fax modem

Hello folks,
I installed Acer Open Fax/Modem Suite (v. 5.4) on my Win 98SE machine, while my even older fax machine is being repaired. The software came with my purchase of the computer and modem; I just didn't need it before. The drivers installed just fine, but when I rebooted as requested to complete the installation, I got to a C:/ prompt with the message "cannot find WIN.COM unable to continue loading windows". I tried it again, same result. The program installation rewrites win.ini and system.ini, saving the old files. With GoBack, I reverted the drive to before the installation, and also with GoBack, was able to view the changed .ini files. I thought that those changed files might be the reason for the "cannot find WIN.COM" but going though the original and replaced files didn't help; I found no changes to the boot in those files, only to Devices and Drivers, as expected. The WIN.COM file did not change, nor did it change location. (I confirmed this with GoBack - yes it's a resource hog, but handy sometimes) It has to be a DOS thing. So, help?
Thanks in advance,
Chas

Any help here?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/136630

Hello SpywareDr,
Thanks for responding. I don't think the MSKB helps because WIN.COM doesn't go missing, nor is it corrupted. The computer just can't find it. There must be a registry change during the restart required to complete the installation, but I don't know how to figure out if this is the case, let alone correct it if windows won't load. Do you have any ideas? Thanks.
Chas

p.s. (the edit) I have a Win98 startup floppy.

First, the file "C:\Windows\WIN.COM" must exist and, for Windows 98/98SE it must be exactly 24,791 bytes. If it doesn't exist, or it is the wrong size, follow the directions in the "Resolution" section of the page I linked to above to recreate the "C:\Windows\WIN.COM" file.

Next, the last line in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, (on the disk you're using to boot the system into Windows with), needs to point to the exact location of that WIN.COM file. That last line should read:

C:\Windows\WIN.COM

(Note: It doesn't matter if that line is UPPER, lower or mIxEd case).

Also, while you're viewing/edting the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, check to make sure that "C:\Windows" is included in the "PATH=" statement. The line should look something like:

path=c:\windows;c:\windows\command;c:\whatever...

If a "PATH=", (or maybe a "SET PATH=") line doesn't exist, add the following line just above the WIN.COM line:

path=c:\windows;c:\windows\command

Dear Doc,
I edited the autoexec.bat as you suggested, and Windows loaded. But, it was as if the computer booted twice. The startup screen, followed by the boot menu, then again the startup screen and again the boot menu appeared before Windows loaded. Could something else be calling on the WIN.COM, which action is then repeated by, or followed by, the new command in the autoexec.bat?
Chas

Please post the contents of both your C:\CONFIG.SYS and C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT files and we'll have a look.

Dear Doc,

CONFIG.SYS

REM [Header]

REM [CD-ROM Drive]

REM [Miscellaneous]
rem device=c:\factonly\aoatapi.sys /d:mscd001

REM [Display]

AUTOEXEC.BAT - edited as suggested by you, and the bitware path was added by the fax software

@C:\PROGRA~1\WILDFI~1\GOBACK\GB_PROG.EXE /i C:977
C:\PROGRA~1\GRISOFT\AVGFRE~1\BOOTUP.EXE
@SET PATH=C:\windows;C:\windows\command;C:\PROGRA~1\WIN98RK;%PATH%;MONDAY
C:\Windows\WIN.COM
REM [Header]
@ECHO OFF

REM [CD-ROM Drive]

REM [Miscellaneous]

REM [Display]

c:\windows\cwcdata\cwcdos.exe
Call C:\Monday\Monday.bat
PATH C:\BITWARE\

Also need to see the contents of your "C:\Monday\Monday.bat" file please.

