missing files

[tm5899]

When I turn on my computer it beeps and then I get this message cannot find a device file maybe needed to run windows or windows applications.
The windows registry or system ini file refers to this device file but the device no longer exists
If you deleted this file on purpose try uninstalling the associated applications using it’s uninstall or set up program what does this mean and how do I fix this problem my modem does not detect a dial tone when I tried connecting through aol and I was told that the file may have something to do with the modem but I am not sure any help would be appreciated
Thank you

The computer is a nec Pentium 24.0 Mb ram
I can not get the dxdiag to work to save the other information that may be needed to get the help
thank you

[jerry4dos]

The LAST time this computer worked properly, did you do anything out-of-the-ordinary -- install new software? -- install a new hardware component? -- free up some space on the hard drive by deleting some unneeded files? -- uninstall some old unused software? -- allow visting grandchildren to play games on it?

Jerry

[tm5899]

the only thing i think my son did was when he could not get aol to work he took it off the computer i am not sure if the computer worked properly before that his dad found the computer by a dumpster at where we live how can i fix my problem you can send me and email if you which along with posting an answer to the forum

[jerry4dos]

Well, I suspect there was a reason the computer was put out by the dumpster. If you have a full version of Win95 install CD (with COA key number), you can get a free copy of a floppy bootdisk here:
http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
and try to reinstall the Win95 Operating System. If the problem is only "missing files" this new OS installation would fix that. This assumes, of course, the computer doesn't have any hardware problems we don't know about.

Jerry

[tm5899]

the computer has a virus protector installed on it what if i just put the cd in and try to install it without formatting the hard drive would that work as well or if i have windows 98 and put that cd in would that work i am not sure if i can find my copy of windows 95 i want to be able to save the virus protector but i don't have a cd for the virus protector what can i do

[A31Chris]

There are plenty of good and FREE virus protectors you can get.

There is AVG Free Edition.

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

And Avast Free edition to name a couple.

http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

Your Antivirus program is easily and freely replaced and most likely with something better as both are top notch.

[tm5899]

the last reply did not answer my question about just putting the windows 98 cd in and not formatting the hard drive would that work or not? also how can i download virus protectors to a floppy and take the floppy to my home computer because i don't have internet on the computer i am trying to get help with i am using a public computer to ask the questions.

[A31Chris]

As for if you can put 98 on it? I'm not an expert on the ins and outs of 98 upgrading. However, I suspect you need a 98 UPGRADE CD. Not a standard Windows 98 CD if you don't want the Hard Drive formatted. And the only thing you want to change is upgrading the Operating system from 95 to 98 while keeping everything else intact.

Otherwise I do believe a Standard Windows 98 CD will just format the HD and put Win98 on a freshly scrubbed system.

I may be mistaken on this. You may also want to post this in the Windows 98 forum as well. Since this problem addresses both OS's.

[tm5899]

i am trying to figure out how i can get the files back and so far i still don't understand how i can save the stuff on my home computer and replace the missing files can anyone give me a good answer how to get missing files back

[A31Chris]

Lol! Yeah I've had that problem. Most likely it is exactly what it's saying it is. It should tell you what file is missing. Write it down.

Start the computer in safe mode.(On startup when the screen says 'Starting Windows 95... hit the F5 key)

Hit the start button on the task bar. Then hit the Run option. Type in Sysedit. A bunch of text files will pop up with names like System.ini, Win.ini, Config.sys and Autoexec.bat. Look in the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files. Find any lines that refer to the missing file that it's hollering about. Go to that line and put REM in front of the line or lines referring to that file. Close the editor(Hit the little X in the upper right corner.) It will ask you if you want to save the changes. Hit 'YES'.

Reboot the computer. Hope that helps. Let us know.

[Robert M]

Microsoft has information on at least twenty nine causes for that message.
Editing the two files suggested by A31Chris may not get rid of the error message.
Here's a link to the 29 results of a search of the Microsoft Knowledge on that error message and similar error messages.
Try to match your error message and file name exactly to one in the search results.

http://support.microsoft.com/search/...4&mode=a&adv=1

[A31Chris]

I am aware there are others. But as that seems to be the most common one concerning that error that I have had experience with and others to my knowledge, I figured to try that first.

All the rest of the solutions get a little more complicated afterwards I do believe.

[Robert M]

The CONFIG.SYS file and the AUTOEXEC.BAT file do not load Microsoft Windows virtual device drivers (VXD). The message appears because a .VXD file is not loading...that is to say a file with the letters VXD at the end of its name.

If a VXD file is listed as FBWIN95.VXD or VSHINIT.VXD I would go with this tip.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/280135/en-us

If the file is named something else, I would follow the advice in one of the other articles.