Windows 98 Lost upon "Critical" Security Download

I own a Dell Inspiron 2000, with Windows 98. I recently downloaded from the
MS website the latest “critical� security download. When I restarted, the
computer crashed; I could not even access Windows in the “safe� mode. I then
re-booted in DOS, and ran Scandisk, which detected and corrected several
damaged or corrupt clusters. I am now able to power up with the Windows logo
page, but the loading of Windows stops and in DOS gives me the message:
“vmm32.vxd is required to run Windows. If this file is not in your PATH, you
may need to reinstall Windows." A directory scan in DOS shows no "System"
subdirectory in the "Windows" directory. I suspect that the security
download wiped out much of the system files needed to operate Windows 98. I
cannot re-install Windows from the OEM disc (because it detects portions of
the Windows system already in place); the MS web site "how to" for
reinstallation of Windows 98,
http://support.microsoft.com/support...98setuptxt.asp, has
been taken offline. I am afraid to even upgrade to Windows 2000 (which
admittedly I should have done) until I get this problem fixed. Any thoughts
on what to do next? Can I replace the files that seem to have been lost?
Un-do the security upgrade? Or am I, thanks to a MS download, SOOL?
--
ArtMiller

Here's how you can possibly get around the OEM disk reinstallation problem:

http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/upgrade.html

Since scandisk detected bad clusters, this may be a sign that your hard
drive is failing. I suggest that you go to the drive maker's web site,
download their diagnostic software which runs from a floppy disk and check
the health of your hard drive.
--
Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP Windows 98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

"ArtMiller" wrote in message
...
I own a Dell Inspiron 2000, with Windows 98. I recently downloaded from
the
MS website the latest "critical" security download. When I restarted, the
computer crashed; I could not even access Windows in the "safe" mode. I
then
re-booted in DOS, and ran Scandisk, which detected and corrected several
damaged or corrupt clusters. I am now able to power up with the Windows
logo
page, but the loading of Windows stops and in DOS gives me the message:
"vmm32.vxd is required to run Windows. If this file is not in your PATH,
you
may need to reinstall Windows." A directory scan in DOS shows no "System"
subdirectory in the "Windows" directory. I suspect that the security
download wiped out much of the system files needed to operate Windows 98.
I
cannot re-install Windows from the OEM disc (because it detects portions
of
the Windows system already in place); the MS web site "how to" for
reinstallation of Windows 98,
http://support.microsoft.com/support...98setuptxt.asp,
has
been taken offline. I am afraid to even upgrade to Windows 2000 (which
admittedly I should have done) until I get this problem fixed. Any
thoughts
on what to do next? Can I replace the files that seem to have been lost?
Un-do the security upgrade? Or am I, thanks to a MS download, SOOL?
--
ArtMiller

Art;

What critical security d/l, exactly?

The updates I know about have a number or code and are located in
Add/Remove Programs list in your Control Panel.

rooster

boundary bay, bc

"ArtMiller" wrote in message
...
I own a Dell Inspiron 2000, with Windows 98. I recently downloaded from
the
MS website the latest "critical" security download. When I restarted, the
computer crashed; I could not even access Windows in the "safe" mode. I
then
re-booted in DOS, and ran Scandisk, which detected and corrected several
damaged or corrupt clusters. I am now able to power up with the Windows
logo
page, but the loading of Windows stops and in DOS gives me the message:
"vmm32.vxd is required to run Windows. If this file is not in your PATH,
you
may need to reinstall Windows."

That file should be in the VMM32 folder in the Windows System directory.

A directory scan in DOS shows no "System"
subdirectory in the "Windows" directory.

I suspect that the security
download wiped out much of the system files needed to operate Windows 98.

I think it is simply coincidental. You had to be doing SOMETHING
when your hard drive failed catastrophically, so it is natural to blame
the activity that you were engaged in at the time.

But if you think of the millions of people who have d/l'd those updates
from the MS site, you will quickly realize that the odds are astronomically
in favor of a hullabaloo erupting long before the majority of people
have had a chance to download a corrupt file.

I cannot re-install Windows from the OEM disc (because it detects portions
of
the Windows system already in place); the MS web site "how to" for
reinstallation of Windows 98,
http://support.microsoft.com/support...98setuptxt.asp,
has
been taken offline.

I posted about that file just yesterday, so I know for a fact that
it is on the CD itself, along with a bunch of other text files
that most people don't know about and consequently never read.

I am afraid to even upgrade to Windows 2000 (which
admittedly I should have done) until I get this problem fixed.

IT may work, it may not. I cannot say from personal knowledge.
I'll put that on my Crazylist of things to try in idle moments
(Deleteing the System folder and then running an upgrade).

