK. For example, if your Windows CD-ROM is in drive D, type the following line: " d:\setup " (without the quotation marks) Or, if you are using Windows disks, insert disk 1 in drive A and then type the following line: " a:\setup " (without the quotation marks) 10. When the Setup dialog box appears, click Continue, and follow the instructions to set up Windows again. If you see the "Restore Windows files that are changed or corrupted" option, choose it. If you do not see this option, choose to reinstall Windows. If, after Setup is finished, you find that some of your programs, tools, or peripherals are not working correctly, reinstall the program or device. Default Entries for the System.ini File --------------------------------------- The following entries are the default entries for a new System.ini file: [386Enh] device=*vshare device=*dynapage device=*vcd device=*vpd device=*int13 keyboard=*vkd display=*vdd mouse=*vmouse, msmouse.vxd woafont=dosapp.fon device=*enable [keyboard] layout=kbdus.kbd subtype= type=4 keyboard.dll= oemansi.bin= [Intl] ACP=1252 OEMCP=437 SystemLocale=00000409 [boot] system.drv=system.drv drivers=mmsystem.dll user.exe=user.exe gdi.exe=gdi.exe sound.drv=mmsound.drv dibeng.drv=dibeng.dll comm.drv=comm.drv shell=Explorer.exe keyboard.drv=keyboard.drv fonts.fon=vgasys.fon fixedfon.fon=vgafix.fon oemfonts.fon=vgaoem.fon 386Grabber=vgafull.3gr display.drv=pnpdrvr.drv mouse.drv=mouse.drv *DisplayFallback=0 [power.drv] [drivers] wavemapper=*.drv [iccvid.drv] [mciseq.drv] [mci] cdaudio=mcicda.drv sequencer=mciseq.drv waveaudio=mciwave.drv avivideo=mciavi.drv videodisc=mcipionr.drv vcr=mcivisca.drv [NonWindowsApp] [vcache] [nwnp32] [boot.description] keyboard.typ=Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard aspect=100,96,96 display.drv=Standard Display Adapter (VGA) mouse.drv=Standard mouse system.drv=Standard PC [MSNP32] [display] [drivers32] vidc.CVID=iccvid.dll VIDC.IV31=ir32_32.dll VIDC.IV32=ir32_32.dll vidc.MSVC=msvidc32.dll VIDC.MRLE=msrle32.dll Additional query words: clean build rebuild

First, why do you "think" you are missing the system.ini file? And, if you really are missing it, and are running win98, restart to DOS and enter Scanreg /Restore And choose a date prior to the problem occuring. This will restore the registry as well as the system.ini and win.ini files.

The registry and system.ini are completely different files... Scanreg has no effect on system.ini

WhitPhil is right Lee. The backups made by scanreg include the system.ini file. The files backed up are RBxxx.CAB files placed in C:\Windows\Sysbackup. These can be viewed with Winzip or PowerArchiver if they're set up to view CAB files. Dan

Besides, a default construction of system.ini or any other kind will have a system impact on the registry itself the resultant of which may be unwelcome, even troublesome. Windows will keep registry and system.ini consistent. The problem is that system.ini seems take priority over registry. If it finds inconsistency, system.ini settings will be rewritten to registry. Now, as system.ini by now is mostly reserved to 16-bit applications, its setting is more inert than registry which is more mobile as more 32-bit applications are added or for some reason changed manually. Hence, under the worst scenario, all existing backup copies of registry are undesirable, you are still better off extracting system.ini only from the recent rbxxx.cab only to c:\windows than putting "default" system.ini.