Computer Hope
Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows 3.x/9x/ME => Topic started by: bil_drk on June 27, 2009, 06:07:54 PM
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I have an old IBM PC with windows 98 1st. Recently, my CD drive burned out of it, and i had a spare so i plugged it in and it lit up, opens and closes so i assume it works. well, after tinkering i found out i was missing the file APPS.INF, and i obtained the file and went to look for the INF folder in the windows folder, but couldn't find it. I did make sure that all hidden folders were visible. So, i created a blank folder and put apps.inf in it, thinking it would work. well, it didn't. so now, i don't know what to do. I tried to run the search for new hardware wizard, but it couldn't find it either. I really need my computer back ASAP, so any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance to those who help me.
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Boot into DOS mode, type: attrib -h -s -r c:\windows\inf press enter and restart the computer in normal mode and see if the INF folder has appeared...next put the file into the INF folder
you could also put the installation CD in your CD drive....Click START, click RUN to open a RUN command..
type: sfc /scannow click OK, and see if the System File Checker will reinstall the file for you
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Are you sure the jumper is is the correct position?
Is the IDE ribbon connected to both the drive and the motherboard?
Have you tried a different IDE ribbon? The old drive might not have burned out after all.
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would any of you two happen to have anymore suggestions? I tried them both and they didn't work. I double checked and made sure the drive was connected to the motherboard and the cd drive. i also typed in the command exactly the same. the computer told me it was a bad command. i also ran the system file checker, and it said my files were okay. i also ran registry checker, it also said my registry was okay. whenever i open up setup menu, i check my IDE devices and it says IDE: CD-ROM PORT 0. I'm assuming this means it has found it, but unsure why windows cannot recognize it.
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Can you locate the INF folder through the command line?
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Can you locate the INF folder through the command line?
this is a good idea..
boot into DOS mode type: dir c:\windows\inf hit enter
If the INF folder is there, the folders contents should be displayed when pressing enter
Once you've verified that it's there, boot back into the Windows GUI and copy the apps.inf file to the root of the C drive.....C:\
then boot back into DOS mode and type:
copy c:\inf c:\windows\inf
press enter and it should copy the file to the INF folder
Does Device Manager reveal any errors?
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device manager has been acting a tad weird, but not as weird as my add new hardware wizard. when i click on the 'manually install hardware' tab, it shows a list of accelerators, CD-Rom controlers, etc. but when i click on one of those tabs, several manufacturers should appear- its just a white screen. this is why i thought i was missing the INF folder, but now i'm unsure.
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Can you locate the INF folder through the command line?
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no; i typed in the code blockHEAD gave me i had too to make it appear; it gave me my drive information, and it said the file could not be found. where do i go from here?
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I guess I could have been more specific. :)
I mean going into the command line, going into the Windows directory and determining if you can even just see the INF Folder.
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this means i boot in DOS mode right? what do i type when i get there?
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type: dir c:\windows
If the INF folder exists, you should see it in the list after pressing ENTER
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thank you blockhead. if it is not there, what do i do?
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this is not an expert idea, but you could boot back into Windows as you would normally, and create a folder named inf inside the WINDOWS folder and then place the apps.inf file in the inf folder
What does it look like in Device Manager? Are there any yellow exclamation marks or red X's?
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i tried to search the directory with the command given; this time the command worked! however, i couldn't find the INF folder even through searching the directory.
i did try to name a folder INF and placed APPS inside it, but that didn't work. i was told by someone else that naming a folder INF and placing APPS inside it wouldn't work, after i had already tried it. As far as the device manager their are a few red x's, but no yellow lines.
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If you have no INF folder- something is wrong. A Clean install contains an INF folder.
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scratch that; there are a few yellow exclamation marks, and no red x's
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i cannot do a clean reinstall, because i do not have a cd drive; thus the reason for this mess
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What do you mean you don't have a CD drive?
Your drive may not show up in Windows, but that is irrelevant when doing an installation...load up the Windows 98 boot disk (should be a floppy disk), that will load the driver for the CD drive (if you don't have a windows 98 boot disk you can download one)....just google it
Once the the boot disk loads (you'll have to set the boot order in CMOS to recognize the floppy drive before the CD rom drive), select, "start with cd rom support", when it loads, you'll have to format the Hard drive before you install.......type: format c: at the prompt and when the format is complete, put the installation disk in and install
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yes; my floppy works. i really appreciate you guys helping me :)
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well then, Windows 98 1st edition will install on your computer via floppy disk. Try using the floppy disk.
they'll need to get the floppy disk version first...
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but he will also need the CD version if he is going to reinstall it (and Windows 981st Edition only comes on floppy Windows98SE comes on CD.
they both come on CD.
In fact Windows 95 came on CD too. So did windows 98, First edition. You had to specifically Mail MS to get the floppy version of either.
I think it consisted of 40 floppies. Quite a lot, really.
