My Windows 98 wont start right

[jesse7637]

My Windows 98 wont go to the main desktop when I start it, it doesnt even go through the loading window. Earlier I copied a startup diskette because when i started it before that it just said insert system disk but I got that fixed. But now when I start it, it will say starting Windows 98 but than it will just take me to a command screen (which is black with white letters). I don't know how to get past that and get into my main desktop. If any body could please help me I would appreciate it, thanks.

If I didn't explain enough just ask me what else you need to know and ill reply to you.

[dahlarbear]

1.  Command Screen.  This "command screen"; do you get it by booting from a system floppy or attempting normal boot from hard drive?

If normal boot from hard drive, type "win.com" without quotes at a command prompt and hit the Enter key.  Does Windows 98 continue into the normal graphical user interface mode?

2.  Safe Mode.  Tap the F8 function key about once per second or faster as you power the system up (or perhaps restart it).  You should see a menu for different operating system boot modes.  Use up/down arrow keys to select Safe Mode and hit the Enter key.

Does the system boot into Safe Mode (with a Graphical User Interface (GUI))?

[caHarkness]

When starting your computer up normally,
You get this problem? Like it just brings you
to the MS-DOS shell.. no graphics..?

If you haven't touched your CONFIG.SYS
and AUTOEXEC.BAT files, you may try this..
Type: C:\WINDOWS\Win.com

If it says that you are running Windows over
an incorrect MS-DOS version.. (under MS-DOS 7.0)
make sure you run C:\WINDOWS\Setver.exe in
your AUTOEXEC.BAT..

I believe that (based on what I saw on my own
notebook) would set the MS-DOS version to 7.00+
I may not be correct.. but try it.

[jesse7637]

i typed C:\WINDOWS\Win.com but than this message came up in white text and a blue back ground:

                         VFAT Device Initialization Failed

A device or resource required by VFAT is not present or is unavailable. VFAT cannot continue loading.

System halted.

[jesse7637]

i used a floppy disk

[caHarkness]

Oh.. you are lucky then.
I just had this problem on my
old 486 notebook the other day..

I accidently removed the ifshlp.sys
from my WINDOWS directory..

If you trashed the file.. (moved it
into the recycle bin) from the command
line, type "cd C:\recycled" and type DIR.
there should be a few DC<number here>
files.. If you have too much.. type DIR *.sys
and it will limit the possibilities..

Find the file that that is around 3.708 KB
and has a .sys extension.. if that doesn't
help.. Post what your CONFIG.SYS says
in it.

(Open it with 'edit')
"edit CONFIG.SYS"

[BC_Programmer]

sounds like your HD(or system file data) is on the fritz- your first problem was a "Non-system disk or disk error, replace and strike any key when ready" error, or thereabouts. So you made a system disk (floppy) and boot the computer. a floppy disk boot will NOT contain any GUI elements, and in general would be used to diagnose and fix problems with a windows installation.


after booting with the floppy, try SYS C:, this should at least solve the "non-system disk" error. Of course it appears that your Hard drive is having more problems then that, given the Device initialization failure of the Win98 Filesystem driver....


Also, try fdisk /MBR


good luck to you.