Invalid System Disk

Jeff,
I'm not sure if you understood, but I'm running win98se, not win95. These
links mention win98 but not 95. DO the work for 98se as well?

Robert
"Jeff Richards" wrote in message
...
You say that booting to hard disk gets you to a C:\ prompt, but then you
say that you booted to safe mode, or at least tried. I think there's a
step
in the middle you haven't mentioned, but the message indicates a simple
problem with MSDOS.SYS. See here for an explanation of what might have
happened and how to fix it.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=149110
Cannot Start Windows 95 After Using the SYS Command

See here for more information on what the file should look like::
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=118579
Contents of the Windows Msdos.sys File
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Robert" wrote in message
...
In an effort to open up space on one of our win98se machines my children
(they go back to school Monday) started to delete things "they" thought
were
not needed. I'm not totally sure what it was they deleted but I now have
the
following:

The System:
Pentium w/MMX
233 mhz
92 ram
win98se

When I try to boot up we get the following. "Invalid System Disk." I
tried
to get it going with a win98 boot disk and read in the help file that if
I
saw the error above that I should run "SYS C:" I did this and it
reported
back that the "System Transferred". I then shut the computer off (with
the
power switch), took out the boot disk, and attempted to restart the
computer
only to get this: "c:\" and when attempting in safe mode this: "Windows
is
bypassing your startup files". I have also run Scandisk (off of the boot
disk) and it found no errors on "C". Is it possible to get this unit
running
again?

is it possible to get into regedit via a 98se boot disk. If so I may
consider collecting the OS product key in order to reinstall win98se?

"Gabriele Hauschild" wrote in message
...
Hello Robert,

That error_ message is usually generated once a file
like "command.com" is missing and you followed the right
procedure.

Does it not go into "Safe mode" after it says it is
bypassing the startup files? If it can go into Safe mode,
let do so and then just shut down, switch off and remove
the power cord for a few moments.

Then replug and switch on. If you still can't run windows
in normal mode, m_aybe someone else will have further
suggestions, but I would be willing_ to send you a zip
file with the files that I have in my parent (C folder
if you wish, strictly upon the basis it is used entirely
at your own risk. I run current anti-virus and firewall
but you should still do your own virus check if you
receive files from someone else. If you would like me to
do that, post back with an e-mail address. You can anti-
spam your e-mail address by putting words: "delete" in
it, which I would ignore, thus:
e.g. ".

Best of luck.

-----Original Message-----
In an effort to open up space on one of our win98se
machines my children
(they go back to school Monday) started to delete
things "they" thought were
not needed. I'm not totally sure what it was they deleted
but I now have the
following:

The System:
Pentium w/MMX
233 mhz
92 ram
win98se

When I try to boot up we get the following. "Invalid
System Disk." I tried
to get it going with a win98 boot disk and read in the
help file that if I
saw the error above that I should run "SYS C:" I did this
and it reported
back that the "System Transferred". I then shut the
computer off (with the
power switch), took out the boot disk, and attempted to
restart the computer
only to get this: "c:\" and when attempting in safe mode
this: "Windows is
bypassing your startup files". I have also run Scandisk
(off of the boot
disk) and it found no errors on "C". Is it possible to
get this unit running
again?

Any help would be appreciated,
Robert


.

Have you tried typing win at the prompt and then pressing enter?

--=20

Brian A.

Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Robert" wrote in message =
...
How can I, if possible, start windows from "c:\" ?
=20
=20
"Jeff Richards" wrote in message
...
The missing step is that you used the Ctrl key to get the startup =
menu and
then selected an option from the startup menu. This indicates that =
the
first
part of the boot process is working OK. The alternative would be to =
try
and
start Windows from the C:\ prompt, which would not have revealed =
anything
about the state of MSDOS.SYS.

