Are my troubles as bad as i think?

Hello. I am trying to fix a problem with a computer working under windows 98.
It starts booting normally but after the screen with the windows 98 logo it goes back to DOS prompt and displays a message saying that cpqidecd.sys is damaged and there is an error in line 7 of config.sys file.... after that it displays another message saying that vmm32.vxd is needed to load windows.. that if it isnt on PATH i will have to re install windows.

Ive been looking around on the internet and i found out cpqidecd.sys seems to be some kind of driver for the cdrom. i actually downloaded it (its pretty small 15k). I wonder if i simply put it on the windows/system folder my problems will be fixed...
on the other hand.. the vmm32.vxd file seems to be missing. Some pages say it means i need to reinstall windows... if i do that.. can i save the files from the hard drive or are they lost forever? it would be very sad to lose them as they belong to some communitary acueduct system and years of worl would be lost.

Please.. anybody help me out!
thanx

A little more info please; who is the manufacturer of the computer in question, do you have a standard Microsoft Win 98 disk or the manufacturer's install disk? Does the computer finally finish booting or does it stop when you see the error messages?

Oh yes, welcome to the VDR forums. :)

The manufacturer of the pc is compaq. The cd i have is the compaq recovery cd. it never ends booting. He says he needs that vmm32.vxd thing.
Thank you for your welcome.....
please help me.

Hi, you can try & boot into safemode by tapping on the f8 key during boot up, then once you are in go to start, run & type in sfc, click ok. Put your recovery cd in the drive & point sfc to the cd drive & click start, this will go thru the system & find & replace any corrupted files. Not positive this will work with a recovery cd but couldn't hurt to try, good luck. BJ

I tried your advice about booting safe mode.. but it will still stop because of that same file.. he keeps saying its needed to start windows. I can't even see the safe mode.
Im beginning to be very worried.

So what exactly happens when you boot the pc with the recovery cd in the drive? BJ

it starts some compaq quick restore application but it immediately warns me if i go on i will delete the contents of the hard drive... how crazy would it be to try to transfer the hard disk to another computer and backup its files from there?

If that hard drive wont boot in that pc, it's doubtful it will in another. This is why we always stress the fact of backing up your files when the machine is running well, under the circumstances I dont think you have any other choice but to do a full restore. It will restore the pc to the way it was when it came from the factory. If this is what you choose to do, here are the instructions for doing a full restore, good luck. BJ

To complete a Factory Restore on your computer, perform the following steps:

Insert your Compaq Recovery CD into your CD-ROM, CD-RW, or DVD-ROM drive.

Turn off the computer.

Turn on your computer by pressing the Power button on the front of your computer. The system reboots and the Compaq Recovery CD Menu is displayed.

NOTE: If menu option number 4 says No Factory Image found, you must use QuickRestore CDs to perform this function.

CAUTION: If you have not copied or backed up your personal files, software, or other data onto diskettes to be recopied onto your hard drive, they will be lost after you press Enter.

You are prompted that continuing this procedure will delete the data on your hard drive. Press Enter if you wish to continue. The Factory Restore process takes several minutes.

The CD tray opens automatically, and you are prompted to remove the Compaq Recovery CD. Remove the CD from the CD-ROM, CD-RW, or DVD-ROM drive.

Press Enter to continue.

Once the Factory Restore is complete, you may be prompted to provide the startup information again to reinstall Windows.

Follow the prompts to restore your computer to its original factory condition.

Exiting the Compaq Recovery CD

After loading the Recovery CD, if you choose not to complete any of the options, it will be necessary to restart your computer. Perform the following steps to exit the Recovery CD.

From the Compaq Recovery CD Menu, select 5 (Exit) by pressing the number 5 key on your keyboard.

The CD tray opens automatically, and you are prompted to remove the Compaq Recovery CD. Remove the CD from the CD-ROM, CD-RW, or DVD-ROM drive.

Press Enter to restart your computer.

i dont mean using it to boot on other pc.. but only to access the documents so i can copy them to avoid losing these people's work. is it even worth trying it?

Follow these steps:

1. Start with PC off
2. Start Tapping F8
3. Press power button to start boot of pc
4. Menu should appear
5. Press Shift+F8 so that Step By Step Confirmation = Y (at bottom of screen)
6. Select Normal Boot
7. Press enter

Now the computer will start to boot and each step of the boot process will be displayed for you to either Accept (Press enter or Y then Enter) or decline (Press N then enter).

So for each line presented, just press enter until you reach the line that tries to load cpqidecd.sys and answer N

Keep going answering Y to everything else and see if windows loads ok.

If you get other errors, write down what the line presented was before you got the error, ie the one you just replied Y to and post them back here.

If you still don't get into windows try this:

1. Start with PC off
2. Start Tapping F8
3. Press power button to start boot of pc
4. Menu should appear
5. Select Command Prompt Only
6. Press enter

You should be at the C:\> prompt (if not type C: and press enter then cd\ and press enter)

Now type ren autoexec.bat autoexec.vdr and press enter
then ren config.sys config.vdr and press enter

Now try booting and see what happens.