Dear Doc,
Here is MONDAY.BAT (Monday Backup is a freeware program that runs every Monday, backing up system files etc. - it's probably overkill for my backup regime. I never looked at the .bat before.) I know that entries preceded by "rem" don't do anything, but not what "echo" does. After one of the echo's it says it backs up WIN.COM.
Chas
(Thank you for helping me with this)

MONDAY.BAT
@Echo off

Rem Monday Backup
Rem written by G.A. James on 01 September 1994 ver 1.0
Rem revised December 1995 ver 1.1 (self-extracting file)
Rem revised November 1996 ver 1.2 (Windows 95)
Rem revised January 1998 ver 1.3 (compression option)
Rem revised October 1998 ver 1.4 (Windows 9x)
Rem revised January 1999 ver 1.5 (Monday Cleanup)
Rem revised February 1999 ver 1.6 (executable)
Rem revised April 1999 ver 1.7 (added Registry check)
Rem revised May 1999 ver 1.8 (added Startup Disk)

:START
BREAK ON
ECHO. | DATE | FIND /I "MON" > C:\MONDAY\DATE1.DOC
COPY C:\MONDAY\DATE1.DOC C:\MONDAY\DATE2.DOC
IF EXIST C:\MONDAY\DATE2.DOC GOTO :MONDAY
IF EXIST C:\MONDAY\DATE3.DOC DEL C:\MONDAY\DATE3.DOC
GOTO :CLEANUP

:MONDAY
If exist c:\monday\date3.doc goto :cleanup
Echo.
Echo. Today is Monday...
Echo.
Echo. Backing up system files
Echo.
Echo.
Echo. Monday Backup copies critical system files for Windows 3.x and
Echo. Windows 9x to a backup directory every Monday. When you need to
Echo. restore these files, restart the computer in MS-DOS mode and run
Echo. winback.bat in the C:\ folder (directory).
Echo.
Echo. Monday Backup backs up:
Echo. command.com, msdos.sys, io.sys, autoexec.bat, config.sys, win.com,
Echo. the Windows 9x Registry, and all ini, grp and pif files in the
Echo. %winbootdir% folder (directory). Monday Backup also backs up its own files.
Echo.
Echo. Run winback.bat only as a last resort. It will restore your system files
Echo. as they were last Monday, but programs installed since then might need
Echo. re-installing.
Echo.
Echo. Press N to continue if you have had system problems since last Monday and
Echo. have already installed Monday Backup. Restart the computer in MS-DOS mode
Echo. and run winback.bat. Otherwise, press Y to continue. (This option will
Echo. default to Y after 60 seconds.)
Echo.
choice /c:yn /t:y,60 Do you wish to continue
If errorlevel 2 goto :quit
If errorlevel 1 goto :backup

:backup
If not exist %winbootdir%\nul goto cleanup
If not exist c:\winback\nul goto :backall
If exist c:\winback\nul goto :backsome

:backall
md c:\winback
cls

Echo.
Echo.
Echo. Backing up system files
Echo.
Echo.
@echo off
If exist c:\autoexec.bat copy c:\autoexec.* C:\winback
If exist c:\config.sys copy c:\config.* C:\winback
If exist c:\monday\monday.bat copy c:\monday\monday.bat c:\winback
If exist c:\monday\winback.bat copy c:\monday\winback.bat c:\winback

:attrib
attrib %winbootdir%\*.ini -r -h -s
If exist c:\msdos.sys attrib c:\msdos.sys -r -h -s
If exist c:\io.sys attrib c:\io.sys -r -h -s
If exist c:\msdos.sys copy c:\msdos.sys c:\winback
If exist c:\io.sys copy c:\io.sys c:\winback
If exist c:\msdos.sys attrib c:\msdos.sys +r +h +s
If exist c:\io.sys attrib c:\io.sys +r +h +s
If exist c:\command.com copy c:\command.com c:\winback
If exist %winbootdir%\win.com copy %winbootdir%\win.com c:\winback
If exist %winbootdir%\*.ini copy %winbootdir%\*.ini c:\winback
If exist %winbootdir%\*.grp copy %winbootdir%\*.grp c:\winback
If exist %winbootdir%\*.pif copy %winbootdir%\*.pif c:\winback
Goto :win95

