LOCKed up on startup

I am having a private nightmare with this computer. I have had a problem on startup where the process stops after Doskey installed with a Question (something like) LOCK means progs may access files/discs and may alter or damage them....do you want to continue? Y/N....answer N....the computer restarts but gets to the same question and loops round and round regardless of answer Y or N.....can start in safe mode, restored registry and can do step by step startup ending in command prompt...enter WIN..."no Himem.sys" or "No WIN.com"....back to safe mode...scandisc and restore...no luck....finally "Step by Step" but press "escape" at DOS bits and...voila...here I am able to send a message again but no idea if I have done the right thing or whether it will happen again next time I shut down. Has cured my clock problem though!

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IT - Learning all the time

Hello,

It sounds to me like you are processing an autoexec.bat file and there is something in it that Windows does not like. Go into safe mode, run msconfig, and disable the autoexec.bat and config.sys startup. Then try booting again and see if that helps.

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"I'm not a real doctor, I just play one on VDr!"

I agree with Dickster that it's probably something in the startup files. The lock command shouldn't be popping up. Post the contents of your config.sys and autoexec.bat. Disabling them is not always a good idea as some programs etc. write to those files, and certain lines/commands may be required for hardware/software to operate correctly. (Depending on the age/type of system you have of course.)

Thanks - Here are the Config and Autoexec bits - complete jibberish to me and apologies for typing errors.

Config Sys

DOS=Single
DOS=HIGH,UMB
Device=C:\WINDOWS\Himem.Sys
DeviceHigh=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.Exe

Autoexec.bat

SET TMP=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP
SET TEMP=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP
SET winbootdir=C:\WINDOWS
SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND
SET PROMPT-$p$g
LoadHigh C:\WINDOWS\SmartDiv
LoadHigh C:\WINDOWS\Command\DOSKey
Lock
REM
REM
REM The following lines have been created by Windows. Do not modify them
C:
CD C:\WINDOWS
CALL C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM/c "C\Programme Files\WinGate\Wingate.exe -i
C:\WINDOWS\WIN.COM/WX

I forgot to mention that this catastrophe happened after installing Wingate...I have neen in touch with them and they say there is a known problem with the Extended Networking bits (ENS) but havent offered a solution to my predicament - it all started when I couldn't uninstall Wingate because a file was missing. All the items above had boxes with check marks in.

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IT - Learning all the time

Well, it's apparent that autoexec.bat is the source of your problems. There's the "lock" statement. I have no idea what it does. I am also not familiar with Wingate. It's some kind of proxy server for your internet?

Anyway, Windows 98 will run just fine without an autoexec.bat or config.sys file. It's DOS programs that require these files. There are a couple of thing to try at this point. First, using msconfig, disable the autoexec.bat and config.sys. This will not delete or change them, it will just bypass them when Windows starts. Then try your ususal programs and see if there is any problem. In particular, if you use any DOS programs, make sure they work properly. If all is well, you are all set.

The other thing would be to edit your autoexec.bat file and add "REM" (without quotes) in front of the word "Lock". Also, if you aren't using Wingate, add REM to the last three lines.

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"I'm not a real doctor, I just play one on VDr!"

Thankyou. What happens if I just uncheck the little boxes at the startof each row - would that do the same? Also - where can I learn about autoexec.bat etc as I have looked at one of my other computers and the files are quite different.

Wingate is a network internet sharing software...I have yet to get it to work..(or even install satisfactorily)

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IT - Learning all the time

Unchecking the box should work also just as putting REM in front. If you uncheck them and they come back for whatever reason(which they shoud not) then try the REM method. For your other question try a search on the web, but just so you know they will change from computer to computer depending on what programs/programming/operating system etc... the computers have, so it's ok if it is different from your other computer.

Make this your autoexec.bat;

SET TMP=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP
SET TEMP=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP
SET winbootdir=C:\WINDOWS
SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND;c:\;
SET PROMPT-$p$g

Ok - The story so far....Finally plucked up courage to shut down - but had rewritten Autoexec.bat as suggested - the computer starts but then stops at a screen that says (something like)"you are starting in DOS - would you like to return to normal windows startup" Y/N - answer either and back into same loop. Restart in safe mode and msconfig - general - selecive startup = uncheck autoexec and configsys - restart = after a very long delay normal screen but nothing in systray and no sounds and the only thing that is working right is the clock (see my other thread). So msconfig - step by step startup - answer yes to everything but at the end of autoexecbat get a C:\ prompt - type WIN and back to "you are trying to start in DOS - would you like..." and the loop repeats itself. So back to safe mode - add a few things instart up (like scanreg and systray) then step by step but this time hitting escape (NO) to the two requests about DOS and...here I am. Another very frustrating few hours but I really don't know what I am doing and getting back online is pure fluke! I just hope someone out there can help me before I wipe the hard disc and start over again!

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IT - Learning all the time

Actually, you do not need ANYTHING in either one of those files unless you have a program that needs DOS.

Make backups (like change the extension to autoexec.bax so later, if you wish, you can rename it to .bat). Same with config.sys rename to, say config.syx

Now reboot and post back what occurs.
You should go right into win98.

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PROPHET of the POD, c.1998
www.NUTBURGER.com

How do I make a backup please - I have tried to look for files named autoexec.bat and there are 4...don't want to disable all of them. Also - how do I get my sounds back...and now that the system is running the clock has added an hour again....?

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IT - Learning all the time

It seems to be working OK now - Thankyou to everyone for their help. The clock is adding an extra hour again - will resurrect theother thread. Am I fairly safe to delete the contents of autoexec.bat and config,sys - they are currently disabled?

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IT - Learning all the time

I would leave them there "just in case" you ever want to use them. They're probably taking up 1KB each, so not a big deal. However, if you're up and running fine without them, and don't forsee using them, go ahead and delete them.