Invalid System Disk

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

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


.

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


.

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


.

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


.

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


.

Sorry. The previous was my first post of the morning, and I was entirely
confused about what was what.

--
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


.

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?

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

PS Reading these boards on Outlook Express is the only way to fly!


"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?

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.
--
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