Dinosaur

[2k_dummy]

Look for memmaker.exe
At the prompt simply enter memmaker

[garnetlake]

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]

Do you have DOS install diskettes?

[garnetlake]

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

[GX1_Man]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[garnetlake]

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]

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]

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]

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