Author Topic: Dinosaur (Read 14540 times)

Garnetlake · « **on:** November 10, 2005, 02:23:58 PM »

I looked through the forums and I do not see anything remotely like my situation. I have a Gateway 2000 , Phoenix A486 1.01, 640K base extended 07168K running DOS 6.22 with WIN 3.0. I have been using this reliable machine for years until a few days ago when the CMOS battery failed and it would not start properly. It came up with a "System missing" error and no C prompt. I replaced the battery and tried to save the date and time settings in the Bios. Then, like a knucklehead I tried to reinstall DOS from the factory disks but could not get past the first disk before all kinds of error messages came up. I brought it to the local computer people and they got me back to a C prompt. Unfortunately it does not operate as before. There are error messages in line 1 of the config.sys file and other issues. I am unable to edit the autobat file or config.sys file because when I try to edit them at the c prompt it reads "out of memory". Also when I typed "win" at the c prompt it used to launch windows but that is also no longer working. Just bad command message. Is there some strategy I could use to try and get this machine back to it's former self? I can get to the dosshell and all of the files with dates are still there. My problem is I do not have a good starting point. I think I probably excaerbated things by trying to install from the diskettes again(panicked). I have one text editing program, Q&A that I am very fond of and has a lot of info in. It still operates but nothing like before. Any direction greatly appreciated. Please ask any questions and I will do my best to answer them.
Sincerley,
Knucklehead with Dinosaur

GX1_Man · « **Reply #1 on:** November 10, 2005, 03:17:22 PM »

So you are thinking that some of the BIOS settings are not correct? As well as possibly your DOS is corrupted?

We will have to start with the BIOS. THis could be long and tedious, so we should go screen by screen.

garnetlake · « **Reply #2 on:** November 10, 2005, 07:14:42 PM »

Well let me first start by thanking you for responding! Yes I think that definetly sums it up. Screen by screen would be fantastic but this PC is at work and I do not want to take up too much of your time. I am on the east coast so let me know what the most convenent time for you would be if you can really help like that. The date and time are correct now when I type these at the c prompt. Of course you would be the better judge of that. I think the config file and autoexec file are the real culprits but I don't even know how to edit them because as soon as I type "edit" plus either file name I get the no memory message. It also says the himem file is missing but it is in the directory when I look in the dosshell. Let me know what is good for you and I will work around your schedule. I don't want to impose and I certainly appreciate any help you could give me. I have grown attached to this machine.
Greg

GX1_Man · « **Reply #3 on:** November 10, 2005, 08:16:01 PM »

Make sure at least the following lines are present

NEEDED IN AUTOEXEC.BAT

Path=c:\;C:\dos;c:\windows;
set temp=c:\dos

NEEDED IN CONFIG.SYS

Device=c:\dos\himem.sys
device=C:\dos\emm386.exe
dos=high,umb

garnetlake · « **Reply #4 on:** November 11, 2005, 06:56:23 AM »

Morning GX1_Man,
If I type "AUTOEXEC.BAT" at the C:\
it returns the following:

C:\>DS
Bad command or file name
C:\> uhY
bad command or file name

If I type "CONFIG.SYS" at the C:\
it returns the following line:

bad command or file name

If I type "edit" at the C:\

It returns
"out of memory"

This is probably important.
I just discovered something. If I view these files in the dosshell I find 6 versions of the autoexec... and 5 versions of the config... files with different extensions. There are one of each that have a ".old" extension. These look like the commands that came up when I booted the computer in the morning. Is it possible I use the copy command at the prompt to overwrite the current files it is using with these old versions?
Just a thought.
Greg

2k_dummy · « **Reply #5 on:** November 11, 2005, 08:03:46 AM »

Use the type command to print them to the screen:

type autoexec.bat
type config.sys

If the files scroll off the screen, pipe through the more command:

type autoexec.bat | more
type config.sys | more

garnetlake · « **Reply #6 on:** November 11, 2005, 08:17:00 AM »

Hi there, thanks for helping. When I type these commands I do not get text but what appears to be programming symbols. The config.sys line reads DS and what appears to be an oblong happy face symbol. It is not regular text that I can duplicate with my keyboard.
Greg

2k_dummy · « **Reply #7 on:** November 11, 2005, 08:41:13 AM »

