Windows is bypassing your startup files

What do you mean «bypasses Windows»? That is what a startup disk is supposed to do — land you at an a: command prompt, not «Windows».

Perhaps you should explain your Windows problem further. Can you start in Safe Mode?

After the troubleshooting tools have sucessfully loaded, I recieve the message that windows is loading. It then switches to Bypassing windows. Then:
To get help, type Help, then Enter
C:\

I have typed in everything I can think of and nothing works. I can’t reach Safe Mode.

Be clear about what happens when you try to start either in normal mode or in Safe Mode. Forget about the boot disk for now.

If you get an error message, copy it EXACTLY.

Also when was the last time Windows started successfully? And what changes, if any, were made that led to the problem.

WhitPhil, I am sorry, I must not be explaining the problem correctly. (Headache) It has been years since I worked with DOS and that was with Win95. I am trying to exit DOS and return to windows. I know this must be simple to do, yet I have typed:
exit
win
windows
win98
window

Every time I start the computer it gives me the option to start with or without the cd rom or type help. No matter which option i chose I receive:

Preparing to start windows
Bypassing windows
Not ready reading Drive A:\
Abort Retry Fail

if I choose Abort or Fail, it tells me Windows 98 start up disk could not create a temp drive for diagnose tools.
path not found :\command.exe
Path not found :\ extract.exe
Path not found :\readme.txt

The diagnostic tools successfully loaded to drive
Bad command or file name
File not found
For help, type Help and enter
C:\

When I try to start in Safe Mode:

Windows is bypassing your Startup files
(copyright info)
C:\

I am stuck at the C:\ prompt

The last time the computer started normally was before I used the boot disc.

Yes, I realize I have to remove the start up disk.

: )

You said the system booted fine before you first tried using the startup disk. Why were you trying to accomplish by using a startup disk? What did you do after you first booted with the startup disk? Looks like the contents of the startup disk were copied to your hard disk or something wierd.

What happens when you type dir at the c:\ prompt (what do you see?)

If you are just restarting rather than shutting down completely, do a complete shutdown and let it sit for a few seconds to ensure memory is flushed.

Also, normally if a startdisk was in the drive you would end up at an a: prompt not a c: prompt.

If you still end up at a c: prompt enter:

dir

and see if it reads the drive and you have a Windows directory.

If you do, enter:

cd windows

then you should be at

c:\windows

from there enter:

win

Also, you say you tried Safe Mode. Did you ever get a startup menu with numbered options that include command prompt, Safe Mode, etc…. ?

If you are having trouble shutting down completely as opposed to a ctrl-alt-del type of restart, try pressing and holding the power button down for about 8 seconds.

I used:
A:\copy HIMEM.sys C:\windows

It still tells me HIMEM.sys is missing.

C:\windows dir shows hundreds of .dll files,

Any cl ues?

Hi and welcome. In post #13 you mentioned that you were trying to ‘reset windows.’

I’m not quite sure what that means, can you explain that a bit more.

You also said you don’t have any restore cds. Do you have a Windows 98 installation cd?

And can you tell us EXACTLY how you got to this point. I’ve read the thread 3 times and I’m still confused

If you have verified that Himem.sys is in c:\windows then do this:

Use your startup disk to return to a command prompt. If it takes you to the a: prompt enter:

c:

so that you are at the c:\> prompt. Then type and enter each line:

attrib -h -r -s msdos.sys
edit msdos.sys

What do you see? Does the msdos.sys file open in the editor?

It MUST contain the following lines at the top. NOTHING else must precede this. There can and should be other stuff below, but this is vital:

[Paths]
WinDir=C:\WINDOWS
WinBootDir=C:\WINDOWS
HostWinBootDrv=C

If you do not see that at the top, create it, including the brackets around Paths.

If you see this line somewhere beneath:

BootGUI=0

… change the value to BootGUI=1

Then: In DOS after you edit it, hit alt+f to access the file/save and exit menu to save and exit.

Then try rebooting.

attrib -h -r -s msdos.sys
Not Resetting Hidden File msdos.sys

Edit msdos.sys

has only one line:
;w98ebd

Try this, from the c: prompt enter each line:

attrib +r +h +s msdos.sys
attrib -r -h -s msdos.sys

Do you keep getting that same message? Very weird

If no error this time, try editing it again.

If necessary, delete it and create a whole new one.

This time i was able to edit the msdos.sys. On the reboot? You guessed it….no go. I peeked at the autoexec.bat and the config.sys. I think they need a lot of work! I did try to copy the msdos.txt file, many times today.

I thank everyone for their help. I believe I have had enough for tonight! I’ll try again tomorrow.

You don’t need config.sys and autoexec.bat at all. In fact to ensure the cause no errors you can do this, from the c: prompt enter:

ren autoexec.bat autoexec.xxx
ren config.sys config.xxx

Does msdos.sys show the correct information now? And are you receiving the same error on startup or a different one?

Keep trying the Safe Mode startup option, that’s the best chance of getting to Windows.

Good Morning! The problem is 98% solved! I have one more question. The computer boots to Windows now but I have to select:
Load with CD Rom

Then it brings up the:
Can’t read Drive A
Abort? Retry? Fail?

After I select Fail, the computer loads windows. Any ideas?

I’m still confused, what did you do to get from where you were last to wherever you are now?

And can you get online with the current issues? If so, get HijackThis

Direct HijackThis download link: http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe

BUT, instead of posting the usual «scanlog» we ask for, post a «STARTUPLIST» instead. To do this select «Misc Tools», check «list minor sections» and then select «Generate Startuplist». Post that.