I have an old Compaq Presario 5456.

Runs perfect normally, however this morning i am unable to get anything to work

Have various error messages as shown below

rnr20.dll file cannot start
advapi32.dll
mmsystem.dll at 0003:0000la34

Can anyone help please?

Are you able to boot into Windows?

Are you running 98FE or 98SE? The date/time stamp on the majority of system files will be;

98FE = 11/24/1998 8:02 AM

98SE = 4/23/1999 10:22 PM

(c:\command.com and c:\io.sys being two of these files.... At the C:\> prompt type in dir/a/o/p and check the date and time stamps on these two files.)

Also if you could provide the exact wording of any error messages it would help a great deal.

Hi

When i boot up, i get a NAV Auto-Protect message saying

Unable to initialize the virus scanning engine database files

When i OK this, i have a warning window "Error Starting Program " saying

The VSTARTX.EXE file is linked to missing export WINMM.DLL:waveOutUnprepareHeader

Also have an Mprexe window sating illegal operation

When i OK message 1 and close message 2, i then see my desktop minus any shortcuts / applications

When doing CTRL-ALT-DEL, the Close Program window shows no entries at all

Sounds like a bit of a mess!!

Originally Posted by georgeavfc

Hi

When i boot up, i get a NAV Auto-Protect message saying

Unable to initialize the virus scanning engine database files

When i OK this, i have a warning window "Error Starting Program " saying

The VSTARTX.EXE file is linked to missing export WINMM.DLL:waveOutUnprepareHeader

Also have an Mprexe window sating illegal operation

When i OK message 1 and close message 2, i then see my desktop minus any shortcuts / applications

When doing CTRL-ALT-DEL, the Close Program window shows no entries at all

Sounds like a bit of a mess!!

Also after cancelling the above, receive blue screen with following

A fatal exception 0E has occurred at 017F:BFFAA27E. The current application will be teminated

I entered the Fatal error into the MSKB search engine and came up with;

http://support.microsoft.com/search/...=20&1033comm=1

basically no matches. And clicking on the "Best Bet" link near the top of the above link brings up;

http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=ph;en-us;1139

which states the EOL (End Of Life) for 98 products and support.

This

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/150314/en-us#top

is about the best place to start. See if you can find anything close to your problem/symptoms.

This article

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/138788/en-us

indicates a possible problem with RAM.

This article

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/189655/en-us

is related to Norton (Symantec) AntiVirus.

When windows fails to load, are you ending up at a command prompt? (ie; C:\> )

Hi Dan,

Had a look but to be honest couldn't find anything

Have just powered up PC

I have an Error Starting Program window

The COMCTL32.DLL file is linked to missing export USER32.DLL:SetWindowTExtA

Behind that is a MSGSRV32 error window

Behind that is the Enter Password window

i am unable to click OK on any of the windows

I rebooted again and can now see another Error Starting Program window

The MSTASK.EXE file is linked to missing export KERNEL32.DLL:Get StringType EW.

Behind that is the MSGSRV32 error window

I have OK the MSTASK window to then get the following Error Starting Program

A required .DLL file, USER32|DLL.DLL was not found

I OK'd that to get the following

The CCTRUST.DLL file is linked to missing export MSVCP60.DLL:??0?$basic_iostream@DU?$char_traits@D@ std@@@std@@QAE@PAV?$basic_streambuf@DU?$char_trait s@D@std@@@1@@Z

Clicked OK to get another Error Starting Program window

The MSTASK.EXE file is linked to missing export KERNEL32.DLL:Get StringType EW.

OK that to see a Msgsrv32 illegal operation window

Close that to get the NAV Auto Protect Warning as described in previous posting

OK that to get a Mprexe illegal operation window

Close that to get a Rundll32 illegal

Close that to get A required .DLL file, USER32|DLL.DLL was not found

Ok that to get a Hc illegal operation window

Close to get a Cpqdfwag illegal operation window

Close to get a Webscanx illegal operation window

Close that leaves a blank desktop

Not sure if any of this helps?

Is there any hope for this??

Many Thanks

OK, working down your list (searching the MSKB with no hits, probably due to the 98 EOL) I finally hit on this at the fifth try;

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/254412

in regards to your "The CCTRUST.DLL file is linked to missing export MSVCP60.DLL...." It however, applies to Win2K & up. Sheesh. Although 98 is eight years old, there are still many many machines out there running this O/S. But I guess MS's stand is "It's not personal, it's just business". No support means upgrade, which adds to Bill's estate.

Post the contents of your c:\msdos.sys, c:\config.sys, and c:\autoexec.bat files.

Boot the machine and start tapping the Ctrl key. You should be presented with the MS Windows 98 Startup Menu. (You have to be quick.) Choose Command prompt only. You should end up at the C:\> prompt. (Command line.)

Put a formatted floppy into your floppy drive. Type in copy/v c:\msdos.sys a:\ and hit Enter. Do the same for the other two files;

copy/v c:\config.sys a:\ and
copy/v c:\autoexec.bat a:\.

Bring the floppy back to the machine you're posting with and zip them into a sysfile.zip file. Attach this to your next post. (Click on Go Advanced and below the posting box you'll see "Manage attachments".) Follow the prompts and attach the sysfile.zip.

Based upon the results of the above file contents, it may be time for an "over the top" reinstall of 98 based upon the errors you're getting. This method means you DO NOT format, simply reinstall 98 over itself. This method preserves your programs/settings etc.

Do you have your 98 CD and Product Key?

Hiya

Got a friend who knows a bit to come over and have a look

He tried various things, couldn't get it to boot from a floppy, couldn't get it to boot from a cd

Looks like memory is so shot, it packed up

He can retrieve contents of hard drive via a USB caddy - not very technical so leaving that to him

Have now bought myself a new PC off EBAY so everything is now cool


Thanks for all your help and for taking the time - was very much appreciated here in the UK

Cheers

You're welcome.

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