Doing a little prefix research: I am going to work on a printer problem tomorrow and I was looking for a little insight. The printer is a brother model and running on win 98, Supposedly no new harware or new software. New modem installed last year, everything was working fine until about 2 months ago. Giving error of "problem printing to port". icon shows in the bottom but with ?, Without seeing any of this first hand I am not sure if it is showing any conflicts. The user reported a month or so ago an error about a Outlook file being corrupt. I am stumped ( with out even looking at it). Possible virus?, should I wipe out all old print drivers and try fresh install. Do printers just stop communicating? thanks for any help in advance.

First make sure the LPT1(parallel) port is enabled in BIOS, it's assigned to 378/IRQ7, and it's using ECP/EPP.
To get into BIOS, press and hold the Del (or F8 or F1) key during startup.

If that's ok, then press and hold the Ctrl key during startup, select 'Command Prompt', press Enter, type dir>LPT1 at the C:\> prompt, and press Enter.
If the printer does not work, then there's a problem either with the printer, its cable, or the printer port.

If it prints, then there's a problem in Windows.
Uninstall the printer's software in Control Panel/Add-Remove Programs, and reinstall it.

Hi nipdog001:

I am assuming this printer is not networked; however, if it is see if you can print from other workstations.

If this is a stand-alone printer, what I would want to know is if this problem is isolated to a particular program or type of document. Also, you might want to check the cable. Look at the obvious first.

It might be wise to check Brother's website to see if they have an updated driver for this printer. As a last resort, you may have to uninstall\reinstall this printer.

you can also try disabling Print Spooling in the printer properties by selecting the Details tab, click Print Spooling, and then click Print Direct to Printer.Disable any programs running in the back ground. (trying to isolate Prob.)

Thanks, I will try this tonight.

OH NO, I tried the above post:I did the c:\dir>lpt1 and it printed. I then went to add/remove programs, did not see option to remove printer driver. I went into device manager and clicked on port and deleted the lpt 1 port(oops) then I went to the c:\window\system\VMM32.vxd file(oop#2). I then downloaded Brother driver and restarted the computer..... That's when it became a problem. No beep at start up, went to Windows splash screen, then it gives me the error message that I deleted some files that Windows needs to load, then it proceeds to tell me that I am missing C:\windows\system\VMM32\ifsmgr.VXD,""ios.vxd,""IFSMGR.vxd,IOS.vxd. Then the message Insufficent memory to intialize Windows, Quit 1 or more memory resident programs or remove unecessary utilitizes from your config.sys and autoexect.bat files and restart computer... at that point it tells me it is safe to turn up my computer and powers down. HELP!!, What can I do now to get into Windows or dos to fix this problem. I royal screwed the pooch on this one. Please help my all geek gods and masters. I am at your mercy. Thanks

Try booting into Safe Mode....if you can get into Windows in Safe mode all is not lost.

If you get in in safe mode try to undo what you did (like if you deleted vmm32.vxd restore it from the recycle bin).

Okay,

This link will tell you how to extract vmm32.vxd from your Win98 cd and reinstall it:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;311188

I have tried booting into Safe mode but everytime I do it goes to the splash screen then gives me the same error. I will try th second post link and probably come back for some more answers. Thanks

Go into CMOS setup, change the boot order so that the floppy drive is the first boot device, insert the Windows boot floppy, save the change at the main CMOS menu, press Enter, select 'Start with CD-ROM support' from the menu, press Enter, note the CD-ROM drive's letter(C,D, etc.) above the A:\> prompt, then at the A:\> prompt type X: (where X is the CD-ROM drive's letter), press Enter, insert the Windows installation CD into the CD-ROM drive, at the X:\> prompt type cd \win98, and press Enter.
Then, type extract /a /l c:\windows\system base4.cab vmm32.vxd at the X:\Win98> prompt, and press Enter.
When the X:\Win98> prompt returns, remove the boot floppy and the installation CD, and restart the computer.
See if that works.

Problem is getting worse, I was given the choice to overwrite C:windows\system vmm.vxd and I did so now it looks like all the main files need to manage and operate Windows are gone. I really don't want to wipe the hard drive and lose all info, I have no backups , no cd burner, this is not my computer or I would go ahead and reformat and start over, I really need to just get this file back on the computer and save the harddrive. Would I be able to take out harddrive from problem computer and attach to mine as a slave and transfer the files I need or to transfer important files and programs until I fixed problem?, Anymore suggestions or links would be great>

Yes. you could add this drive as slave to another machine in order to transfer data as you suggest, or an alternative would be to reinstall windows over the existing installation. This is not usually recommended, as problems can remain from the previous installation.

Probably best to get all the data files off, then run the manufacturers utilities to make sure the disk is OK. Then reformat and install from scratch.