In fact, that you could get the startup menu using the Ctrl key =
suggests
that MSDOS.SYS is not the problem, but it's worth checking =
nonetheless.
--=20
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Robert" wrote in message
...
To clarify:
After I received the "System Transferred" message I shut the =
computer
off,
removed the boot disk, and attempted to boot the computer on it's =
own.
The
1st time I attempted to boot to regular (I know that's the wrong =
term)
Windows and received the "C:\" prompt. The 2nd time I tried to =
boot
into
"Safemode" (holding the ctrl key down) I received "Windows is =
bypassing
your startup files". I'm not sure what "missing step" you are =
referring
to?

In the mean time I'll be looking at the links you provided.

Thanks for your time,
Robert


=20

The link I provided refers to a specific issue with W95, but it also
describes how the same situation can arise with W98 if MSDOS.SYS is damaged
or missing.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Robert" wrote in message
...
Jeff,
I'm not sure if you understood, but I'm running win98se, not win95. These
links mention win98 but not 95. DO the work for 98se as well?

There is information here about getting the product key in order to do a
re-install. However, I would be surprised if this was necessary.
http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/w98_restore.html
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Robert" wrote in message
...
is it possible to get into regedit via a 98se boot disk. If so I may
consider collecting the OS product key in order to reinstall win98se?

"Gabriele Hauschild" wrote in
message
...
Hello Robert,

That error_ message is usually generated once a file
like "command.com" is missing and you followed the right
procedure.

Does it not go into "Safe mode" after it says it is
bypassing the startup files? If it can go into Safe mode,
let do so and then just shut down, switch off and remove
the power cord for a few moments.

Then replug and switch on. If you still can't run windows
in normal mode, m_aybe someone else will have further
suggestions, but I would be willing_ to send you a zip
file with the files that I have in my parent (C folder
if you wish, strictly upon the basis it is used entirely
at your own risk. I run current anti-virus and firewall
but you should still do your own virus check if you
receive files from someone else. If you would like me to
do that, post back with an e-mail address. You can anti-
spam your e-mail address by putting words: "delete" in
it, which I would ignore, thus:
e.g. ".

Best of luck.

-----Original Message-----
In an effort to open up space on one of our win98se
machines my children
(they go back to school Monday) started to delete
things "they" thought were
not needed. I'm not totally sure what it was they deleted
but I now have the
following:

The System:
Pentium w/MMX
233 mhz
92 ram
win98se

When I try to boot up we get the following. "Invalid
System Disk." I tried
to get it going with a win98 boot disk and read in the
help file that if I
saw the error above that I should run "SYS C:" I did this
and it reported
back that the "System Transferred". I then shut the
computer off (with the
power switch), took out the boot disk, and attempted to
restart the computer
only to get this: "c:\" and when attempting in safe mode
this: "Windows is
bypassing your startup files". I have also run Scandisk
(off of the boot
disk) and it found no errors on "C". Is it possible to
get this unit running
again?

Any help would be appreciated,
Robert


.

Oops. Well its all there, no need to copy anything to the 98SE startup
floppy apparently. Maybe someone got some use out of how to use attrib and
edit on the msdos.sys file.

"PCR" wrote in message
...
Very well writ, Lil' Dave. BUT, from the Readme on a Startup Diskette...

EBD.CAB file
=================================
The Ebd.cab file is a compressed file whose contents are extracted to
the
Ramdrive during the startup process. The table below identifies the
files
in the Ebd.cab file.

File Function
Attrib.exe Add or remove file attributes
Chkdsk.exe A simpler and smaller disk status tool
Debug.exe Debugging utility
Edit.com Real-mode emergency text editor
Ext.exe New, simple file extract utility
Format.com Disk format tool
Mscdex.exe Microsoft CD-ROM file extension for MS-DOS
Scandisk.exe Disk status tool
Scandisk.ini Disk status tool configuration file
Sys.com Transfers system files and make disk bootable

And...

List of all components on the EBD
====================================
The following table describes the function of each file copied to the
EBD.

