using another computer's rescue disk

[Wendy Jeanveau]

my son's computer was on the blink and after trying everything I could think of I formatted the c drive. He had originally asked me to do this. I could not start the computer up to make a rescue disk of his computer or so I think anyway. I have installed win 95 using a rescue disk from my computer but of course not all the information will be correct. I get some suwin errors and I can get around those. Once Win 95 is installed and I am told to shut the computer down to finish installation the computer keeps freezing. It will occasionally let me into safe mode. It has once asked for cirrusmm.dll=win95_05.cab, cirrusmmdrv=in95_05.cab and cirrus.vxd=win95_06.cab. This has led me to ponder the possibility that there is a problem with the Video card because that's the only card in my computer that has a cirrus chip. I have tried to download the drivers onto a floppy in case I get this message again. When I try to start in windows 95 it will ofter tell me I have a Window's protection error. I have been told that this can happen when something is not seated correctly and I have tried to check and I think everything is seated properly. I am (obviously) very new at this whole "let me fix it myself crap" and this is purely out of neccesity (poverty) and stupidity, so anyone who is able to help me must assume I know nothing at all because to have gotten into this mess proves the point.

[tjaymadison]

Welcome, Wendy! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Try these sites for some Win95 help:

Computer Tips (http://www.computertips.com/Windows/Windows95/windows95tip.htm)
Eshelman (http://aumha.org/index.htm)

Microsoft Knowledge Base:

How to Troubleshoot Windows Protection Error Messages (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q149/9/62.asp)

Good Luck! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.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?')

"Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand."
-- Homer Simpson

[This message has been edited by tjaymadison (edited 05-27-2001).]

[steveo]

"It has once asked for cirrusmm.dll=win95_05.cab, cirrusmmdrv=in95_05.cab and cirrus.vxd=win95_06.cab."

As far as finding these files, when your prompted, type in d:\win95 (with your win95 disk in the cdrom). This should load the cab files being asked for. Hopefully it'll work for you. Whenever I'm loading a o/s like win95-98-ME, before I do setup I make a directory called cabfile in dos. After I open the directory..c:\cd cabfile...the prompt should look like this, c:\>cabfile. From here I type in, copy e:win95 *.* (win98 or win9x for ME)

This will copy the cabfiles (around 100 files) onto the hard drive under the directory of cabfile. Once done go to E drive and do your setup. After setup is finished whenever your prompted for system files you can use c:\cabfiles instead of using your disk or searching for the right files. Also, within cabfiles is a setup.exe file. Instead of reloading the o/s you can boot the pc to dos prompt, change to C drive and then change directory to cabfiles. Again it will look like, c:\>cabfile. From here type in setup and windows will reinstall, fix all system errors/registry, yet keep your database intact and you won't need the windows disk to do it. It's all done through cabfiles which is already on the hard drive from your previous installation. You'll have to load the proper drivers for video/audio etc or else windows will install its own default drivers.

I know this is a bit long winded but it's not hard to do and can get you out of many jams, like reinstalling cabfiles or the o/s when things go awry.

good luck

[Wendy Jeanveau]

Thanks for all your help guys, but I'm still stuck. To make a long and painful story short. I decided that since my son's computer had an ethernet card which would only be good with windows 98 and above that I would re-install windows 98. I removed the modem card to make sure it wasn't interfering in any way. It has a cirrus chip in it and some of the long ago error messages insinuated the cirrus chip problem.

No such luck. Formatted the hard drive (again) and tried to install win98. It keeps hanging on the cloud window after the initial re-boot. I have tried to start in safe mode but it just ends up telling me it's okay to shut down my computer or hanging with a blank screen. I have tried to erase and create new partitions in DOS. No luck. I have printed every help screen available, but the problem is that I have to go on the internet at work right now and print off what I think I need and then I go home and try to fix the problem. Arduous at best.

All help screens assume more knowledge than I have and also assume that eventually I will get the #$%$%^ thing running in safe mode. Getting ready to launch this machine into outerspace.