If you get into windows then you need to post back the contents of C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT and C:\CONFIG.SYS or attach the files in this post - although if you followed the second set of instructions they will both have .VDR suffix.

nix thanx for your attention.. here is what happenned:
i did the step by step confirmation thing and it got to a point where it asked about loading all of windows drivers.. affirmetive answer to this question brought back the "vmm32.vxd is necessary to load windows... if it is not in PATH then reinstall windows"...
the second method looks alright until rebooting. It then asks immediately for the vmm32.vxd file. It doesnt worry for cpqidecd.sys anymore.

Ok now get back to the menu by tapping F8 from bootup and this time select Safe Mode which bypasses your drivers (including hopefully vmm32.vxd).

Once in safe mode (hopefully) do a search for vmm32.vxd and see if it can be found

If not, go Start > Run > type sfc and press enter

And see this MSKB article http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;194679 and let us know if you need assistance.

it still doesnt enter safe mode. It once again asks for vmm32.vxd.

Ok get back to the command prompt (tapping F8 then select command prompt)

Type dir vmm32.vxd /s and press enter

If it is found, note the location eg C:\Windows\foldername

If foldername is not = System type cd windows and press enter

Type ren foldername system and press enter

If this doesn't work let us know.

If the vmm23.vxd file doesn't get listed when you do the dir command let us know.

and it cant find vmm32.vxd using the procedure indicated in that article.
am i doomed?

Hmm sounding bad.

At the command prompt try typing dir vmm*.* /s and press enter

Also see this that someone here at VDR directed me to once, complex looking stuff that I never attempted.

http://www.helpwithwindows.com/techfiles/vmm32.html

it found a directory called vmm32 but no files..

http://www.helpwithwindows.com/techfiles/vmm32.html sounds difficult.. anyway.. i dunno if i can do it because i cant get to note pad or wordpad as windows isnt really loading, can i?

Hmm good point - oops.

If you can't find vmm32.vxd then a er-install might be the only way.

Maybe an over the top reinstall.

two last things:
1. what is an over the top reinstall? (im not a native english speaker so i am confused by idioms sometimes)
2. dont you think to avoid losing all the files i could use the hard drive on a different computer (ie the one im using right now to get online), access it and get the files out on a cd or something? is that impossible to do without that vmm32.vxd file? im talking not about booting a computer using that hard drive but only about getting the files i need out of it....
thanx a lot anyways

"over the top reinstall"= "reinstall over itself" meaning you don't lose your setting /data like you would from doing a format/reinstall using the Recovery CD.

From my experience with Win98 OEM systems ,they usually have the Windows setup files in C:\windows/options/cabs ,to enable an install over itself without the need to use the recovery disk.Any of you Dos gurus want to provide the appropriate method for initiating this from DOS ,for ninho_bomba.

Boot to the dos prompt as described previously in the second part of post #10 on this thread.

Type cd windows\options\cabs and press enter

Type setup and press enter

Follow the prompts

good morning everyone.
news: i tried to do the "over the top" install thing.
after typing setup it began performing a some tests with ScanDisk. It informed about some damaged files (some of wich had very interesting looking names which made me suspect of a virus) (i mean things like happy faces from the ascii characters and crosses and unpronounceable symbols)
Anyway, it asked if i wanted to repair them and i said ok. After a while and alot of raparaton it said it was done and started the windows install program. But a short time after that it popped up a window saying i already had a system installed and it couldnt actualize it. so it quit and went back to the dos prompt.

On the other hand, i gathered all my guts and opened up the computer. I took out the hard disk and put it on this other computer (winxp) which im using to get online right now. it recognized the disk and allowed me to access it. So i took the files from the acueduct (is this word right?) people and burned them on a cd. Then i took the hard drive and replaced it on its original computer. I would still like very much to not have to erase everything on that machine for the sake of some software.. but it wouldnt be so big a loss now anyway. Good thing is im not so worried now :'D

so, any suggestions?

This is like a clean install but keeps the old folders available.

How to Install Windows 98 Into a New Folder

Actually this one is much better, even though it says it is for WinMe the file structure etc is the same for Win98SE except for the _restore folder

http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q277648

However it means you will need to resinstall your software etc.

please help me.. it wont recognize the quick restore cd now... it just stays blank with a blinking cursor.. it dont startup or show any messages...what can i do?
i dont care if i lose files anymore i just want it to work!

Put the Restore CD in the tray and "shutdown/power off" a reboot doesn't always work.You also need to get make sure the BIOS is set to boot from the CDROM .

nb, did you try the restore as I suggested? BJ

i want to do it as you suggested.. but problem is it doesnt start any compaq quick restore program... it stays there.. stuck on blank screen with a blinking cursor..... what can be causing this??
When you told me to do it, it started the restore program and asked if i wanted to lose my stuff so i quit... now it doesnt even start.... :'(

You have done nothing to the computer after exiting the restore program? BJ

well... nix told me to rename some files... you can see that in the previous posts. After I did that it stopped asking for that cpqidecd.sys file...
is there a way to start the restore program from the dos prompt?? i cant find anything called setup or similar...

at this point.. i think id be happy if it worked even if it meant starting completely from scratch.... if i could only do that....

