startup errors

When I turn my computer on, I get the following error messages:
The following file is missing or corrupted C:\Windows\EMM386.EXE
"error in config.sys on line 2"
"VMM32.VXD is required to run Windows If this file is not in your PATH you
may need to reinstall Windows"

and then I get the C:\

My only backup is the Dell-provided recovery CD and I can't seem to get the
computer to recognize the D drive. When I put the recovery CD in the D
drive, I can hear the drive running but nothing changes on the screen.

Is it possible to recover Windows with so many errors? If so, how do I
start? I don't have a boot disk so I don't know if it's even possible to
reinstall Win98 into my computer. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

At the C:\ prompt, run the following commands, pressing Enter at the =
end of each line:

ren autoexec.bat autoexec.old
ren config.sys config.old

Not that there are two required spaces in each command. Also, if asked =
to replace files already named with the OLD extension, then try a =
different extension--like BAD. Press Ctrl-Alt-Del to restart. Does the =
machine now start up? If so, please open the two files, C:\Autoexec.old =
and C:\Config.old in Notepad, and copy the contents to a reply post.

While I think it is premature to consider a reinstallation of your =
system, the Dell Recovery CD is probably meant to be booted to. You =
start the computer, after shutting down for 15-30 seconds, with the CD =
inserted. The system should boot to the CD. If it doesn't, BIOS needs to =
be changed. However, for instructions, you should go to Dell.com and =
track down specific instructions based upon your Service Tag and/or =
Model Number.

--=20
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User
=20
"JoshBecky" wrote in message =
...
When I turn my computer on, I get the following error messages:
The following file is missing or corrupted C:\Windows\EMM386.EXE
"error in config.sys on line 2"
"VMM32.VXD is required to run Windows If this file is not in your PATH =
you=20
may need to reinstall Windows"
=20
and then I get the C:\
=20
My only backup is the Dell-provided recovery CD and I can't seem to =
get the=20
computer to recognize the D drive. When I put the recovery CD in the =
D=20
drive, I can hear the drive running but nothing changes on the screen. =
=20
=20
Is it possible to recover Windows with so many errors? If so, how do =
I=20
start? I don't have a boot disk so I don't know if it's even possible =
to=20
reinstall Win98 into my computer. Any suggestions would be =
appreciated.
=20

Progress, I think...

At the C:\ prompt, run the following commands, pressing Enter at the end of each line:

ren autoexec.bat autoexec.old
ren config.sys config.old

I did this and was not asked to replace any files. When I restared the
computer, I got a new error message:

"VMM32.VXD is required to run Windows. If this file is not in your PATH,
you may need to reinstall Windows.

Windows has stopped. Press CTL-ALT-DEL to restart your computer."

I've tried restarting three times and I'm still getting the same error
message.

the Dell Recovery CD is probably meant to be booted to. You start the computer, after shutting down for 15-30 seconds, with the CD inserted. The system should boot to the CD. If it doesn't, BIOS needs to be changed.

I tried this after the above but nothing changed - I still get the error
message that Windows has stopped. I will try to find help on Dell - do you
have any other suggestions for me?

Thanks for your help...

Well, it's not a good sign...

Read this article, perform the suggested tests and fixes (if called =
for), and let us know the results:

"Error Message: VMM32.VXD Is Required to Run Windows..."
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;194679

If your VMM32.VXD file is found, and it really is in C:\Windows\System =
where it should be, then we'll have to discover why the System folder is =
no longer in the default PATH. Making sure there isn't a screwed up PATH =
statement in the Autoexec.bat of Config.sys files is why I had you =
rename them. Unfortunately, while those are the most common places for =
the PATH to get messed up, there are other places to change the default =
PATH. If this looks like it's the problem--if the file exists in =
C:\Windows\System--then we'll simply have to hunt down the erroneous =
PATH statement.

Did you install any new software just before this problem cropped up? Do =
you have a good antivirus and do you keep it updated daily? Lastly, can =
you get into Safe Mode? Hold down or repeatedly press the Ctrl key as =
your system is starting up. With luck, you'll get the Startup Menu where =
you can choose Safe Mode. (Sometimes the F8 key works better.)

--=20
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User
=20
"JoshBecky" wrote in message =
...
Progress, I think...
=20
At the C:\ prompt, run the following commands, pressing Enter at =
the end of each line:
=20
ren autoexec.bat autoexec.old
ren config.sys config.old
=20
I did this and was not asked to replace any files. When I restared =
the=20
computer, I got a new error message:
=20
"VMM32.VXD is required to run Windows. If this file is not in your =
PATH,=20
you may need to reinstall Windows.
=20
Windows has stopped. Press CTL-ALT-DEL to restart your computer."
=20
I've tried restarting three times and I'm still getting the same error =

message. =20
=20
the Dell Recovery CD is probably meant to be booted to. You start the =
computer, after shutting down for 15-30 seconds, with the CD inserted. =
The system should boot to the CD. If it doesn't, BIOS needs to be =
changed.=20
=20
I tried this after the above but nothing changed - I still get the =
error=20
message that Windows has stopped. I will try to find help on Dell - =
do you=20
have any other suggestions for me?
=20
Thanks for your help...

I contacted the Dell help people early in the week and they had the same
advice. Unfortunately, the file couldn't be found, I couldn't start in safe
mode, and I was basically out of luck. Since then I've used the recovery CD
to restore Windows but I haven't had time to reinstall all the software.
Thanks again for your advice.

That's too bad. I was hoping the VMM32.VXD file was just misplaced, not missing
altogether.

So you know, VMM32.VXD is an "omnibus drivers file". When Windows is installed,
it detects most of your hardware (a few items can't be detected at that time),
and builds all of the drivers into a single file--VMM32.VXD. Every copy of that
file in existence is essentially unique to the machine it was installed to.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User

"JoshBecky" wrote in message
...
I contacted the Dell help people early in the week and they had the same
advice. Unfortunately, the file couldn't be found, I couldn't start in safe
mode, and I was basically out of luck. Since then I've used the recovery CD
to restore Windows but I haven't had time to reinstall all the software.
Thanks again for your advice.