File Function
Aspi2dos.sys Real-Mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver
Aspi4dos.sys Real-Mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver
Aspi8dos.sys Real-Mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver
Aspi8u2.sys Real-Mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver
Aspicd.sys Real-Mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver
Autoexec.bat Startup batch file
Btcdrom.sys Mylex/BusLogic CD-ROM driver
Btdosm.sys Mylex/BusLogic CD-ROM driver
Command.com Command interpreter
Config.sys Loads the device drivers
Drvspace.bin Microsoft DriveSpace compression driver
Ebd.cab Cab file containing extract utilities
Ebd.sys File identifying the ESD
Extract.exe File to expand the Ebd.cab file
Fdisk.exe Disk partition tool
Findramd.exe Utility to find the RAMDrive during startup
Flashpt.sys Mylex/BusLogic CD-ROM driver
Himem.sys XMS Memory Manager
Io.sys System boot file
Msdos.sys Boot option information (paths, multiboot, and so on)
Oakcdrom.sys Generic device driver for ATAPI CD-ROM drives
Ramdrive.sys Creates a Ramdrive during startup
Setramd.bat Searches for first available drive to be a Ramdrive


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"Lil' Dave" wrote in message
...
| You should ensure that you're using a 98SE startup diskette as the
first
| step. This has the correct form of the command.com file for your
operating
| system. The plain jane Win 98 command.com file is NOT the same. Go
to
| another PC with internet access and go to bootdisk.com website. Find
the
| 98SE startup disk download. Download it, run the file. Run the
resulting
| file with a formatted floppy in the diskette drive. Afterwards, you
should
| have 98SE startup diskette.
|
| The default msdos.sys for the floppy boot diskette is empty of data.
Using
| "sys c:" command simply copies this to the boot sector of the c:
partition.
| Yours or anyone else's PC cannot boot Win 98SE using this form of
msdos.sys
| file. You will only receive an msdos command prompt as you pointed
out.
|
| Here is an example of the msdos.sys file for booting to windows:
| [Paths]
| WinDir=C:\WINDOWS
| WinBootDir=C:\WINDOWS
| HostWinBootDrv=C
|
| [Options]
| BootMulti=1
| BootGUI=1
| DoubleBuffer=1
| AutoScan=1
| WinVer=4.10.2222
| ;
| ;The following lines are required for compatibility with other
programs.
| ;Do not remove them (MSDOS.SYS needs to be 1024 bytes).
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxa
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxb
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxc
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxd
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxe
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxf
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxg
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxh
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxi
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxj
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxk
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxl
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxm
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxn
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxo
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxp
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxq
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxs
|
|
| If you do not have a SCSI adapter, do not use the DoubleBuffer line.
You
| can use the "edit" command at a dos prompt to modify the msdos.sys
file.
| You have to remove the attributes first from this file using the
"attrib"
| command. Then, after completing the edit, place attributes back on
the
| file. The file should contain RHS attributes (read-only, hidden,
system).
| At the command prompt, enter attrib /? to learn how to use the
switches.
| You must designate a file location with either "edit" or "attrib".
Example:
| "attrib -r -h -s c:\msdos.sys". The "c:\" tells attrib to modify the
| msdos.sys file on the c: partition, rather than on the floppy (a:\).
| Attrib.exe and edit.com are not on the startup diskette, you can
however run
| these if you are within the c:\windows\command subdirectory at the dos
| prompt.
| Sys.com is not on the startup diskette either, simply copy this from
the
| c:\windows\command subdirectory to the startup diskette. Then run the
"sys
| c:" from the startup diskette after booting from it.
| You may be able to copy attrib to the startup floppy, but due to
capacity
| restraints of the floppy, and the size of the edit.com file, you will
not be
| able to copy it to the startup diskette as is.
| All this is a bit complicated for the novice, but is doable if you pay
| attention to detail and responses after entering a dos command.
| "Robert" wrote in message
| ...
| In an effort to open up space on one of our win98se machines my
children
| (they go back to school Monday) started to delete things "they"
thought
| were
| not needed. I'm not totally sure what it was they deleted but I now
have
| the
| following:
|
| The System:
| Pentium w/MMX
| 233 mhz
| 92 ram
| win98se
|
| When I try to boot up we get the following. "Invalid System Disk." I
tried
| to get it going with a win98 boot disk and read in the help file
that if I
| saw the error above that I should run "SYS C:" I did this and it
reported
| back that the "System Transferred". I then shut the computer off
(with the
| power switch), took out the boot disk, and attempted to restart the
| computer
| only to get this: "c:\" and when attempting in safe mode this:
"Windows
| is
| bypassing your startup files". I have also run Scandisk (off of the
boot
| disk) and it found no errors on "C". Is it possible to get this unit
| running
| again?
|
| Any help would be appreciated,
| Robert
|
|
|
|