:backsome
cls
Echo.
Echo.
Echo. Purging previous backup
Echo.
Echo.
@echo off
If exist c:\winback\*.ini del c:\winback\*.ini
If exist c:\winback\*.grp del c:\winback\*.grp
If exist c:\winback\*.pif del c:\winback\*.pif
If exist c:\winback\*.sys del c:\winback\*.sys
If exist c:\winback\*.bat del c:\winback\*.bat
If exist c:\winback\*.com del c:\winback\*.com
If exist c:\winback\*.dat del c:\winback\*.dat
If exist c:\winback\*.da0 del c:\winback\*.da0

cls
Echo.
Echo.
Echo. Backing up system files
Echo.
Echo.
@echo off
If exist c:\autoexec.bat copy c:\autoexec.* C:\winback
If exist c:\config.sys copy c:\config.* C:\winback
If exist c:\monday\monday.bat copy c:\monday\monday.bat c:\winback
If exist c:\monday\winback.bat copy c:\monday\winback.bat c:\winback
If exist %winbootdir%\win.com copy %winbootdir%\win.com c:\winback
If exist %winbootdir%\*.ini copy %winbootdir%\*.ini c:\winback
If exist %winbootdir%\*.grp copy %winbootdir%\*.grp c:\winback
If exist %winbootdir%\*.pif copy %winbootdir%\*.pif c:\winback

:attrib2
Attrib %winbootdir%\*.ini -r
If exist c:\msdos.sys attrib c:\msdos.sys -r -h -s
If exist c:\io.sys attrib c:\io.sys -r -h -s
If exist c:\msdos.sys copy c:\msdos.sys c:\winback
If exist c:\io.sys copy c:\io.sys c:\winback
If exist c:\msdos.sys attrib c:\msdos.sys +r +h +s
If exist c:\io.sys attrib c:\io.sys +r +h +s
If exist c:\command.com copy c:\command.com c:\winback

:win95
If exist %winbootdir%\shellnew\nul goto :win95c
Goto :success

:win95c
cls
echo.
echo.
echo. Registry Scan and Repair
echo. (Win-98 only)
echo.
echo.
echo. Microsoft Windows 98 can repair and rebuild the Registry before loading
echo. Windows. Monday Backup recommends that the Registry files are scanned now
echo. and, if necessary, repaired before they are backed up. If you choose not
echo. to scan the Registry, the files will be backed up without error detection.
echo. (This option will default to N after 30 seconds.)
echo.
choice /c:yn /t:n,30 Do you wish to scan the Registry before continuing [Y Recommended]
If errorlevel 2 goto :reg
If errorlevel 1 goto :rebuild

:rebuild
If exist %winbootdir%\command\scanreg.exe %winbootdir%\command\scanreg.exe /fix

:reg
cls
Echo.
Echo.
Echo. Backing up Registry
Echo.
Echo.
@echo off
If exist %winbootdir%\system.dat attrib %winbootdir%\system.dat -r -h -s
If exist %winbootdir%\user.dat attrib %winbootdir%\user.dat -r -h -s
If exist %winbootdir%\user.dat copy %winbootdir%\user.dat c:\winback
If exist %winbootdir%\system.dat copy %winbootdir%\system.dat c:\winback
If exist %winbootdir%\system.dat attrib %winbootdir%\system.dat +r +h +s
If exist %winbootdir%\user.dat attrib %winbootdir%\user.dat +r +h +s

If exist %winbootdir%\system.da0 attrib %winbootdir%\system.da0 -r -h -s
If exist %winbootdir%\user.da0 attrib %winbootdir%\user.da0 -r -h -s
If exist %winbootdir%\user.da0 copy %winbootdir%\user.da0 c:\winback
If exist %winbootdir%\system.da0 copy %winbootdir%\system.da0 c:\winback
If exist %winbootdir%\system.da0 attrib %winbootdir%\system.da0 +r +h +s
If exist %winbootdir%\user.da0 attrib %winbootdir%\user.da0 +r +h +s

:clean
cls
Echo.
Echo.
Echo.
Echo.
Echo. Monday Cleanup
Echo.
Echo. Windows 9.x keeps temporary files in these folders:
Echo.
Echo. %winbootdir%\HISTORY [recently visited Internet sites]
Echo. %winbootdir%\RECENT [recently opened files]
Echo. %winbootdir%\TEMP [other temporary files]
Echo.
Echo. To free disk space and to safeguard privacy, files in
Echo. these folders can be safely deleted. Choose N if you
Echo. are unsure whether to clean these folders.
Echo.
Echo. (These options will default to N after 15 seconds.)
Echo.
Echo.

choice /c:yn /t:n,15 Clean %winbootdir%\HISTORY
If errorlevel 2 goto :recent
If errorlevel 1 goto :history
:history
@deltree /y %winbootdir%\HISTORY
@md %winbootdir%\history

