Any DOS or ME experts?? Need help

Panama Red · 09-22-2003, 05:02 PM

Working on a friend's 2001 vintage Gateway Essentials 933c. Somehow a driver file is missing and I can't boot. Not in SAFE mode, not in Step by Step. I know the missing driver. It is msmouse.vxd. I've copied it from the Gateway restore CD to a floppy, but I don't know DOS Commands so I can reinstall it in the System.ini file. Hope I'm making sense with this. Anyone got any ideas?

ThugsRook · 09-22-2003, 05:22 PM

edit c:\windows\system.ini

Panama Red · 09-22-2003, 05:27 PM

Don't mean to be ungrateful, TR, but what does that do for me? I'm totally lost at this point. I'm gonna need a step by step tutoring. Thanx for the response.

FightingChance · 09-22-2003, 06:05 PM

Compile a Windows 98/ME DOS bootdisk (make sure EDIT.EXE is on the diskette somewhere, I think), boot with the diskette, then type what Thugs said - it should take you to a rudimentary text editor. You can also move the driver to the directory you need with the 'copy' command, i.e. 'copy a:\msmouse.vxd c:\windows' or somesuch.

I think. I might be a little rusty. ;]

Cogar · 09-22-2003, 07:04 PM

Let me try to put it together. I am doing this from memory, so you might have to add a "\" character or use the enter key here or there, but you are experienced enough that my guess is that you will figure it out.

ThugsRook's suggestion is a DOS command to put you into edit mode, editing the system.ini file. You would manually insert the following line in the section marked [386Enh]:

mouse=*vmouse, msmouse.vxd

If it is already there, then don't change anything. You only lost the .vxd file somehow, and did not corrupt your system.ini file.

Next, you need to place the msmouse.vxd file in the location:
C:\windows\system\msmouse.vxd

In DOS, you will have a prompt that looks like this:
C:\>_

If it is something else, type:
C:
and hit enter to change to the C drive.

Next type the following:
cd windows\system
and you should get the result:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\>_

or something very similar. Then use Fighting Chance's command to copy the vxd file from the floppy to the correct directory on the hard drive:
copy a:\msmouse.vxd c:\windows\system\msmouse.vxd

You may need to use the word "cp" instead of "copy". I cannot keep the various DOS commands straight (and I think they changed from time to time anyway). At this point, you should be ready to go. You might want to do a little additional research. If I get a chance to check out my computer running Windows 98 tonight, I will check out the various paths to confirm that they do work, since others may look up this thread in the future. Good luck!

KingTermite · 09-22-2003, 07:27 PM

Looks like Cogar beat me....if its loaded from the win.ini then you just need to find the entry where it sets the file equal like cogar showed.

If that's not it, then post back.

Panama Red · 09-22-2003, 11:07 PM

Thanx for the suggestions, guys. I cheated the dos system a little. I have another XP machine, so here's what I did. Removed the HDD from the Gateway, installed it in the XP machine, copied the entire ME drive to a folder on one of my partitions so I have a back up. The I went looking for msmouse.vxd. It was where it was supposed to be. Did a Google for 'msmouse.vxd" and it seems to only be an indicator of some corruption in the system.ini file. I just tried to reinstall ME, after clearing the bios, and it says I have "long corrupted file" in system. I'm off to reinstall the hdd back in the other XP machine to do some more digging. Maybe I can replace the damaged file with an undamaged one from the restore CD. Hope so, cuz while I had it in there before, I ran the XP defrag and cleaned up the drive. Wish me luck.

**SubZero** · 09-24-2003, 07:50 AM

Good luck!!

Panama Red · 09-24-2003, 04:14 PM

Did the ME Repair from the CD and everything worked fine, no lost data. Just had to download the MS updates again. and reload a couple of programs.

Cogar · 09-24-2003, 04:27 PM

Good news.

I am glad to learn that things worked out!

09-22-2003, 05:02 PM	#1
Panama Red 1st Log...just a memory Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: near the left coast of Michigan Posts: 609	Any DOS or ME experts?? Need help Working on a friend's 2001 vintage Gateway Essentials 933c. Somehow a driver file is missing and I can't boot. Not in SAFE mode, not in Step by Step. I know the missing driver. It is msmouse.vxd. I've copied it from the Gateway restore CD to a floppy, but I don't know DOS Commands so I can reinstall it in the System.ini file. Hope I'm making sense with this. Anyone got any ideas?
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09-22-2003, 05:22 PM	#2
ThugsRook Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: FLA Posts: 1,832	edit c:\windows\system.ini __________________ P4 2.26b @ 3.59ghz KHX3000 2x512mb @ 422ddr c2622 Abit IC7-G @ 211fsb SR-A-A-A-E ThermalRight SP-94 & NB-1C eVGA LE6800 GTU @ 425x1200
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09-22-2003, 05:27 PM	#3
Panama Red 1st Log...just a memory Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: near the left coast of Michigan Posts: 609	Don't mean to be ungrateful, TR, but what does that do for me? I'm totally lost at this point. I'm gonna need a step by step tutoring. Thanx for the response.
(Offline)