I was using the bootdisk I created when I installed win98se. I now have
created a second following the direction you stated below. Do I understand
that both of the disks are identical?


"Lil' Dave" wrote in message
...
Oops. Well its all there, no need to copy anything to the 98SE startup
floppy apparently. Maybe someone got some use out of how to use attrib
and
edit on the msdos.sys file.

************************************************** **************************
*********
The plain jane Win 98 command.com file is NOT the same. Go
to
| another PC with internet access and go to bootdisk.com website. Find
the
| 98SE startup disk download. Download it, run the file. Run the
resulting
| file with a formatted floppy in the diskette drive. Afterwards, you
should
| have 98SE startup diskette.
|
| The default msdos.sys for the floppy boot diskette is empty of data.
Using
| "sys c:" command simply copies this to the boot sector of the c:
partition.
| Yours or anyone else's PC cannot boot Win 98SE using this form of
msdos.sys
| file. You will only receive an msdos command prompt as you pointed
out.
|
| Here is an example of the msdos.sys file for booting to windows:
| [Paths]
| WinDir=C:\WINDOWS
| WinBootDir=C:\WINDOWS
| HostWinBootDrv=C
|
| [Options]
| BootMulti=1
| BootGUI=1
| DoubleBuffer=1
| AutoScan=1
| WinVer=4.10.2222
| ;
| ;The following lines are required for compatibility with other
programs.
| ;Do not remove them (MSDOS.SYS needs to be 1024 bytes).
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxa
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxb
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxc
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxd
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxe
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxf
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxg
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxh
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxi
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxj
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxk
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxl
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxm
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxn
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxo
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxp
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxq
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr
|
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxs
|
|
| If you do not have a SCSI adapter, do not use the DoubleBuffer line.
You
| can use the "edit" command at a dos prompt to modify the msdos.sys
file.
| You have to remove the attributes first from this file using the
"attrib"
| command. Then, after completing the edit, place attributes back on
the
| file. The file should contain RHS attributes (read-only, hidden,
system).
| At the command prompt, enter attrib /? to learn how to use the
switches.
| You must designate a file location with either "edit" or "attrib".
Example:
| "attrib -r -h -s c:\msdos.sys". The "c:\" tells attrib to modify the
| msdos.sys file on the c: partition, rather than on the floppy (a:\).
| Attrib.exe and edit.com are not on the startup diskette, you can
however run
| these if you are within the c:\windows\command subdirectory at the dos
| prompt.
| Sys.com is not on the startup diskette either, simply copy this from
the
| c:\windows\command subdirectory to the startup diskette. Then run the
"sys
| c:" from the startup diskette after booting from it.
| You may be able to copy attrib to the startup floppy, but due to
capacity
| restraints of the floppy, and the size of the edit.com file, you will
not be
| able to copy it to the startup diskette as is.
| All this is a bit complicated for the novice, but is doable if you pay
| attention to detail and responses after entering a dos command.
| "Robert" wrote in message
| ...
| In an effort to open up space on one of our win98se machines my
children
| (they go back to school Monday) started to delete things "they"
thought
| were
| not needed. I'm not totally sure what it was they deleted but I now
have
| the
| following:
|
| The System:
| Pentium w/MMX
| 233 mhz
| 92 ram
| win98se
|
| When I try to boot up we get the following. "Invalid System Disk." I
tried
| to get it going with a win98 boot disk and read in the help file
that if I
| saw the error above that I should run "SYS C:" I did this and it
reported
| back that the "System Transferred". I then shut the computer off
(with the
| power switch), took out the boot disk, and attempted to restart the
| computer
| only to get this: "c:\" and when attempting in safe mode this:
"Windows
| is
| bypassing your startup files". I have also run Scandisk (off of the
boot
| disk) and it found no errors on "C". Is it possible to get this unit
| running
| again?
|
| Any help would be appreciated,
| Robert
|
|
|
|