Well it looks like you will have to wait for Nix to come back & help you as he is the one who got you where you are now, sorry but im fresh out of ideas. BJ

it was the autoexec file and the config file...
i already returned their name to their original state
can nothing work out?

since a restore CD would put something on your screen even if there was no HD ,the fact you renamed several files is a Red Herring/unrelated.Make sure the CDROM is listed as first boot device in your BIOS.

i checked and in fact it was the second boot device.... now it is the first... but its behavior remains the same.
I start it.. get the post screen.. it acts like he is reading from the cd and just freezes there on a blank screen with the blinking cursor... It says nothing.
I dont think its possible i have a damaged cd because i suspected that and made a copy on a virgin one. The copy was executed flawlessly and both of them (original and copy) behave the same way.. that is: they do nothing.
i never thought this would be this hard.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ninho_bomba

it was the autoexec file and the config file...
i already returned their name to their original state
can nothing work out?

---

So you did ren autoexec.vdr autoexec.bat and ren config.vdr config.sys at the dos prompt ?

But as wondering guy points out if it's to boot from a CD automatically then it won't even be going near autoexec.bat and config.sys on your HD.

When you put your HD back in to you machine did you connect it to the same connector and makes sure your set it back as master instead of slave (since you said you installed it in you XP machine - I presume as slave ?)

Have you checked to make sure the CD-ROM is still connected ?

What happens if you try to boot windows are you still getting the same errors

hello nix nice that you showed up....
"So you did ren autoexec.vdr autoexec.bat and ren config.vdr config.sys at the dos prompt ?" YES
"When you put your HD back in to you machine did you connect it to the same connector and makes sure your set it back as master instead of slave (since you said you installed it in you XP machine - I presume as slave ?)" I did use it as a slave. And i made sure i connected it exactly as it was before i disconnected it.... anyway... ima make sure of that as soon as i go back down (there are three floors between both computers, my legs are getting muscular)
The CD ROM must be connected cause when i boot with some floppy i can check its contents via f:.... so i guess it is connected...
NO.. not the same errors booting windows. In fact, no errors.. just blank emptiness.
PLEASE HELP

so i went around wandering the forums trying to find a clue for my problem... and i stumble into this:

"All QuickRestore haters..

Read the whole post if you like, otherwise here is a shortcut I've
found for getting the QuickRestore process to run without a hitch.

1. Boot using Win98 boot disk (or any system disk with FDISK)
2. Run Fdisk and delete all partitions
3. Reboot and run Fdisk again: create one primary DOS partition using
max space
4. Reboot and format the drive
5. 'Sys' the drive
6. Reboot and allow computer to boot to "C:>" prompt
7. Insert the first QuickRestore CD and reboot - program should prep
the drive and then proceed with the restore.

I know these 7 little steps seem like a no brainer in hindsight, but
for the countless hours and occasions I've spent trying to get the
QuickRestore to work properly (I will never own another store-bought
computer, especially a Compaq) it works well and I hope it solves
others' restore problems.

I'm sure many of you, like myself, have run into problems getting your
QuickRestore cd's to function properly. I ran into errors the hard
way and did a lot of research on the 'net - I found that I was not
alone. I used to get an error that was something like "180:XX" and
told me that QuickRestore can't continue; contact an authorized
service center. One way around this (supposedly) is to hit the Caps
Lock key during the startup screen which will "reset" the system
somehow.

However, I found another trick tonight that worked flawlessly. It
seems in the past that whether or not the HDD had been formatted and
partitioned greatly affected the restore process - many times the
screen would say that the drive is being prepared, only to hang a
short time later.

What I did tonight was to fdisk the hard drive and delete ALL previous
partitions. After rebooting, I created one Primary DOS partition
using the full amount of disk space. Then I restarted again and
formatted the drive - after formatting I 'sys' ed the drive. I booted
the computer and allowed it start up to the C prompt. I placed
QuickRestore Disc 1 into the cd drive and rebooted - the restore
process worked flawlessly. As I recall, this is how I got it to work
one previous time as well, I just didn't think to try it twice and
verify because I was so happy that it worked I didn't want to touch
it. Hopefully this will help others having problems - I know how
frustrating it is but hopefully this works for others as well (mine is
a Presario 7360 by the way)."

so i followed their directions... so igues now we can be sure i have an empty hard drive. The only difference is it didnt work for me... my computer still gets stuck in an empty screen trying to read the cd rom.... what is possibly wrong?
i guessed it was the driver was missing, but if i use a win xp cd it tries to install it.... it boots!... so what is wrong?!!!
\getting frustrated