i gave my spare computer to a friend and somhow he deleted the (system INI files) and now i cant get windows to load.is there some way i can reload these files with out putting this thing in the shop.i really thank you if you can help.(ronnie)

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Hi Ronnie:

Are you getting the message that says "Reinstall
Windows"?

The SYSTEM.INI file is created during the
installation process, and contains all the items
that are specific and unique to your computer. 
The only way to create the proper one for your
computer is to run the installation process again.

SYSTEM.INI isn't like some (most) of the Windows
operating files that are identical from one
computer to another -- so much so that you can
take a copy of a file from one computer and put it
on another computer which has a damaged file of
the same name.

Unless you have a "whole drive backup" where you
could retrieve a copy of your unique SYSTEM.INI
file, you're going to have to reinstall Windows.

You CAN, however, save all your DATA files by
copying them off using DOS.  If you use one of the
Long-File-Name utilities for DOS, you can
preserve your files' long file names.  I use a
portable ZIP drive that plugs into the parallel
port with DOS drivers on a bootable floppy disk to
do this sort of salvage work.

You may be able to reinstall Windows "over the
top" without reformatting, and therefore also
preserve your data files.

Sorry.

Jerry

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

thank you verry much jerry you have ben a lot of help. ill try reloading windows 95 or will windows 98 work.? i tried my windows-xp disk and it dident do anything. well thank you again take care.((ronnie))


On Sunday, May 7, 2006 at 10:01 pm, Jerry wrote:
>Hi Ronnie:
>
>Are you getting the message that says "Reinstall
>Windows"?
>
>The SYSTEM.INI file is created during the
>installation process, and contains all the items
>that are specific and unique to your computer.
>The only way to create the proper one for your
>computer is to run the installation process again.
>
>SYSTEM.INI isn't like some (most) of the Windows
>operating files that are identical from one
>computer to another -- so much so that you can
>take a copy of a file from one computer and put it
>on another computer which has a damaged file of
>the same name.
>
>Unless you have a "whole drive backup" where you
>could retrieve a copy of your unique SYSTEM.INI
>file, you're going to have to reinstall Windows.
>
>You CAN, however, save all your DATA files by
>copying them off using DOS. If you use one of the
>Long-File-Name utilities for DOS, you can
>preserve your files' long file names. I use a
>portable ZIP drive that plugs into the parallel
>port with DOS drivers on a bootable floppy disk to
>do this sort of salvage work.
>
>You may be able to reinstall Windows "over the
>top" without reformatting, and therefore also
>preserve your data files.
>
>Sorry.
>
>Jerry

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Hi Ronnie:

The hardware needs of Windows 98 are somewhat more
demanding than those of Windows 95 (i.e.
required/recommended memory, CPU speed, etc.), and
XP's needs are WAY more demanding.

If you have the original Win95 installation disk,
I would stick with Win95.  Be sure you have your
activation number handy.  If you don't have it, it
can be extracted (using DOS) from a file on the
machine (assuming that file didn't get erased
along with SYSTEM.INI).

The file is called
C:\SYSTEM.1ST

it's a "hidden" file; if you don't have your
number, don't erase anything else -- I'll tell you
how to "see" and extract your ID number from the
old installation.

Jerry

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Aloha
I've had a similar problem, but no matter what i do the computer shuts itself down.

Here is a lengthy discription of my problem.


I have a DELL Inspiron 3000 with Windows 95.

At present I am unable to start Windows 95 and get the following messages.




Warning: Winows did not open proberly ...

A devicee file that is specified in the SYSTEM.INI file is damaged.
It may be needed to run Windows.

You may need to run the Windows Setup program again.
If the file is included in another software package, you may need to reistall the 
software that 

uses the file.
C:\WINDOWS\system\VMM32\vwin32.VXD
Press a key to continue_



When i press a key I get a similar messsage that sites the file 
C:\WINDOWS\system\VMM32\vcond.VXD
 the message.

When i press a key I get a similar messsage that sites the file 
C:\WINDOWS\system\VMM32\vxdldr.VXD






After about seven or nine similar messages the computer shuts off.

I have tried using an Emergency Boot floppy disk in the bay of the computer and I 
have tried to 

use Windows 95 Startup floppy disc and DELL Clean Start Diskette II for Windows 95/98 
(Boot 

Diskette).

None of those floppies have started the computer.

I have entered the setup and selected Boot From Hard Disk and I have selected Boot 
from Diskette, 

and I have also selected Boot from CD/ROM using an external BackPack CD/ROM.

Nothing has worked and the computer eventually turns itself off.

I have a Dell Inspiron Windows 95 Reinstallation Guide and have successfully completed 
reinstallations previously, but I am stuck on this one.

Can you help me?