Please don't edit a post AFTER someone has posted a reply. Make a new post.
If any of the autoexec or config files appear to be the correct ones, you can use the copy command to overwrite the wrong ones. You can also use the ren command to rename files but the copy command is more simple. For example, if the config.old file appears to be the proper one: copy config.old config.sys and answer yes to the promp to overwrite.

garnetlake · « **Reply #8 on:** November 11, 2005, 08:48:43 AM »

2K_dummy, sorry about the edit, that was my fault for sure. I am new to the whole forum thing and I appreciate your help. Won't happen again. I will try your instructions as this older file definetly has the text that used to scroll on my machine when it first booted. Thanks again and sorry for the edit.
Greg

garnetlake · « **Reply #9 on:** November 11, 2005, 09:07:24 AM »

Well I overwrote the command and almost all of the same text that used to come up was there and then it stalled and now there is only a flashing cursor and no c prompt. It says there is an error in line 3 mising HIMEM.sys. Any ideas as to how to get back to a c prompt would be appreciated.
Greg

2k_dummy · « **Reply #10 on:** November 11, 2005, 10:38:08 AM »

Boot from a floppy and look in your DOS disks for himem.sys and copy it to the c:\dos directory. You should probably place a copy in c:\windows also.

garnetlake · « **Reply #11 on:** November 11, 2005, 12:10:59 PM »

Hey, thanks for getting back to me. I did exactly what you suggested. I booted from Microsoft disk 6.22 # 1, found the himem.sy_ file, expanded it to the dos directory as himem.sys file size 14,208. I can see it there in the dosshell. Here is my config file
I am at a loss. It is also in my windows directory as well. What can I be doing wrong?

DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS HIGHSCAN
BUFFER= 30,0
FILES= 50
DOS= UMB
REM= LASTDRIVE E
FCBS= 16,0
DOS= HIGH
DEVICE HIGH/L:1,12048 =C:\DOS\SETVER.EXE
STACKS=9.256
SHELL= C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM C:\DOS\ /P
DEVICEHIGH /L:1,44304 =C:\DOS\DBLSPACE.SYS /MOVE
[COMMON]
REM DEVICE= C:\CDROM\ACERCD.SYS /D:1DEC000
REM LAST DRIVE= N
[COMMON]
DEVICE=C:\CDROM\ACERCD.SYS/ D:IDECD000
LASTDRIVE= N

Greg

2k_dummy · « **Reply #12 on:** November 11, 2005, 01:51:18 PM »

There are some extraneous entries but the simplest solution at this point would probably be to run memmaker. It should be in your DOS directory.

garnetlake · « **Reply #13 on:** November 11, 2005, 02:39:09 PM »

I ran memmaker, it was right where you said it would be. After restart it just hangs at the "starting MS-DOS..." Back to boot disk?
Greg

2k_dummy · « **Reply #14 on:** November 11, 2005, 02:53:18 PM »

Did you let memmaker run to completion? It will normally reboot itself several times.

2k_dummy · « **Reply #15 on:** November 11, 2005, 03:34:09 PM »

Look for memmaker.exe
At the prompt simply enter memmaker

garnetlake · « **Reply #16 on:** November 11, 2005, 03:50:07 PM »

I would like to say that the file is there but it isn't. Closest I could find was mem.exe so I ran that. No change. If I restart and hold the f8 key down and stratup manually I receive a number of error messages. If I bypass 2 or 3 commands with the N it will continue and then when it asks to run autoexec.bat if I enter yes it says there is a "missing intrepretor" some programing text and will eventually go to a prompt. I think I need real help to be honest. I do not think it is an easy fix for sure. What kind of tech person should I even ask for? Does anyone fix this kind of system anymore?
Greg

GX1_Man · « **Reply #17 on:** November 11, 2005, 05:24:33 PM »

Do you have DOS install diskettes?

garnetlake · « **Reply #18 on:** November 11, 2005, 05:36:23 PM »

Hi there, yes I do, the original Microsoft Version 6.22 3/set high density diskettes. The little guys.
Greg

GX1_Man · « **Reply #19 on:** November 11, 2005, 08:52:12 PM »

What if you boot with disk 1, then hit whatever you have to hit (F3) to escape because it will recognize you have a copy of DOS. Then type A:setup and choose install and see what happens. If there is nothing critical on the drive you may want to fdisk it and recreate the partition and format it.