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Oh :o I read that somewhere, I was wrong I apologise. I have deleted all replies relating to floppy drive.
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here, you don't have to download if you don't want to:
http://www.computerhope.com/boot.htm#05
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dear blockhead, downloading a bootdisk is not a problem one question though which one do i download (on bootdisk.com) there is OEM or Custom, which one do i choose?however as you may have already guessed i'm not very good with computers. can you please give me step by step detailed instructions on how to do this:
(you'll have to set the boot order in CMOS to recognize the floppy drive before the CD rom drive), select, "start with cd rom support", when it loads, you'll have to format the Hard drive before you install.......type: format c: at the prompt and when the format is complete, put the installation disk in and install
I would really appreciate the help, and appreciate your patience with my learning curves. Most would've given up already :)
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After you have the boot disk, insert it into the computer and restart.....When the very first screen appears (the BIOS version) press either F1, F2, delete, or ESC, it depends on which bios version you are using.......This will allow you to enter CMOS set up...Once you're in, locate the section that allows you to change the boot order of the drives....Generally, you will highlight the drive that you want to give priority with the cursor, and use the "+" or "-" keys to move the drive up or down the list.....It might be different with your BIOS
Your drive boot order should look like this:
diskette (floppy drive)
Cd drive
Hard drive
other (any other bootable drive)
Once you have made the boot order look like that, press F10 to exit CMOS, saving your settings......It might not be F10, it might be another key, but make sure you save the settings... Once you exit, your computer will automatically boot from the floppy disk that you inserted... Select the option: "Start with CD rom Support"
Let it load everything and when you come to the prompt, type: format c: press enter and let it format the hard drive..
Once it is done, the next thing you need to type at the prompt will be: setup.exe
Windows will then perform a scan of your hard drive checking it for errors and when it is done, hit "exit", and it will automatically go into the Windows 98 set up.......
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be sure the installation CD is in the CD drive when you type: setup.exe ;D
edit: follow the instructions in the link I provided, to make yourself a boot disk using Windows 98
If you get confused again, let me know
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i have a windows 98se disc, will it still work with this disc?
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As long as you have a license key for it, yes it will work..........
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yes, i beleive i do. thanks for the help
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let me know how it goes... :)
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Recently, my CD drive burned out of it, and i had a spare so i plugged it in and it lit up, opens and closes so i assume it works. well, after tinkering i found out i was missing the file APPS.INF, and i obtained the file and went to look for the INF folder in the windows folder, but couldn't find it.
I just remembered something.
Depending on how old your computer is you won't be able to get a newer CD drive to work on it. At one point(I don't remember exactly when it was) the standards changed and they were no longer backwards compatibe.
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well, this cd drive came out of a computer about the same age as mine, so i should've had no problems installing it boy, was i WRONG!!! :P
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I just love PnP(Plug 'n' PRAY), it's so flawless....
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you ain't lieing! ;D
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so what's the deal, did you get Win98 installed, or have you run into a problem?
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i will try the installation tomorrow; computer i'm working on doesn't have a floppy drive. besides, it's 1:30 a.m here, i've been working on it all day and i want a break. i hope you'll be on tommorow blockhead, because i still might need you. i downloaded a windows 98 (1st edition) startup disk, copied it to a CD, and i should be going to a friends house tommorow with a floppy drive so i can make the disk. when it comes time to do the install, i'll post it on here and please don't wander too far away from your computer, because again i still might need you to walk me through this, being its the first time i've ever done anything like this ???
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That's funny, he talks like we have lives apart from our computers...
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i always did think sleep was vital to help keeping the mind stimulated, but........... ;D
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thaks again blockhead, will work a little more on this. followed your link on how to manually make a boot disk. will this still work even with how screwed up my system is?
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If you are unable to make a boot disk using windows 98, just download a bootdisk from here: http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
Download the Windows 98 SE Custom disk.............
It's simple...once you download it, put a floppy disk into the floppy drive, double-click on boot disk to open it and click RUN, it will automatically extract the files to the floppy disk, with no effort on your part.... wammo you've got your bootable floppy disk ;)
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i always did think sleep was vital to help keeping the mind stimulated, but...
Nah, that dull listless feeling that you get makes PnP easier to deal with. ;D
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so to make a boot disk, i just click on the download, click RUN, and it will automatically save the files on the floppy disk?
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yes, you will see a few prompts, asking "are you sure" and such and such, but yes
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You had to specifically Mail MS to get the floppy version of either.
BC, that's not entirely correct. When Windows 95 was first released, the CD's were delayed in shipping. For the first two weeks you could only buy it on floppy, yes it was 40 floppies - but it was a stripped down version.
A few of my customers at the time were really pissed because they couldn't wait. They just had to be the first on the block with it. Ah well, I'd warned them that it would be missing stuff.