Tom Powell








On Monday, May 8, 2006 at 5:47 pm, Jerry wrote:

>Hi Ronnie:

>

>The hardware needs of Windows 98 are somewhat more

>demanding than those of Windows 95 (i.e.

>required/recommended memory, CPU speed, etc.), and

>XP's needs are WAY more demanding.

>

>If you have the original Win95 installation disk,

>I would stick with Win95.  Be sure you have your

>activation number handy.  If you don't have it, it

>can be extracted (using DOS) from a file on the

>machine (assuming that file didn't get erased

>along with SYSTEM.INI).

>

>The file is called

>C:\SYSTEM.1ST

>

>it's a "hidden" file; if you don't have your

>number, don't erase anything else -- I'll tell you

>how to "see" and extract your ID number from the

>old installation.

>

>Jerry
 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Hi Tom:

You said:
"I have tried using an Emergency Boot floppy disk
in the bay of the computer and I have tried to use
Windows 95 Startup floppy disc and DELL Clean
Start Diskette II for Windows 95/98 (Boot
Diskette)."

The best thing ANY floppy boot disk can do is get
you to a DOS prompt -- none of them can actually
load Windows for you.  Did any of your boot disks
get you to a DOS prompt?

You said:
"and I have also selected Boot from CD/ROM using
an external BackPack CD/ROM."

Win95 installation CDs are not bootable as they
were produced by Microsoft.

You will need to boot into DOS using a floppy boot
disk which has DOS drivers that will allow you to
"see" your CDROM drive in DOS.

If you have a MicroSolutions "Backpack" CDROM
drive, your can probably get the necessary DOS
drivers from their web site.  Even their older
products are still supported with real
USA-English-speaking telephone technicians.  I've
secured old drivers from them by calling them.

Jerry

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

thanks for the reply Jerry

I don't know diddley about DOS, but i printed out your reply and i'll try to follow 
your suggestions.  I don't think i had the opportunity to get to a DOS prompt from 
any of the floppy discs, but i'll be giving it a try.  and i'll try getting DOS drivers 
from Microsolutions.

I have a desktop computer with XP, but i love my laptop with 95 and the photo and 
flatop scanning hardware and a printer with a cartridge that i can refill myself. 
 and nobody seems to bother me spam or viruses.

will get back to later if i need more help
Aloha and Mahalo
Tom Powell

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Thanks for the previous reply.

I haven't seen anything about DOS when i try to start the computer and none of the 
boot discs got me to a DOS prompt.

MicroSolutions says that they are out of businees, but there is a website that has 
drivers.  Without my 95 computer i don't have the ability to download to a floppy.

I would hope that i could download DOS info from my desktop XP to a CD-ROM and try 
to boot the DELL laptop 95 from that with the BackPack external hardware.

I hope that will resore the missing or damaged files and get the computer started?


Aloha
Tom 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Hi Tom:

I don't think you're going to have too much luck
trying to make a bootable CD.  You may be able to,
but you're out of my league with bootble CDs.

Do you have ANY friends that have an Internet
connection AND a floppy drive who could make you a
bootdisk?

If so, have them go here:
http://www.bookdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
and download TO YOUR FRIEND'S DESKTOP
the file called:
WINDOWS 95 VERSION B

Then, using a brand new floppy disk (which you
will provide your friend), have your friend put
the new floppy disk in his floppy drive, then
double-click on the downloaded file which he has
put on his DESKTOP.  This will create a bootable
floppy disk.

Now take the finished floppy, put it in your
broken computer while the power is turned off,
then turn the power on.

It should boot up to a DOS prompt which looks like
this:
A:\>_

Let me know when you get this far, then we can
explore from there.

Jerry

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

thanks for the help
i think i understand what i need to do
think i can go to an internet shop and get a floppy made of WINDOWS 95 VERSION B 
and then i'll follow the rest of your instructions and look for the flashing A:\>_

I'll reply when i get that far.
Aloha
Tom 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

no luck Jerry.

I went to the internet shop and downloaded Windows 95B from bootdisk.com onto a new 
floppy, put it into my laptop and turned the power on, but i still got the same messages.

Warning: Winows did not open properly ...

A device file that is specified in the SYSTEM.INI file is damaged.
It may be needed to run Windows.

