Howdy,
I have a Compaq Presario 1230 laptop. I hadn't used it in a while. I decide to reinstall Quick restore and start fresh. While reinstalling it stops installing at 41% with a list of errors. It lists all sorts of registry missing errors "DLL & System" Am I "SOL”?

Ready for trash can?

Thanks, Ann

What is the operating system?

I see nothing at Compaq re: Quick Restore:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/p...ategory&cc=us&

Does this error happen repeatedly at the same point? 41%?

Howdy,
It’s Windows 98, and yes every time i try to reinstall it stops at 41% I'm using the only cd i received with it "Compaq Selective Quick Restore" it only gives me these options
1. Quickrestore
2. Virus scan
3. Diagnostics
4. Exit to DOS.
I've try them all. When i tried Quick restore I’ve tried the different languages and I've tried the 3 options to install either Compaq (model1230) 332300-033, (model1232) 332350-003, (model1230) 332300-005. I have model 1230 332300-033 (I believe) on 2 "Virus scan" it scans and finds nothing. It says found 0 viruses. On 3 "Diagnostics" it checks the RAM and the sound and color and a couple of programs like Works and it checks ok, but when trying to find windows applications it says files not found and not able to open to scan. On 4 "Exit to DOS" it goes to “MSCDEX Version 2.25 Copyright (c) Microsoft Corp. 1986-1995. All rights reserved. Drive N: Driver IDECD001 unit 0 A:\> " Ok, now that is with the Quick restore cd in the cd drive. NOW.. When I take it out it says from top to bottom.
Microsoft Window 98 startup Menu
1. Normal
2. Logged (BOOTLOG.TXT)
3. Safe mode
4. Step-by-step confirmation
5. Command prompt only
6. Safe mode command prompt only

On 1." Normal" it says” Warning: Windows has detected a registry/configuration error. Choose Command prompt only, and run SCANREG. (I’ve done this and I'll come back to this) : )
And it also list 3 items stating “The following files are missing or corrupted: C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS There is an error in your CONFIG.SYS file on line 1"
C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE There is an error in your CONFIG.SYS file on line 2
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\CPQIDECD.SYS There is an error in your CONFIG.SYS file on line 3"
And also list 3 items stating “The following files are missing or corrupted: C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
C:\WINDOWS\DBLBUFF.SYS
C:\WINDOWS\IFSHLP.SYS"

Warning: the high memory area (HMA) is not available.
Additional low memory (below 640k) will be used instead.
Files not found
Cannot finds WIN.COM, unable to continue loading Windows
C:\

NOW 2. Logged (BOOTLOG.TXT) says the same thing as 1.Normal.

3. Safe mode says "" Warning: Windows has detected a registry/configuration error. Choose Command prompt only, and run SCANREG. "The following files are missing or corrupted: C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
C:\WINDOWS\DBLBUFF.SYS
C:\WINDOWS\IFSHLP.SYS"
C:\

OK and 4. Step-by-step confirmations basically list everything from the 1.Normal option just worded a bit different. There’s a lot to write. I'll type it out though if you like : )

Ok... on 5. Command prompt only SAyssss the same as 1. Normal

6. Safe mode command prompt only Saysss " Warning: Windows has detected a registry/configuration error. Choose Command prompt only, and run SCANREG.
C:\


So as the story goes... I've tried to put C:\ SCANREG, C:\ SETUP, C:\autoexec.batfiles. They all come up bad command. It could be the way I'm entering them not sure. I know it has only 3G of RAM....Ummmm that’s kinda where I'm at (on my knees praying you can help) smile*

Thanks sunshine
Ann

Hi Ann,

Just for future reference, your hard disk is 3 gigabytes (3Gb) in size. That's how much space you've got to save data and install programs. That's not the same as how much RAM you have (that's probably more like 64 megabytes - 64Mb). But we know what you mean Your Presario is either a Pentium or a Pentium II system, manufactured in the mid- to late-1990s.

The reason that Windows no longer loads properly and you get all of those errors is because it started to wipe your hard disk and install Windows but it didn't complete it - as you know, it only got 41% of the way through what it was doing. So your hard disk is in half-way state - it doesn't have the old Windows installation on it but it doesn't have the new Windows installation on it either.

You have given us a VERY descriptive account of what's happening and that's really useful for us to diagnose

I think what you need to do from here is wipe the hard disk completely and try the process again. To wipe the hard disk completely, start up your Presario with the CD inserted, as you've been doing before. When you get to the menu of options, choose option 4 to exit to DOS. When it gets to the prompt where you can type commands in, type:

format c: /s

If it asks you if you are sure that you want to format the hard disk, enter Y to confirm.

Let that run through for 15 minutes or so and, once it has finished, simply turn the Presario off. Then start it back up again with the CD in and run the Quick Restore process again.

Hope that helps - let us know how you get on

P.S. Jephree, I only know all about this laptop because we had a very similar Presario at work a few years back. I'm not too surprised that you couldn't turn up any info on the Compaq site - it's pretty old

hey, thanks for knowing what i meant : ) and yes your right it’s Pen II
Ok I tried (format c:/s) i can hear the cd trying to start but then it says "bad command or file name" : (

It comes up A:\ so I tried but, none worked : (

A:\ format c:/s
C:\ format c:/s
format c:/s
I tried a couple of other ways but no go, is there a certain way I should type it in?

I typed it with a space between the colon and the forward-slash. To be honest, I'm not sure whether that makes any difference but try it again just in case.

Also, try typing N: then hit [Enter] and then type format c: /s

Failing that, you can get a Windows 98 boot disk from www.bootdisk.com (assuming that you have a floppy disk drive). Booting from a floppy disk will allow you to run that command successfully.

Also, try typing D: then hit [Enter] and then type format c: /s

I'm not just making that up - there IS some logic behind it !!

i am having the same exact problem but i am tryin to install win2k or xp

Have you followed all the same instructions 99gt?

Ann, how did you get on with formatting the hard disk?