Windows 98 register problem

[waltkorth]

The problem began when I downloaded McAfee’s VirusScan 9. On booting up, the Windows 98 screen appeared with the message:
“Cannot find a device file that may be needed to run Windows.
The Windows registry or system.ini file refers to the device but it no longer exists.
If you deleted this file on purpose, try uninstalling the associated application using its uninstall or setup program
If you still want to use the application associated withthis device file, try reinstalling that application.
c:\progra~1\mcafee~2\safe&s~1\ fbwini95.vxd”
Clicking OK removed this screen and the loading of Windows continued as usual. But it was an irritation.
I was advised to delete the file from the registry after first backing up the registry.
I found the file in the registry, but I stupidly didn’t back it up because I thought I could just rename the “c”value to “cx”, so as to be able to rename it back to “c” if anything went wrong. This was a mistake
Now I still get the above message when I start Windows, but the computer freezes. Rebooting gave Safe Mode, but when I went back to regedit and the file, I couldn’t rename “cx” back to “c”. The system is paralised. The CD doesn’t work. In any case I don’t have the Windows 98 CD because it came installed.
All my fault, of course, but has anyone any ideas?
Waltkorth

[blt_abx]

Try restoring the registry to an earlier version.

Boot the machine to DOS.
Navigate to c:\windows\command
Once in that directory, type scanreg /restore and press enter.
Follow the prompts and select an earlier dated version of the registry to restore.

[waltkorth]

Thank you for the suggestion,which I hastened to try. Problem is I cannot boot to DOS, and "programs needing MS-DOS cannot be run in Safe Mode". Booting with an old Windows 98 startup disk doesn't help because the A:\ screen is also frozen.
Waltkorth

[blt_abx]

Originally Posted by waltkorth

Booting with an old Windows 98 startup disk doesn't help because the A:\ screen is also frozen. Waltkorth

Unless there's a hardware problem, this sounds as if the CMOS settings are somehow not correct.
Try clearing the CMOS, then try booting to DOS again.

There should be a jumper on the board for clearing the CMOS.
You can also clear the CMOS by removing the battery for a short period of time.....be sure to unplug the AC power cord first.

[waltkorth]

My (main) computer is a desktop. At this point I am getting out of my depth and fear maybe the whole system will have to be reinstalled, for which I may need onhand help. Not nice, because I have many programs and innumerable files I use in my work! Never mind. But I'm very grateful for your efforts.
Waltkorth

[blt_abx]

If it comes down to a total reinstall, there is a way to save your data files.
You would need to install your hard drive as a slave in another machine.
This will allow you to copy your data files to CD or other media before wiping your hard drive and starting over.

Good luck!

[Monkey Hanger]

This may shed some light!

[traveler]

Originally Posted by waltkorth

Thank you for the suggestion,which I hastened to try. Problem is I cannot boot to DOS, and "programs needing MS-DOS cannot be run in Safe Mode". Booting with an old Windows 98 startup disk doesn't help because the A:\ screen is also frozen.
Waltkorth

You boot to the command line by quickly tapping (repeatedly if necessary) the F8 key while at the end of the memory test. This is part of the motherboard.

Then do what blt indicated.




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[waltkorth]

I have reboted half a dozen times, each time tapping F8 like mad at the end of the memory ("shared memory") test, but with no effect.
Waltkorth

[blt_abx]

Originally Posted by waltkorth

I have reboted half a dozen times, each time tapping F8 like mad at the end of the memory ("shared memory") test, but with no effect. Waltkorth

Start tapping the F8 key as soon as you power on the machine.
Should bring up the screen allowing you to chose from several options.
Select "command prompt only" or "safe mode"

If you get into "safe mode", try uninstalling McAfee.

If you get to a command prompt, try typing just scanreg and press enter. The scanreg command will scan the registry and attempt to fix any problems it finds. Can't or doesn't always fix the problem(s), but worth a try.

If scanreg doesn't help, try running it again with the /restore switch, but......
at it's default settings, Win98 scans the registry and creates a backup copy each time you boot the system. However, the default settings allow Windows to store only 5 backup copies. Meaning, unless the default settings have been changed, it is not likely you have a backup copy old enough to take you back before the problem.

[sandman55]

If the F8 key doesnt work you may be using a fancy key board where the F keys have two functions if so borrow a conventional keyboard

[Monkey Hanger]

Get a new bootdisk from www.bootdisk.com and then use Scanreg to restore to an earlier registry!

[traveler]

As blt said, you only hive 5 copies of a backupped registry. You better make a ghost image of your drive or you will lose any good registry copy you have after 5 days and/or 5 scanreg runs. Since the problem started a couple of days ago you may still have a couple of good registry backups in your sysbckup folder. Image your drive now if you haven't done it already.




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[Monkey Hanger]

It's probably an entry in the System.ini file pointing to fbwin95.vxd.

All you have to really do is edit the system.ini file and see if it's there. If so, then rem it out by placing a semi-colon in front of the line!

But, there may be more to this than meets the eye. The OP cannot access Safe mode via F8. He says his Win98 boot disk still leaves him frozen out, and he talks of reinstalling the system but doesn't have a Win 98 CD-Rom.

A boot disk from www.bootdisk.com does give CD drive support!

[waltkorth]

First of all my deepest thanks to everyone who posted advice about this problem. They were all partly right.
The problem is now solved.
A techy friend came over and spent nearly an hour sorting it out. He checked and found that the keyboard connection to the tower had come loose, after which it was possible to function. He then somehow changed my cx - fbwini95.vxd in regedit to c - reg. He then found other fbwini95.vxds in regedit and sysedit and dealt with them.
Waltkorth