win.com went south

[steveo]

hi folks...

I decided to try a small homemade dos written batch file which is suppose to fix small problems with corrupted IE explorer files. The fellow that wrote the program uses it and says it works fine. When I tried it (which I'm sure I did improperly) everything seemed fine but when I rebooted the pc the startup screen added the message, "win.com is either corrupted or missing, windows cannot start properly". Using another pc, in dos, I copied win.com (both pc's using win98se)and replaced it on the pc in question, overwriting the corrupted win.com file. I noticed the corrupted win.com file had been reduced to 9kb before I overwrote it. With this done I booted the pc in question and windows started and everything seemed fine. After a few more reboots, I got the message during startup that the registry was now corrupted. Pressing enter created a BSOD in which I couldn't get out of.

At this time one question I have is, at command prompt would running scanreg /fix had helped me deal with the corrupted registry?

My second question is did replacing win.com somehow affect the registry? From what I remember win.com is created during setup and checks system configuration, ram, cpu, xtended memory drivers, graphics mode and windows logo. Am I wrong in thinking that win.com simply checks for these items or does it directly affect the registry when overwritten?

as always, thanx for reading

[tjaymadison]

To the best of my knowledge, win.com is a DOS program whose only function
is to return from DOS to Windows, by typing "win" at the prompt. And then
only if DOS is entered either via Start > Programs > MS-DOS Prompt or
via Start > Shut Down > Restart in MS-DOS mode.

Although each PC runs 98SE, is the 'build' date the same on each?
Has each had the same Windows updates from Microsoft?
Did the original win.com files each have the same date and time stamp?

In any case, I doubt that running scanreg /fix would have any negative
effect. Running scanreg /restore may do some good also.

'Somehow affect' is probably a question only some M$ wonk can answer with precision. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

It seems to me that some kind of verification must be done to determine
whether any 'adverse' changes have been made while in DOS, before re-entry
to Windows is allowed. Win.com may do that itself, or at least initiate
the process. If an environment variable had been changed in DOS mode for example,
the registry would have to be made aware.

I would be interested to see a listing of the batch file, if you could post it.

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"I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question."
-- Charles Babbage, mathematician, computer pioneer, analytical engine designer (1791-1871)
-- (Question: 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?')



[This message has been edited by tjaymadison (edited 05-15-2001).]

[steveo]

"Although each PC runs 98SE, is the 'build' date the same on each?
Has each had the same Windows updates from Microsoft?
Did the original win.com files each have the same date and time stamp?"

the answer is no for all three...

I no longer have the disk but can get it back maybe sometime this week or on the weekend.

Thanx for your reply, I'll keep this in mind next time I come across the problem.

[Paleo Pete]

win.com is created during the installation process, that's why you can't simply copy it from the CD, it's not there. As long as it comes from the same win98 build, it might work I'm not sure about that one, guess it would be worth a try.

scanreg_/restore using a space in place of the underscore, would be better, as tjay said, you can replace the registry with a known good copy made before the registry was corrupted.



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[tjaymadison]

Not sure it is actually 'created'. The date of my own win.com file
under 'Modified' in Explorer is 05/11/98, months before my install.

I think it's tied to the actual build number -- those wonks are always tinkering.
Of course they can get away with it by calling it a fix or the always-popular 'upgrade'. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

------------------
"I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question."
-- Charles Babbage, mathematician, computer pioneer, analytical engine designer (1791-1871)
-- (Question: 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?')