Any thoughts on what to do next?

You probably should be thinking about getting a new hard drive
and installing W2K on that. Then use whatever short life MAY be left
in your old hard drive to save your data files.

Can I replace the files that seem to have been lost?

You want to possibly waste time baling out a sinking boat?

Un-do the security upgrade?

How. If you are missing the System directory, to be perfectly blunt,
you aren't going anywhere, pal.

Or am I, thanks to a MS download, SOOL?

Things are not good, but now is not the time to reason why!
Now is the time to do (the recovery) or (watch your hard drive) die!

If you name the Update, I'll bet that many of the habitants
of this NG already have that update installed successfully.

And many of them can also testify that they have suffered
a catastrophic loss of a hard drive or six. I lost 2 during a storm
when the power went out. Another 2 when a power supply
went on the fritz and fried most of the components in a machine.

The Windows Update site can be fairly criticized on many levels,
but frying hard drives is way down on the list of possibilities.

Old age is a much more likely cause of your problem.
The hard drive's, not yours.

--
ArtMiller

Don't know; unfortunately, I did not copy it down before it crashed. As I
mentioned, I have no access to Windows directly.

Is there a registry that I can access thru DOS to determine this?

Thanks for your reply

Art

"rooster" wrote:

Art;

What critical security d/l, exactly?

The updates I know about have a number or code and are located in
Add/Remove Programs list in your Control Panel.

rooster

boundary bay, bc

Thanks; will do that first.

"Ron Badour" wrote:

Here's how you can possibly get around the OEM disk reinstallation problem:

http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/upgrade.html

Since scandisk detected bad clusters, this may be a sign that your hard
drive is failing. I suggest that you go to the drive maker's web site,
download their diagnostic software which runs from a floppy disk and check
the health of your hard drive.
--
Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP Windows 98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

"ArtMiller" wrote in message
...
I own a Dell Inspiron 2000, with Windows 98. I recently downloaded from
the
MS website the latest "critical" security download. When I restarted, the
computer crashed; I could not even access Windows in the "safe" mode. I
then
re-booted in DOS, and ran Scandisk, which detected and corrected several
damaged or corrupt clusters. I am now able to power up with the Windows
logo
page, but the loading of Windows stops and in DOS gives me the message:
"vmm32.vxd is required to run Windows. If this file is not in your PATH,
you
may need to reinstall Windows." A directory scan in DOS shows no "System"
subdirectory in the "Windows" directory. I suspect that the security
download wiped out much of the system files needed to operate Windows 98.
I
cannot re-install Windows from the OEM disc (because it detects portions
of
the Windows system already in place); the MS web site "how to" for
reinstallation of Windows 98,
http://support.microsoft.com/support...98setuptxt.asp,
has
been taken offline. I am afraid to even upgrade to Windows 2000 (which
admittedly I should have done) until I get this problem fixed. Any
thoughts
on what to do next? Can I replace the files that seem to have been lost?
Un-do the security upgrade? Or am I, thanks to a MS download, SOOL?
--
ArtMiller

| "vmm32.vxd is required to run Windows. If this file is not in your
PATH,
| you may need to reinstall Windows."
|
| That file should be in the VMM32 folder in the Windows System
directory.

I'm sure you really know: Vmm32.vxd is in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM. The folder
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VMM32 may hold any individual .vxd meant to override a
..vxd of the same name that is inside the conglomerate Vmm32.vxd file.

