have a win95b, when i boot up it gives me an error
msg saying:

Windows protection error. you need to restart the computer.

An internal stack overflow has caused this session
to be halted. change the STACKS setting in your config.sys file and then try again.

I added the STACKS setting in the config.sys to no avail. Also the machine will boot in safe
mode.

pre-windows 95 , config.sys used to have a stacks= entry in config.sys.
win95 has this entry in io.sys.
I suspect you have used an older version of dos to overwrite one or more of mssos.sys,io.sys or command.com.
go to a working pc with win95 on and create a startup disk unless you have one already - but not an old dos disk. boot from it and type: sys c: to copy back the good ones, and also copy command.co to c:\windows\.
just make sure you use a proper bootdisk.
old dos games can do this to a system.

Are you able to get first windows splash screen?
Since you are able to boot in safe mode
rem all statements of config.sys one by one
each time starting afresh .If you are not confident
of doing so and changing it back email
me with the contents of config.sys.I will
suggest a way out.
Don't reinstall in a hurry as it is not required

www.raorm.com

You have an old (or corrupted) device driver. In safe mode, disable sound, modem, other cards and you should be able to boot normally (unless it was a hard disk controller or the video card driver). Then enable them one by one until you get a blue screen. The last one is the one you need to reload a driver for.

Mike,
Since you are on Win95B proceed carefully in replacing any system files or you will encounter even greater problems. I would suggest that the easiest way would be to download the "Ultimate Boot Disk" and use the diagnostics to get your machine to boot to Windows.