:recent
choice /c:yn /t:n,15 Clean %winbootdir%\RECENT
If errorlevel 2 goto :temp
If errorlevel 1 goto :recent1
:recent1
@deltree /y %winbootdir%\RECENT
@md %winbootdir%\recent

:temp
choice /c:yn /t:n,15 Clean %winbootdir%\TEMP
If errorlevel 2 goto :startup
If errorlevel 1 goto :temp1
:temp1
@deltree /y %winbootdir%\TEMP
@md %winbootdir%\temp

:startup
If exist %winbootdir%\command\nul goto :floppy
If not exist %winbootdir%\command\nul goto :success

:floppy
cls
Echo.
Echo.
Echo.
Echo. MS-Windows Startup Disk
Echo. (Win-98 only)
Echo.
Echo. If your computer fails to boot from %winbootdir%, and you
Echo. are unable to restore your system settings using Monday Backup,
Echo. you can use a startup disk to run diagnostic tests and fix many
Echo. problems. If you already have a startup disk, press N to skip
Echo. this option. Otherwise, press Y to create a startup disk.
Echo.
Echo. (This option will default to N after 30 seconds.)
Echo.
choice /c:yn /t:n,30 Do you wish to create a startup disk
If errorlevel 2 goto :success
If errorlevel 1 goto :create

:create
@echo off
cls
set DefFloppyDrive1=A:
set DefFloppyDrive1_L=a:
set DefFloppyDrive2=B:
set DefFloppyDrive2_L=b:

set DefFloppyDrive=%1

cls

:CHECK
if not exist %winbootdir%\command\EBD\NUL goto NODIR

if "%1"=="/?" GOTO USAGE

if "%1"=="%DefFloppyDrive1%" goto FORMAT

if "%1"=="%DefFloppyDrive1_L%" goto FORMAT

if "%1"=="%DefFloppyDrive2%" goto FORMAT

if "%1"=="%DefFloppyDrive2_L%" goto FORMAT

:SET_FLOPPY
echo.
echo.
echo Please specify the drive letter of your floppy drive.
echo Press 1 for %DefFloppyDrive1%
echo or
echo Press 2 for %DefFloppyDrive2%
echo.
choice /c:12 Choose an option
if errorlevel 2 goto BDRIVE
if errorlevel 1 goto ADRIVE

:ADRIVE
set DefFloppyDrive=%DefFloppyDrive1%
goto FORMAT

:BDRIVE
set DefFloppyDrive=%DefFloppyDrive2%
goto FORMAT


:FORMAT
echo.
echo To make a Startup Disk
echo Label a disk "Windows 9x Startup Disk" and insert it into drive %DefFloppyDrive%
echo Caution: All existing files will be erased on this floppy disk.
echo.
pause
format %DefFloppyDrive% /u /v:EBD /autotest
if not errorlevel 0 goto FORMAT_ERROR

:COPY
echo.
echo Copying files to %DefFloppyDrive% ...
copy %winbootdir%\command\EBD\*.* %DefFloppyDrive% > NUL
echo.
echo Transfering system files...
sys %DefFloppyDrive% > NUL
echo.
echo Startup disk is ready. Remove disk from drive %DefFloppyDrive%
echo. If you have trouble starting Windows, insert this disk in drive %DefFloppyDrive%
echo. and restart computer.
echo.
echo.
pause.
goto END

:FORMAT_ERROR
echo.
echo There was a error formatting the specified drive.
echo Press Y to retry or N to cancel
choice /c:yn
if errorlevel 2 goto FORMAT_CANCEL
if errorlevel 1 goto FORMAT
:FORMAT_CANCEL
echo .
echo Exiting
goto END

:USAGE
echo.
echo Usage: bootdisk [drive letter:]
echo e.g: bootdisk
echo or
echo bootdisk %DefFloppyDrive1%
echo.
echo This command should be run from the WINDOWS\COMMAND directory.
echo.
goto END

:NODIR
echo.
echo The EBD directory does not exist.
echo Change to the WINDOWS\COMMAND directory and try again.
echo.
goto END

:END
set DefFloppyDrive=
set DefFloppyDrive1=
set DefFloppyDrive1_L=
set DefFloppyDrive2=
set DefFloppyDrive2_L=