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

"Hugh Candlin" wrote in message
...
|
| "ArtMiller" wrote in message
| ...
| I own a Dell Inspiron 2000, with Windows 98. I recently downloaded
from
| the
| MS website the latest "critical" security download. When I
restarted, the
| computer crashed; I could not even access Windows in the "safe"
mode. I
| then
| re-booted in DOS, and ran Scandisk, which detected and corrected
several
| damaged or corrupt clusters. I am now able to power up with the
Windows
| logo
| page, but the loading of Windows stops and in DOS gives me the
message:
| "vmm32.vxd is required to run Windows. If this file is not in your
PATH,
| you
| may need to reinstall Windows."
|
| That file should be in the VMM32 folder in the Windows System
directory.
|
| A directory scan in DOS shows no "System"
| subdirectory in the "Windows" directory.
|
| I suspect that the security
| download wiped out much of the system files needed to operate
Windows 98.
|
| I think it is simply coincidental. You had to be doing SOMETHING
| when your hard drive failed catastrophically, so it is natural to
blame
| the activity that you were engaged in at the time.
|
| But if you think of the millions of people who have d/l'd those
updates
| from the MS site, you will quickly realize that the odds are
astronomically
| in favor of a hullabaloo erupting long before the majority of people
| have had a chance to download a corrupt file.
|
| I cannot re-install Windows from the OEM disc (because it detects
portions
| of
| the Windows system already in place); the MS web site "how to" for
| reinstallation of Windows 98,
|
http://support.microsoft.com/support...98setuptxt.asp,
| has
| been taken offline.
|
| I posted about that file just yesterday, so I know for a fact that
| it is on the CD itself, along with a bunch of other text files
| that most people don't know about and consequently never read.
|
| I am afraid to even upgrade to Windows 2000 (which
| admittedly I should have done) until I get this problem fixed.
|
| IT may work, it may not. I cannot say from personal knowledge.
| I'll put that on my Crazylist of things to try in idle moments
| (Deleteing the System folder and then running an upgrade).
|
| Any thoughts on what to do next?
|
| You probably should be thinking about getting a new hard drive
| and installing W2K on that. Then use whatever short life MAY be left
| in your old hard drive to save your data files.
|
| Can I replace the files that seem to have been lost?
|
| You want to possibly waste time baling out a sinking boat?
|
| Un-do the security upgrade?
|
| How. If you are missing the System directory, to be perfectly blunt,
| you aren't going anywhere, pal.
|
| Or am I, thanks to a MS download, SOOL?
|
| Things are not good, but now is not the time to reason why!
| Now is the time to do (the recovery) or (watch your hard drive) die!
|
| If you name the Update, I'll bet that many of the habitants
| of this NG already have that update installed successfully.
|
| And many of them can also testify that they have suffered
| a catastrophic loss of a hard drive or six. I lost 2 during a storm
| when the power went out. Another 2 when a power supply
| went on the fritz and fried most of the components in a machine.
|
| The Windows Update site can be fairly criticized on many levels,
| but frying hard drives is way down on the list of possibilities.
|
| Old age is a much more likely cause of your problem.
| The hard drive's, not yours.
|
| --
| ArtMiller
|
|

=?Utf-8?B?QXJ0TWlsbGVy?= wrote in
:

I own a Dell Inspiron 2000, with Windows 98. I recently downloaded
from the MS website the latest “critical� security download.
When I restarted, the computer crashed; I could not even access
Windows in the “safe� mode. I then re-booted in DOS, and ran
Scandisk, which detected and corrected several damaged or corrupt
clusters. I am now able to power up with the Windows logo page, but
the loading of Windows stops and in DOS gives me the message:
“vmm32.vxd is required to run Windows. If this file is not in your
PATH, you may need to reinstall Windows." A directory scan in DOS
shows no "System" subdirectory in the "Windows" directory. I suspect
that the security download wiped out much of the system files needed
to operate Windows 98.

My guess is that scandisk renamed your system folder to DIR.001 or some
such thing. That is what can happen if things are really bad. And if it was
that bad, you'll probably never recover from it. You likely have a failing
hard drive. If it were me, I'd reinstall from scratch on a new drive, then
slave the old drive to it and try to retrieve as much of my data as
possible.

--
-- Puritanism: the haunting fear that someone somewhere may be happy. --

Y'all;

Having successfully added, "being a dumbass when it comes to pc's", to my
portfolio, it won't come as any surprise to this ng that I have a couple of
DAQ's, eh?

With respect to Art's apparent computer savvy, is there a chance the
"critical security download" at issue was a bogie? I've seen one of these
bogus sites and to my untrained eye, it was indistinguishable from the legit
MS Critical Update site. I checked with this ng, got the 'skinny', and was
spared the consequences of d/loading it.

Menno wrote:
"That is what can happen if things are really bad."
If Art's HD is bebuggered, wouldn't OE be messed up, too? Or should I assume
Art is posting from a different computer?

rooster

Good Point, rooster. If the site has been taken off-line then perhaps it was
removed because it was a bad site. What with adware, spyware, malware,
phising and hijack redirects of websites I am surprised anyone but the MVP's,
Microsoft employees and a few other knowledgable people are able to stay
on-line.

"rooster" wrote in message
...
: Y'all;
:
: Having successfully added, "being a dumbass when it comes to pc's", to my
: portfolio, it won't come as any surprise to this ng that I have a couple of
: DAQ's, eh?
:
: With respect to Art's apparent computer savvy, is there a chance the
: "critical security download" at issue was a bogie? I've seen one of these
: bogus sites and to my untrained eye, it was indistinguishable from the
legit
: MS Critical Update site. I checked with this ng, got the 'skinny', and was
: spared the consequences of d/loading it.
:
: Menno wrote:
: "That is what can happen if things are really bad."
: If Art's HD is bebuggered, wouldn't OE be messed up, too? Or should I
assume
: Art is posting from a different computer?
:
: rooster
:
: