I/O error computer won't start

[thewolfe]

I/O error computer won't start

A friend deleted some files from her computer and had about 40 viruses on her computer. The viruses have been removed.

Now she get's the following error:
"While initiating device IOS:
Error an I/O subsystem driver failed to load.

Either a file in the .\iosubsys subdirectry is corrupt or the system is low on memory."

All is still in the Recycle Bin. Is there something I can restore from the recycle Bin?

[Quantax]

Which OS?

If it's Win XP or ME, you might be able to use the 'system restore' feature to take it back to an earlier date(assuming you have earlier dates already created). And with XP, there's also the option in the startup menu to "restart with last known good configuration."

If it's Win98, perhaps 'Scanreg/restore' started from a command prompt(C:>)might work.

[Quantax]

In re-reading what you wrote, I have less confidence in what I suggested out of concern that you might wind up restoring the viruses as well so I'll have to defer here to the greater expertise of the more experienced Geeks here.;)

[Paul Komski]

Will the system boot into Safe Mode?

[thewolfe]

I have re-installed Win98 using a disk I had.
The computer is a Compaq Presario 7588. All I had was her "Quick restore" CD's.

Now I can start in "Safe Mode" but get an error message first. "Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer."

One article said I could have an older win.com file but I don't know how to update that unless I can use the "Quick restore" disks.

I thought the disks may erase all the data.

What say you?

[Quantax]

Maybe this can help:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=136630

[Paul Komski]

Compaq's quick restore should reset the software to the factory condition and work flawlessly unless the hardware has been changed and it no longer matches the factory condidition.

[thewolfe]

I'm "up and running". I re-installed Win98 again and it's good and....I saved all her files. I didn't want to use Compaq's quick restore because, from what I understand, it wipes out the data.

Thanks for the posts.