You may need to run the Windows Setup program again.
If the file is included in another software package, you may need to reistall the 
software that uses the file.
C:\WINDOWS\system\VMM32\vwin32.VXD
Press a key to continue_

this message repeats with a slightly different file every time i press a key and 
eventually the computer shuts off the power to itself.

from a mechanical point of view it would appear that the  computer is not recognizing 
the floppy drive.

when i enter the setup the hard drive is always selected as the boot device.  if 
i select diskette drive, save and exit, i would expect that the diskette drive to 
be the indicated boot device for every attempted start after that, but the next time 
i try to start and enter setup, the hard drive is still indicated as the boot device.

later

I have just tried F9 Setup Defaults, Save and Exit, and Diskette Drive has appeared 
as the preferred boot device.  With Windows 95 Version B floppy i have gotten the 
message

Non-System disk or disk error
Replace and press any key when ready

This is a different message, and it might mean progress because this is the first 
time i've heard any noise from the floppy drive, but when i press any key the message 
repeats and repeats.

I tied another floppy, Windows 95 Startup Disk and got a message that there was no 
CD-ROM and eventually the computer turned itself off again.

The CD-ROM message is new, and therefore encouraging and i'm going to hookup the 
external CD-ROM device and try to startup with various floppies.  Maybe i'll hit 
the right combination.

Thanks for the help so far.  I'll keep you informed of my progress.  

Aloha
Tom

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Success of a sort

I've gotten to A:\>_

what next?

tp

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

After A:> add a space and type in "  Sys C  ": and press "Enter".







On Thursday, May 25, 2006 at 1:58 am, Tom Powell wrote:

>Success of a sort

>

>I've gotten to A:\>_

>

>what next?

>

>tp 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

ok
i checked the setup and the boot selected is diskette
i put the Windows 95B floppy from bootdisk into the computer and turned it on and 
got the message
non system disk or disk error
replace and press any key when ready
i replaced that floppy with one labeled Windows 95 Startup Disk and after seeing 
a message about the CD-ROM not connected i got A:\>_

i typed a space Sys C and hit the enter key
i got the message  Required parameter missing

i tried other floppies and either got the same message or a bad command or file name 
message

we're getting closer
what next?
tp

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Put in your Startup disk and at a:, type sys c:
If that doesnt do it type, 
a:>copy config.sys c:
a:>copy autoexec.bat c:



The SYS command is used to copy system files from one 
disk to another. Your computer needs these system files 
to start. 

>>>To SYS your C drive, type:  
   SYS C: 
   and then press ENTER. After a few seconds, a 
   "System Transferred" message appears.

The following files are copied to your hard disk during 
the SYS procedure:
*  IO.SYS
*  MSDOS.SYS
*  COMMAND.COM
If the SYS C: command does not work and you have a 
compressed drive, you may need to type the drive letter 
of your host drive. With the DblSpace or DrvSpace programs, 
the host drive is typically designated drive H. If you are 
not sure of the drive letter, run ScanDisk and see if it 
prompts you about your compressed drive.
FDISK.EXE and FORMAT.EXE








On Thursday, May 25, 2006 at 12:46 am, Tom Powell wrote:

>no luck Jerry.

>

>I went to the internet shop and downloaded Windows 95B from bootdisk.com onto a 
new 

>floppy, put it into my laptop and turned the power on, but i still got the same 
messages.

>

>Warning: Winows did not open properly ...

>

>A device file that is specified in the SYSTEM.INI file is damaged.

>It may be needed to run Windows.

>

>You may need to run the Windows Setup program again.

>If the file is included in another software package, you may need to reistall the 

>software that uses the file.

>C:\WINDOWS\system\VMM32\vwin32.VXD

>Press a key to continue_

>

>this message repeats with a slightly different file every time i press a key and 

>eventually the computer shuts off the power to itself.

>

>from a mechanical point of view it would appear that the  computer is not recognizing 

>the floppy drive.

>

>when i enter the setup the hard drive is always selected as the boot device.  if 

>i select diskette drive, save and exit, i would expect that the diskette drive to 

>be the indicated boot device for every attempted start after that, but the next 
time 

>i try to start and enter setup, the hard drive is still indicated as the boot device.

>

>later

>

>I have just tried F9 Setup Defaults, Save and Exit, and Diskette Drive has appeared 

>as the preferred boot device.  With Windows 95 Version B floppy i have gotten the 

>message

>

>Non-System disk or disk error

>Replace and press any key when ready

>

>This is a different message, and it might mean progress because this is the first 

>time i've heard any noise from the floppy drive, but when i press any key the message 

>repeats and repeats.

>

>I tied another floppy, Windows 95 Startup Disk and got a message that there was 
no 

>CD-ROM and eventually the computer turned itself off again.

>

>The CD-ROM message is new, and therefore encouraging and i'm going to hookup the 

>external CD-ROM device and try to startup with various floppies.  Maybe i'll hit 

>the right combination.

>

>Thanks for the help so far.  I'll keep you informed of my progress.  

