Can't restart in dos mode

[mikew]

When shutting down from the start menu my system won't restart in dos mode. I get a message saying "Access to the specified devise, path or file is denied. I've gone to the "Exit to DOS" *.pif files and tried from there but get a message saying "A devise on your system is not working".
My system is a P166 running WIN98. I have recently increased ram from 32mb to 64mb (could there be a problem here).
All devises i.e cd, sound, modem etc. seem to be working fine. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
Tanzie
The Old Fart

[tjaymadison]

There may be a statement in your Autoexec.bat and/or Config.sys file that is incorrect, or that is attempting to load a driver or run a program that has been moved or deleted. Click Start, click Shut down, click Restart, click OK, and then press and hold the CTRL key until the Startup Menu appears. For some machines, use F8 instead of the CTRL key. One of the menu options will be Step-by-step confirmation. Type its number and then press ENTER. The process will continue by asking you a series of yes/no questions. Answer yes to each one by pressing Y. If the command runs successfully, the process will continue with the next command. If the command does not run successfully, there will be an error message indicating what is causing the problem. This will go through all the statements in both files, and then go on to start Windows after you answer the last question. The problem may end up being something simple, like a syntax error. If the error message is unclear, reply back and we'll go from there. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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"When I nod my head, hit it with the hammer."
(Moe, holding nail, to Curly, holding hammer)

[mikew]

Thanks for responding.
O.K I did as you suggested and all commands were accepted. Windows then started. The only things I noticed were these two rem's: 1. C:\rem - By Windows Network C:\Windows|net start and 2. C:\rem - By Windows Startup MSCDEX/D:MSCD001/v. There was a 30sec. delay after the last command (msmouse.vxd) before the windows screen but this is not a fast system.
Are there any oyher suggestions???
Thanks Again.
Tanzie
The Old Fart

[tjaymadison]

Well the by Windows means that Windows analyzed your start-up files and "decided" that these two statements were not required. The rem followed by one space is a method of making those command lines inoperative, but still leaving them in the file in case they are needed later. It's referred to as remarking out or rem'ing out. I'm not sure about #1, but #2 would have (without the rem) loaded the real-mode driver for your CD-ROM drive. Most often this is fine, because Windows uses its included protected-mode driver more effectively. Do you have any special kind of mouse attached? It seems unusual that msmouse.vxd is being loaded in a start-up file. This statement may well be the problem. Click Start, Run and type sysedit in the dialog box. A window will open to let you edit your start-up files. Look in Autoexec.bat for a line that includes msmouse.vxd, click once at the beginning of that line and type rem and press the spacebar once. Repeat if necessary for any other lines that contain the same .vxd file. Now click the title bar for Config.sys and do the same thing if necessary. When you're done, click File, then click Save. You will have to shut down/restart Windows normally for your changes to take effect. See if this fixes things.

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"When I nod my head, hit it with the hammer."
(Moe, holding nail, to Curly, holding hammer)

[mikew]

My Mouse is just a regular microsoft 2 button.
Autoexec.bat in sysedit only shows the two rem lines previously mentioned plus a line for my antivirus (AVG).
Tanzie
The Old Fart

[tjaymadison]

A search for "access denied" on the Microsoft Knowledge Base turned up this (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q181/0/83.asp), this (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q205/8/52.asp), this (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q277/6/28.asp), and this (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q195/1/76.asp). If one of these works for you, let me know which one. Good Luck! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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"When I nod my head, hit it with the hammer."
(Moe, holding nail, to Curly, holding hammer)

[mikew]

Hey, "this" #4 described my problem exactly and gave the answer, file (Winoa386.mod)somehow screwed up. Reinstalled the file and all is well.
Thanks a million for the advice.
Don't know if I'll ever be able to figure these things out as well as some of you guys but I'll keep trying. I did Elec. Eng. 40+yrs ago (when TV's used tubes) and then Mech. Eng. and stuck with Mech. all my working life. It's a hell of a lot easier when you can undo a few nuts & bolts and see what the problem is.
Thanks again for the advise.
Tanzie
The Old Fart.

[tjaymadison]

Glad it worked, Mike. I learned something myself in the process. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

"Bee four I grajuwated I kudent evun spel injunere, now I are won!" http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif
(ChemE/OR myself)

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"When I nod my head, hit it with the hammer."
(Moe, holding nail, to Curly, holding hammer)