Jeff,
I collected the Product Key with the directions from the link below. I now
have a safety net in case all else fails, actually in case I fail to follow
the directions correctly. I'll now proceed with the steps at
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=149110.

Thanks & Happy New Year!
Robert


"Jeff Richards" wrote in message
...
There is information here about getting the product key in order to do a
re-install. However, I would be surprised if this was necessary.
http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/w98_restore.html
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Robert" wrote in message
...
is it possible to get into regedit via a 98se boot disk. If so I may
consider collecting the OS product key in order to reinstall win98se?

"Gabriele Hauschild" wrote in
message
...
Hello Robert,

That error_ message is usually generated once a file
like "command.com" is missing and you followed the right
procedure.

Does it not go into "Safe mode" after it says it is
bypassing the startup files? If it can go into Safe mode,
let do so and then just shut down, switch off and remove
the power cord for a few moments.

Then replug and switch on. If you still can't run windows
in normal mode, m_aybe someone else will have further
suggestions, but I would be willing_ to send you a zip
file with the files that I have in my parent (C folder
if you wish, strictly upon the basis it is used entirely
at your own risk. I run current anti-virus and firewall
but you should still do your own virus check if you
receive files from someone else. If you would like me to
do that, post back with an e-mail address. You can anti-
spam your e-mail address by putting words: "delete" in
it, which I would ignore, thus:
e.g. ".

Best of luck.

-----Original Message-----
In an effort to open up space on one of our win98se
machines my children
(they go back to school Monday) started to delete
things "they" thought were
not needed. I'm not totally sure what it was they deleted
but I now have the
following:

The System:
Pentium w/MMX
233 mhz
92 ram
win98se

When I try to boot up we get the following. "Invalid
System Disk." I tried
to get it going with a win98 boot disk and read in the
help file that if I
saw the error above that I should run "SYS C:" I did this
and it reported
back that the "System Transferred". I then shut the
computer off (with the
power switch), took out the boot disk, and attempted to
restart the computer
only to get this: "c:\" and when attempting in safe mode
this: "Windows is
bypassing your startup files". I have also run Scandisk
(off of the boot
disk) and it found no errors on "C". Is it possible to
get this unit running
again?

Any help would be appreciated,
Robert


.

I'm having some difficulty with this procedure.

""Remove the system, hidden, and read-only attributes from the Msdos.sys
file in the root folder of the boot drive. To do so, type the following
command at the command prompt
attrib -s -h -r drive:\msdos.sys
where drive is the physical boot drive.
NOTE: If drive C is compressed and is currently mounted, the Msdos.sys file
is located on the host drive for drive C. If drive C is not compressed or is
not currently mounted, the Msdos.sys file is located on drive C.""


I've tried this both with and without starting the computer with the w98
boot disk. I'm not sure of:
a) how I should be typing this in? Is there spaces between the -s,-h,-r? Are
these minus signs?
b)with or with out the boot disk?
c) and what about if the drive in compressed? I don't ember compressing the
drive, is this something I can and should check first?

