I'm trying to help a friend; OS Windows 98. When the machine boots up get error message error: Memory Manager not detected. Creative SB16 Emulation Driver requires EMM386 or similar. Creative SB16 Emulation Driver NOT loading. Device driver not found: 'MSCD0001' No valid CDROM device drivers selected Windows partially load, get as far as wallpaper appearing then get further message about DOS application running in background do you want to continue, if I press Y or N the machine will lock up. Have tried opening in Safe mode, get screen up with "Safe Mode" but machine locks up. Checked Microsoft Knowledge data base and found posting "229186" very similiar problem- the solution requires you to open windows to check/edit the config.sys file, the probelm I have is that I can't open windows! I have tried using Windows Emergency Start up Disk to enter DOS and use the command edit c:\config.sys, but get a blank page up, as though the file is empty. (I also experience this when i try this procedure on my working PC), I assume I am doing something basically wrong, but don't know what. Please help.

Have a look at this, it might help you. Have a nice day. Troubleshooting StartUp Folder Problems Windows 98 The problem may be a result of a program that is run during startup. To determine which program is causing the problem: 1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK . 2. Click the Startup tab, and then click each check box to clear it. 3. Click OK, and then restart your computer when you are prompted to do so. If the problem is resolved, follow these steps: 1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK. 2. On the Startup tab, click the first check box in the list to select it. 3. Click OK. And then restart your computer when you are prompted to do so. If the problem is still resolved, repeat steps 1-3, but click the next check box in the list to select it. When the problem returns, the last check box you selected is loading a program that is preventing Windows 98 to start normally. Contact the program's manufacturer for further assistance. There may also be a problem with a TSR being loaded in the Winstart.bat file (if the Winstart.bat file exists). If the Process Winstart.bat File check box is available on the General tab in System Configuration Utility, click the check box to clear it, click OK, and then restart your computer. The Winstart.bat file is usually located in the Windows folder, and is used to load TSRs that are required only by Windows-based programs

Brian, Your post is not clear about the context in which this bootup error and freeze that follows is taking place. Is this occurring during a new PC building? Or in the midst of an hardware upgrade of an existing PC? Or is it occurring in a normally running PC with no prior problem and no preceding Hardware or Software changes? If, all you want is to know how to edit the Config.sys file using a Boot disk here are some pointers: 1. Make sure you are using a Win98 Boot Diskette that has the file Edit.com ; if not, copy Edit.com from a Win98 running PC on to a floppy disk and use that diskette at the Command prompt C:\> you have reached. 2. Type the following command at the edit c:\config.sys and then press the [ENTER] key, so that it will look like this: A:\edit c:\config.sys If you can post the details surrounding the error, someone may be able to help you better.

This problem occured on a previously working PC. My friend thinks he may have switched the PC off will it was running a virus scan though (norton). MaadhuriMN - I'm doing exactly as you say in 2. above but I get a blank screen appear. I know that the edit command is on the startup diskette because it allows me to edit the config.sys file on the startup diskette (edit a:\config.sys), but when I try edit c:\config.sys I get a blank screen. I've tried other drive names just in case the ramdrive it sets up has moved the sequence of drive names but when in try edit d:.... or edit e:....... they message they are not found appears. The odd thing is, I get exactly the same problem when trying this on my working PC, and my friends PC which has the fault.

Brian, If the symptoms followed Premature closing of a Norton Virus scan in a previously 'healthy' PC, try doing a Scanreg /Restore from Command Prompt reached through Windows98 Boot Diskette and see if a "Good Registry" from a date before the onset of current problem can be restored from the backed up Registry cab files in Microsoft Registry Checker. The Microsoft Registry Checker. might show a maximum of 5 dates in which .cab files of registry backup in which Windows started normally are shown as for example: 07-13-03 Started rb 005.cab 07-12-03 Started rb 004.cab 07-11-03 Started rb 003.cab 07-10-03 Started rb 002.cab

You should be editing autoexec.bat not config.sys. boot from floppy disk the type edit c:\autoexec.bat this file will contain the dos application running. windows does not really need anything active in this file, to disable the line you do not want, just put REM at the start of the line.

It looks like the data in config.sys was deleted. Look for a backup. It might be c:\config.bak or some other extension.