David

After typing extract /a /l c:\windows\system base4.cab vmm32.vxd at the X:\Win98> prompt and pressing Enter, did you make sure to wait until the X:\Win98> prompt reappeared before proceesing?.

yes, nothing happened. It gave me an error message that I had to be in the current directory to extract file.

Is the Windows CD that you're inserting a full installation CD, an upgrade CD, or a restore CD?

it is an field tech copy second edtion

it is a field tech copy SE, not sure how you can tell if it is full, restore or upgrade?

Insert the CD in a drive, right click on that drive in Explorer, click Explore, and check if there is a Win98 folder which contains 'Win98_number.cab' files (where number represents a real number, like 22).
If so, then post back with the name of the first .cab file in that folder when the folder's contents are placed in alphabetical order.

your question is kind of confusing, the first Win 98# I have is 21 is that what you need?

If that's the first .cab file in the Win98 folder when all of the .cab files are placed in alphabetical order, then do the same procedure as stated in my previous post, and substitute that file in 'extract^/a^/l^ c:\windows\system^filename.cab^vmm32.vxd' (where filename is the name of that .cab file, ^ represents a space, and do not type the ').

However, if there is different .cab file which does not start with Win98 when the .cab files are placed in alphabetical order(like base4.cab), then use that file's name in the above.

alphabetically, base4 is the first .cab file, I extracted the files the first time. Why isn't the system seeing them? Other than extracting these files, what are my other options besides wiping the hard drive and starting over. Can I set up problem hard drive as a slave and copy my vmm files over to it? What would happen if I upgrade or do an install over existing Windows, would this keep all existing files currently on the problem hard drive?, I am at work and it is snowing so I will be home shortly to work on this again. I will keep emailing, thanks ski for your patience and help. Also is there anyway to do a restore from the DOS prompt?

Is Win98 the name of the folder in which the .cab files are located?
If not, then use the correct folder name.

If Win98 is the folder's name, then either try a reinstall, or set up the problem drive as Slave and copy the lost files to it from a working HD.

It's just getting worse!!!!, I moved problem harddrive over to my harddrive. It did not recognize it. I tried setting it up as a slave. I changed it to all of the different jumper settings still no luck. I took my hardrive out and put the problem drive in and it kept giving me the no system disk error. I checked cable connections, I stuck my hardrive back in my computer and it worked. I then gave up and was going to just go ahead and reformat and be done with it. I then booted from 98 boot disk and when I went to fdisk it gives me an error that no fixed disk is present. Did I fry the HD switching it back and forth? Did I miss something? HELP, it's getting worse and I am running out of time!

Downlaod the diagnostoc software from the website of the hard drive manufacturer....

Run the diagnsotics & report back.

Based on what you have reported to date the drive may be dying

The drive is a Samsung VG38404A, I went to their website and downloaded the evaluation version of Ontrack Diagnosis, it also says that no fixed disk is present, Is ther anything else I can check or any other websites or diagnostic tools I can try. Given my original problem was that it wouldn't print and I erased the VMM file off of the Hard Drive, I want to make sure this hard drive is toast before going back to my wife's coworker and telling her that we have to buy harddrive. Also for my peace of mind, is there anything that I could of done that caused this HD to crash? I know that is a hard question to answer given you were not able to see everything I did through the course of this problem.

You CAN'T make the BIOS fail to see the hard drive by erasing files.

You should check the ribbon & power cables from the motherboard to the drive and the power supply to the drive.

The Ribbon and cables are ok, I take my known good harddrive off of the ribbon and put the problem harddrive on the same cable. The Bios doesn't recognize the hard drive. So I guess it's safe to say that something went out on the harddrive?

Does the drive spin up?

Do you here it spin?

Hold it in your hand while it boots.

Is there any activity???

no spinning at all, the green light comes on, on the circuit board of the hardrive and that's it.

Contact the next of kin.

If there is valuable information you would like to get off and you have lots of $$$$$

click here (http://www.drivesavers.com)

As a last resort, you put the drive in a plastic bacg and put it in the freezer for an hour or so and then try it. You could also try to firmly strike the top of the drive with the handle of a screwdriver harder than a tap but not hard enough to leave a mark or dent the case.

Also, contact the manufacturer to see if there is any warranty left on the drive.

thanks, I have already notified next of kin. This hard drive isn't very old(1998) and I just replaced a hard drive that was older on this same computer last summer. Is there anything on the motherboard that could wreck the harddrive. I will try freezing and tapping and put this harddrive to rest. Just for my curiosity what does the freezing do ? Thanks foor your help.

The head sometimes gets stuck on the platters. Freezing & warming can someytimes loosen them up enough to boot & get info downloaded..

thanks for all your help.