09-22-2003, 06:05 PM	#4
FightingChance Yes, I am better than you Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 4,068	Compile a Windows 98/ME DOS bootdisk (make sure EDIT.EXE is on the diskette somewhere, I think), boot with the diskette, then type what Thugs said - it should take you to a rudimentary text editor. You can also move the driver to the directory you need with the 'copy' command, i.e. 'copy a:\msmouse.vxd c:\windows' or somesuch. I think. I might be a little rusty. ;]
(Offline)

09-22-2003, 07:04 PM	#5
Cogar Level 15, lawful good Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: It varies, but usually within 100 yards of a keyboard. Posts: 7,236	Let me try to put it together. I am doing this from memory, so you might have to add a "\" character or use the enter key here or there, but you are experienced enough that my guess is that you will figure it out. ThugsRook's suggestion is a DOS command to put you into edit mode, editing the system.ini file. You would manually insert the following line in the section marked [386Enh]: mouse=*vmouse, msmouse.vxd If it is already there, then don't change anything. You only lost the .vxd file somehow, and did not corrupt your system.ini file. Next, you need to place the msmouse.vxd file in the location: C:\windows\system\msmouse.vxd In DOS, you will have a prompt that looks like this: C:\>_ If it is something else, type: C: and hit enter to change to the C drive. Next type the following: cd windows\system and you should get the result: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\>_ or something very similar. Then use Fighting Chance's command to copy the vxd file from the floppy to the correct directory on the hard drive: copy a:\msmouse.vxd c:\windows\system\msmouse.vxd You may need to use the word "cp" instead of "copy". I cannot keep the various DOS commands straight (and I think they changed from time to time anyway). At this point, you should be ready to go. You might want to do a little additional research. If I get a chance to check out my computer running Windows 98 tonight, I will check out the various paths to confirm that they do work, since others may look up this thread in the future. Good luck!
(Offline)

09-22-2003, 07:27 PM	#6
KingTermite The Shade of Lazarus Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: PM me to keep in contact Posts: 26,003	Looks like Cogar beat me....if its loaded from the win.ini then you just need to find the entry where it sets the file equal like cogar showed. If that's not it, then post back. __________________ Bye Bye ABXZone.....Rest In Peace.
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09-22-2003, 11:07 PM	#7
Panama Red 1st Log...just a memory Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: near the left coast of Michigan Posts: 609	Thanx for the suggestions, guys. I cheated the dos system a little. I have another XP machine, so here's what I did. Removed the HDD from the Gateway, installed it in the XP machine, copied the entire ME drive to a folder on one of my partitions so I have a back up. The I went looking for msmouse.vxd. It was where it was supposed to be. Did a Google for 'msmouse.vxd" and it seems to only be an indicator of some corruption in the system.ini file. I just tried to reinstall ME, after clearing the bios, and it says I have "long corrupted file" in system. I'm off to reinstall the hdd back in the other XP machine to do some more digging. Maybe I can replace the damaged file with an undamaged one from the restore CD. Hope so, cuz while I had it in there before, I ran the XP defrag and cleaned up the drive. Wish me luck.
(Offline)

09-24-2003, 07:50 AM	#8
SubZero Moderator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Below sealevel Posts: 9,665	Good luck!! __________________ Main Rig: Asus P5K \| Intel Core Quad Q6600 \| Corsair XMS 6400-4gig eVGA GeForce 8800 GTX KO ACS3 \| X-Fi ExtremeMusic \| Z-5500D OCZ GameXstream 850W \| ThermalTake Aguila \| Logitech G-15 Logitech MX1000 \| Synology DS-207+ NAS (2x500WD-SATA2-RAID0)
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09-24-2003, 04:14 PM	#9
Panama Red 1st Log...just a memory Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: near the left coast of Michigan Posts: 609	Ah yes, a story with happy ending Did the ME Repair from the CD and everything worked fine, no lost data. Just had to download the MS updates again. and reload a couple of programs.
(Offline)

09-24-2003, 04:27 PM	#10
Cogar Level 15, lawful good Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: It varies, but usually within 100 yards of a keyboard. Posts: 7,236	Good news. I am glad to learn that things worked out!
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