garnetlake · « **Reply #20 on:** November 12, 2005, 07:58:55 PM »

Okay I can do that, should I just say "yes" when it wants to overwrite a file? Will this do anything to the data or the Q&A app I have on the disk already?
Thanks,
Greg

GX1_Man · « **Reply #21 on:** November 13, 2005, 01:36:18 AM »

Yes, you don't want to format the drive, just reinstall DOS. The files you have may have been corrupted, and the autoexec.bat and config.sys are very suspect.

garnetlake · « **Reply #22 on:** November 14, 2005, 01:30:23 PM »

GX1_Man
Before I do a reinstall can I ask if there is some generic language I can use for the config.sys and the autoexcec.bat files? I can get to the MS-DOS editor and maybe if I rewrite them things will get back to normal? When I startup and bypass them just about everything on my machine works normally.
Greg

GX1_Man · « **Reply #23 on:** November 14, 2005, 08:38:09 PM »

When you reinstall it should recreate those two files with minimal, but appropriate content. If not, just delete what you have from a DOS prompt and the DOS directory before installing the OS. Then just edit them to include the things I told you, plus whatever else you might want.

Dos editor would be :

edit c:\autoexec.bat

and do the same with the other, Alt+S to save, Alt+x to exit.

garnetlake · « **Reply #24 on:** November 15, 2005, 08:22:30 AM »

GX1_Man
Hi and thanks for getting back to me. I will try this after I print out the data which I can still access. Is there some way I can verify if the Install disks are still good? They are the original Microsoft upgrade disks and they are pretty old. Should I try to get a new copy of this or just go for the gusto?
GB

GX1_Man · « **Reply #25 on:** November 15, 2005, 05:20:34 PM »

Heck just go for it. If it doesn't work, you're no worse off! Keep us posted.

garnetlake · « **Reply #26 on:** November 15, 2005, 08:06:11 PM »

G man I gonna go for it. Your right, what do I have to lose? I'll keep you posted, thanks for the help, I owe youu one.
GB

garnetlake · « **Reply #27 on:** December 07, 2005, 08:59:24 AM »

Well, no luck with the reinstall. I copied everything I could get out of the machine and tried to reinstall 6.22 from the A: drive. I receive a message saying it cannot identify the version of DOS on my computer. I think the install disks may also be corrupted. Anyone have any ideas on how I could proceed? Should I try to obtain new upgrade diskettes? Is the case hopeless? The only way to use the machine now is to walk throught the startup screen every day using Y or N line by line, plus the windows is disabled. Any help appreciated. Thanks for any help in the past as well.

GX1_Man · « **Reply #28 on:** December 07, 2005, 02:43:59 PM »

How big is the hard drive? DOS can only go on the first partition of the primary hard drive and has a 2 gig size max. Do you meet these requirements?

garnetlake · « **Reply #29 on:** December 07, 2005, 02:58:53 PM »

Hey, thanks for responding. Where can I find out how big the hardrive is? It's an old Gateway 486 SX so I don't think it's very big. Plus I only have text files on it nothing with images or anything that takes up space. Thing is, I don't think there is anything wrong with this mnachine other than corrupted software.
Greg

nilrem_2 · « **Reply #30 on:** December 07, 2005, 03:46:35 PM »

Download a boot disk>http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

Load it......at a the a:\> copy sys:

Cannot remember the cmd......

patio · « **Reply #31 on:** December 07, 2005, 07:23:51 PM »

The HDD should have a label on the top which should tell you it's capacity. If all else fails visit the manuf. site and do a search by model #

patio.

garnetlake · « **Reply #32 on:** December 07, 2005, 08:12:53 PM »

Hi, thanks for that info, I will try this tomorrow.
Greg

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Author Topic: Dinosaur (Read 14540 times)

Garnetlake

GX1_Man

garnetlake

GX1_Man

garnetlake

2k_dummy

garnetlake

2k_dummy

garnetlake

garnetlake

2k_dummy

garnetlake

2k_dummy

garnetlake

2k_dummy

2k_dummy

garnetlake

GX1_Man

garnetlake

GX1_Man

garnetlake

GX1_Man

garnetlake

GX1_Man

garnetlake

GX1_Man

garnetlake

garnetlake

GX1_Man

garnetlake

nilrem_2

patio

garnetlake