:success
cls
Echo.
Echo.
Echo. System backup successful
Echo.
Echo. For a list of system files
Echo. backed up today, see monday.txt
Echo. in the c:\ folder (directory).
Echo.
Echo. Monday Backup runs only once
Echo. every Monday. If you wish to
Echo. run Monday Backup more than
Echo. once, first delete the file
Echo. "Date3.doc" in C:\Monday.
Echo.
Echo. Monday Backup courtesy of
Echo. George A. James
Echo. 23 Burnham Boulevard
Echo. Port Hope, ON, L1A 4H5
Echo. e-mail: [email protected]
Echo.
Echo. MONDAY BACKUP is freeware
Echo. and freely distributable.
Echo.
Echo. | dir c:\winback\*.* > c:\monday.txt
Echo. Monday Backup. All files were backed up today > c:\monday\date3.doc
Echo.
Pause.
Goto :cleanup

:quit
Echo.
Echo.
Echo.
Echo. Skipping Monday Backup
Echo.
Echo.
Echo.
Goto :cleanup

:cleanup
Cls
If exist c:\monday\date1.doc del c:\monday\date1.doc
If exist c:\monday\date2.doc del c:\monday\date2.doc

Here are a couple of links that explain the "echo" command:

Windows XP - echo
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d...n-us/echo.mspx

MS-DOS v6.22 Help: Echo
http://www.vfrazee.com/ms-dos/6.22/help/echo.htm

Instructions:

1. Make a backup copy of your current "c:\config.sys" and "c:\autoexec.bat" files by typing the following four commands at a DOS prompt:
   Code:

   ---

   
c:
cd\
copy config.sys config.org
copy autoexec.bat autoexec.org

   ---

2. Replace the contents of your current "c:\config.sys" with the following five lines:
   Code:

   ---

   
dos=high,umb
device=c:\windows\himem.sys
device=c:\windows\emm386.exe
REM UnREM the following line for CDROM support
REM device=c:\factonly\aoatapi.sys /d:mscd001

   ---

3. Replace the contents of your current "c:\autoexec.bat" with the following fifteen lines:
   Code:

   ---

   
@echo off
REM UnREM the following line for CDROM support
REM lh c:\windows\command\mscdex /d:mscd001
set prompt=$p$g
set blaster=a220 i5 d1 t4
set winbootdir=c:\windows
set tmp=c:\windows\temp
set temp=c:\windows\temp
set cwcdata=c:\windows\cwcdata
set path=c:\windows;c:\windows\command;c:\progra~1\win98rk;c:\monday;c:\bitware
c:\progra~1\wildfi~1\goback\gb_prog.exe /i c:977
c:\progra~1\grisoft\avgfre~1\bootup.exe
c:\windows\win.com
c:\windows\cwcdata\cwcdos.exe
call c:\monday\monday.bat

   ---

4. Reboot

and then let us know what happens ...

Dear Doc,
That seems like rather a drastic change to the AUTOEXEC.BAT, I don't understand it, but I'm willing to give it a cautious go, as long as GoBack loads first, (it's rather jealous of its position, works outside of Win98, and can't be accessed from DOS) so I can revert the drive if "what happens" is not good. Does it indeed load first in your rewrite?
Thanks,
Chas

Yes, GoBack is the first program to be run in the C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT file above.

The "@echo off" line simply turns off displaying (echoing) the lines in the batch file as they are being processed.

The lines beginning with "REM " are ignored.

The lines beginning with "set " are setting up your environment variables.

The next line runs GoBack.

The next runs AVG's (Anti-Virus) bootup.exe

The next line runs WIN.COM which loads Windows.

When you exit Windows, the next line runs CWCDOS.EXE.

And the last line runs your MONDAY.BAT.

(Note that either or both of the GoBack and bootup.exe lines can be moved back to the top of the C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT file if you like).

Dear Doc,
Okay, thanks for the reassurance, and the Readers Digest version of what the .bat will be set to do. I'm off into the breach, d**n the torpedos, and hopefully will not be reporting back from another computer.
Thanks so much,
Chas

You're welcome. Got my fingers crossed for you. :)

Dear Doc,
I appreciate your crossed fingers and vigilance . I probably won't be executing this and posting back about it until after Christmas. Happy Holidays.
Chas