Robert

"Jeff Richards" wrote in message
...
You say that booting to hard disk gets you to a C:\ prompt, but then you
say that you booted to safe mode, or at least tried. I think there's a
step
in the middle you haven't mentioned, but the message indicates a simple
problem with MSDOS.SYS. See here for an explanation of what might have
happened and how to fix it.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=149110
Cannot Start Windows 95 After Using the SYS Command

See here for more information on what the file should look like::
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=118579
Contents of the Windows Msdos.sys File
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Robert" wrote in message
...
In an effort to open up space on one of our win98se machines my children
(they go back to school Monday) started to delete things "they" thought
were
not needed. I'm not totally sure what it was they deleted but I now have
the
following:

The System:
Pentium w/MMX
233 mhz
92 ram
win98se

When I try to boot up we get the following. "Invalid System Disk." I
tried
to get it going with a win98 boot disk and read in the help file that if
I
saw the error above that I should run "SYS C:" I did this and it
reported
back that the "System Transferred". I then shut the computer off (with
the
power switch), took out the boot disk, and attempted to restart the
computer
only to get this: "c:\" and when attempting in safe mode this: "Windows
is
bypassing your startup files". I have also run Scandisk (off of the boot
disk) and it found no errors on "C". Is it possible to get this unit
running
again?

How in heck does inserting a makeshift MSDOS.SYS file help you retrieve your
Product Key? Note that doing what that article suggests will not, I don't think,
assist a Win98 system. Those instructions are for Win95, and MSDOS.SYS is
different in Win98.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User

"Robert" wrote in message
...
Jeff,
I collected the Product Key with the directions from the link below. I now
have a safety net in case all else fails, actually in case I fail to follow
the directions correctly. I'll now proceed with the steps at
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=149110.

Thanks & Happy New Year!
Robert


"Jeff Richards" wrote in message
...
There is information here about getting the product key in order to do a
re-install. However, I would be surprised if this was necessary.
http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/w98_restore.html
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Robert" wrote in message
...
is it possible to get into regedit via a 98se boot disk. If so I may
consider collecting the OS product key in order to reinstall win98se?

"Gabriele Hauschild" wrote in
message
...
Hello Robert,

That error_ message is usually generated once a file
like "command.com" is missing and you followed the right
procedure.

Does it not go into "Safe mode" after it says it is
bypassing the startup files? If it can go into Safe mode,
let do so and then just shut down, switch off and remove
the power cord for a few moments.

Then replug and switch on. If you still can't run windows
in normal mode, m_aybe someone else will have further
suggestions, but I would be willing_ to send you a zip
file with the files that I have in my parent (C folder
if you wish, strictly upon the basis it is used entirely
at your own risk. I run current anti-virus and firewall
but you should still do your own virus check if you
receive files from someone else. If you would like me to
do that, post back with an e-mail address. You can anti-
spam your e-mail address by putting words: "delete" in
it, which I would ignore, thus:
e.g. ".

Best of luck.

-----Original Message-----
In an effort to open up space on one of our win98se
machines my children
(they go back to school Monday) started to delete
things "they" thought were
not needed. I'm not totally sure what it was they deleted
but I now have the
following:

The System:
Pentium w/MMX
233 mhz
92 ram
win98se

When I try to boot up we get the following. "Invalid
System Disk." I tried
to get it going with a win98 boot disk and read in the
help file that if I
saw the error above that I should run "SYS C:" I did this
and it reported
back that the "System Transferred". I then shut the
computer off (with the
power switch), took out the boot disk, and attempted to
restart the computer
only to get this: "c:\" and when attempting in safe mode
this: "Windows is
bypassing your startup files". I have also run Scandisk
(off of the boot
disk) and it found no errors on "C". Is it possible to
get this unit running
again?

Any help would be appreciated,
Robert


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