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I just love PnP(Plug 'n' PRAY)
how funny
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now, my friends computer is XP-this won't screw it up will it ???
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just download the Win98 SE Custom disk using the link I provided... Put a floppy disk in the system, double click the download and run it... It's not going to hurt your friends computer ;)
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thanks blockhead, will report back with the reults ;D
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so far i have made the disk, but when i restarted it said;
Disk I/O Error
replace the disk and press any key to continue
what do i do now?
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If you are at your own computer now, you need to enter the CMOS set up and change the boot order of your drives...
Put the floppy disk in the computer...Restart the computer and when you see the first screen appear, press either F1, F2, delete, or escape (one of those) and you will be able to enter CMOS set up..
Once you enter CMOS setup, find where you can change the boot order of your drives..It's relatively simple....Just look for something that looks like, "boot order" or something similar... Your boot order should look like this:
diskette (floppy drive)
CD rom drive
Hard drive
other (any other bootable device)
If you see this list in any other order, change it to what it looks like here. To change it, you will need to highlight the drive that you want at the top of the list with the cursor, and then either press + or - to move it up or down the list....The + or - sign on the numeric key pad will work or you can hold down the shift key while pressing + or - on the keyboard......Changing the boot order may be done a different way....It all depends on the BIOS/CMOS that is installed on your computer....... Once you successfully change the boot order of the drives and save your settings before exiting, assuming you made the floppy disk correctly you should boot from the floppy disk..... When you successfully change the boot order of the drives let me know..
If you are still confused, tell me what BIOS version is installed on your computer and I'll look it up and tell you exactly how to change the boot order.. To know which BIOS version you are using, restart the computer and when the first screen appears, hit the PAUSE button on your keyboard to give you time to get the information off the screen.......Once you have the BIOS version, let me have it in your next post..
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alright, i'll try it real quick :(
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i tried hitting esc, f1, f2, and even up to f10- but it only kept repeating the same message, and wouldn't allow me to change the boot order of anything. i think i made a faulty disk
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i tried hitting esc, f1, f2, and even up to f10- but it only kept repeating the same message, and wouldn't allow me to change the boot order of anything. i think i made a faulty disk
you press the keys WHILE it boots... not when it's displaying that message.
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it wouldn't boot, thats the only message it displayed. thus why i think the disk is faulty
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Forget about the disk right now....We are not trying to boot from the disk....We only want the disk to be in the computer while you change the cmos settings..
I'll tell you what....take the floppy disk out....restart your computer and when the VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY first screen appears, hit either F1, F2, escape for delete......It's one of those keys.........You may have to tap the key repeatedly to make it enter cmos
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bil_drk, what blockHEAD is trying to say, th I/O or Input/Output, it will come up after the time has passed, because it being Windows 98, it is usually del (not always) but most computers has del.
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thanks, i tried repeatedly tapping all of the keys ( i restarted several times and tried each one), however, it still wouldn't enter CMOS. F1 entered me into the setup utility, and when i tried the others they brought me to the Windows 98 startup menu. also, the screen tells me there's a problem in my CONFIG.SYS file. Can i run CMOS setup in windows command prompt? what can i do next?
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F1 entered me into the setup utility
That's the CMOS setup.
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it is? well, then how do i change the boot order from my setup utility.
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should CMOS setup be displayed like a DOS screen, or what should it look like? ???
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congratulations bil_drk, you have found CMOS :)
Yes, it looks like DOS..
Now, once you are in CMOS setup, use the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate around, generally, pushing the left and right arrow keys allow you to navigate to the different available categories.... and the UP/DOWN arrow keys let you select what you want to do in each sub-category... Look in each category and look for something that resembes, Start Order, Boot Order, Drive Order, Start Sequence, or Boot Sequence.....something along those lines....catch my drift? Once you have found that let me know and I'll guide you through changing the order of the drives..
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oh, you might have to use the ENTER key on your keyboard to actually enter certain categories to change...In other words, use the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate through CMOS and use the ENTER key to select objects for editing...The ESC key lets you back out of a category, once entered..
edit: sometimes there are on-screen instructions that tell you what to do once something is highlighted with the cursor..
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there is still one problem; my computer shut off after entering CMOS, and now it wont let me back in (i left it to do a few chores), and when i returned, the computer was shut down. i don't know what to do now! :-[, however i can still enter the computer's main setup utility ???
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We need to get you back into the CMOS set up if we are going to reinstall Windows..
Make sure all data cables are secured and that the power chord is secured to the wall outlet.... It might do you some good to open up your computer and check for dust...There is a chance that your computer over heated while you were doing chores and that's why it shut down.....Make sure the inside is virtually dust free and that the Heat sink that covers the processor ( the shinny thing on the motherboard with the fan on top of it) is dust free.....Also, make sure all fans are spinning while the computer is on.
If there is dust inside the computer, you'll have to go buy yourself a giant can of compressed air...