>

>Aloha

>Tom

>

>
 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

hello alex
you wrote; To SYS your C drive, type: SYS C: 
   and then press ENTER. After a few seconds, a 
   "System Transferred" message appears.
With the windows 95 Startup Disc in the floppy drive I typed in SYS C: got to the 
system transferred message and got  A:\>_ again.
i tried "copy config.sys c:" and 1 file was copied
I tried "copy autoexec.bat  c:" and selected overwrite yes  I again get A:\>_  and 
i don't know what command to enter there to get things started.

I tried the Windows 95B disk i made from bootdisk and i typed in boot 95b.exe and 
i got the message program cannot be run in DOS  I again get A:\>_  and i don't know 
what command to enter there to get things started.

Thanks for the help so far.  My original intent was to reformat the hard drive on 
my laptop.  I have done this before by using the DELL Inspiron 30000 Windows 95 Reinstallation 
Guide. Their instructions are to prepare the drive by booting the system with the 
Dell System Utilities Diskette and run the PREPHD.BAT file from the A:> drive.  I 
assume I could now enter A:\>_ prephd and proceed with the instructions in the guide, 
but I'm relunctant to start down that road and I would like like to get the computer 
running from where I'm at now.   A:\>_

Aloha
Tom 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

@ A: X\setup.exe    where X is your CD-ROM.







On Saturday, May 27, 2006 at 11:51 am, Tom Powell wrote:

>hello alex

>you wrote; To SYS your C drive, type: SYS C: 

>   and then press ENTER. After a few seconds, a 

>   "System Transferred" message appears.

>With the windows 95 Startup Disc in the floppy drive I typed in SYS C: got to the 

>system transferred message and got  A:\>_ again.

>i tried "copy config.sys c:" and 1 file was copied

>I tried "copy autoexec.bat  c:" and selected overwrite yes  I again get A:\>_  and 

>i don't know what command to enter there to get things started.

>

>I tried the Windows 95B disk i made from bootdisk and i typed in boot 95b.exe and 

>i got the message program cannot be run in DOS  I again get A:\>_  and i don't know 

>what command to enter there to get things started.

>

>Thanks for the help so far.  My original intent was to reformat the hard drive on 

>my laptop.  I have done this before by using the DELL Inspiron 30000 Windows 95 
Reinstallation 

>Guide. Their instructions are to prepare the drive by booting the system with the 

>Dell System Utilities Diskette and run the PREPHD.BAT file from the A:> drive.  
I 

>assume I could now enter A:\>_ prephd and proceed with the instructions in the guide, 

>but I'm relunctant to start down that road and I would like like to get the computer 

>running from where I'm at now.   A:\>_

>

>Aloha

>Tom 
 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

hello Alex, 
I tried D\setup.exe, but that didn't work.  I expect that it didn't work because 
the computer doesn't yet recognize the external CD-ROM.

the following is a lengthy description of where I'm at:

With a Windows 95 Sartup disk in the floppy drive i push the start button and release 
it.  The computer whirs and i get a message on the screen;
PhoenixBios 4.0 Release 6.0
Copyright...
Build Time 11/07/97
Inspiron 3000 M166ST Rev A01
...

If i enter the setup I see that Diskette Drive is the selected boot device.

I then get a Boot Menu with Diskette Drive high-lighted.

I press Enter And get PhoenixBIOS Setup Utility screen.  On this screen I see size 
and speed specs and
 Hard Disk: None
 COM Ports: None
 LPT Ports: None

I hear whiring from the computor and clicking from the floppy drive and i get the 
message Starting Windows 95... and a flashing_

Then I get the message

Starting Windows 95...
BPCDRV.SYS v4.00 Copyright 1999, Micro Solutions Inc., De Kalb IL
ERROR: A BACKPACK CD-ROM drive was not found.  Be sure the BACKPACK CD-ROM drive 
is connected to a printer port and the power switch is in the ON positon.  press 
R to retry or ESC to continue._

The external CD-Rom is connected to the printer port and the  power is on and connected. 
 I don't  expect  any thing will happen if i press Retry because of the info on the 
PhoenixBIOS Setup Utility screen.  I press ESC and again i hear the floppy drive 
clicking and then get the message

A:\>IF EXIST BPCDDRV$ MSCDEX /D:BPCDDRV$
A:\>
A:\>_

This is as far as I can get.  If i enter SYS C: the floppy drive clicks and i get 
the message
System transferred
A:\>_

If i enter D\setp.exe I get a mesage
Bad command or file name
A:\>_

I would guess that i can only get info to the computer through the floppy drive and 
that i need the correct disc and/or command.

What next?
Tom Powell

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

oops!
just saw a typo error in my last message. Should have been,
If i enter D\setup.exe I get a mesage
Bad command or file name
A:\>_

I would guess that i can only get info to the computer through the floppy drive and 
that i need the correct disc and/or command.

What next?
Tom Powell

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