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View Full Version : Win98 Installation Woes -- HELP!



Devhux
09-09-2004, 05:53 PM
I've been pulling my hair out over this one for the past week, so I thought I'd ask for advice. icon_smile.gif

I have an older HP computer sitting here (it's not mine -- honest), and for the life of me I cannot get Windows 98 (First, or Second Edition) to install fully. I get to the part where it's going to actually start up Windows 98 (to do the final configuration changes), and I get a DOS prompt stating:

Windows Protection Error
c:\windows\system\vmm32.vxd - Missing/Unable to load.

(I think it had the .vxd extention at the end).

Anyways, I've done everything from copying every single VxD file from the cabinet files to removing all non-essential pieces of hardware (this system had 2 IBM PCI 10/100 network cards for example). I've also done a full Memtest86 (memory) and SpinRite (HDD diagnostic) run to see if either of these components were causing trouble, and nothing. The MS Knowledgebase wasn't helpful either (I looked).

DarkFury
09-09-2004, 06:26 PM
How fast (slow) is this computer...

WinXP might be the key. :D

Devhux
09-09-2004, 06:50 PM
I don't think WinXP would run well on a Pentium 200 (MMX) with 96MB memory. :(

DarkFury
09-09-2004, 07:05 PM
I don't think WinXP would run well on a Pentium 200 (MMX) with 96MB memory. :(
YIKES!!!!

Now the question is... WHY????

Is this a file server or something? :shrug: Sometimes, you just gotta let 'em go off into that good night. :D

seqiro
09-09-2004, 07:10 PM
Try the solution here: http://www.phpmp.com/?page=support

Devhux
09-09-2004, 08:09 PM
Sometimes the strangest things end up being the solution.

Just when it was recommended on another message board to try Windows ME..... (trust me, I'd NEVER do that).

Thanks seqiro

DarkFury
09-09-2004, 09:20 PM
Well I guess that fixes the problem... :thumb:

But back to my question... what do you use a computer that slow for? :D

Devhux
09-10-2004, 03:08 AM
The computer isn't for me -- it's for a friend of mine that doesn't need anything fancy. Honestly, I would have recommended a faster system, but they went ahead and got it at an auction without me knowing. Oh well.

(....and FYI: The only computer around here with similar specs has been retired -- although it might find new life as a basic BSD-based webserver).

Grubbie
09-10-2004, 03:22 AM
How much did they pay at an auction for that? You can get p600, with 256megs of ram for free if you know enough people.

DarkFury
09-10-2004, 07:16 AM
Yeah... I hope that they didn't spend more than $50 on that.

People see the case and think... WOW A COMPUTER!!! When in actualilty they've just bought a doorstop or a boat anchor. :hihi:

Devhux
09-10-2004, 08:02 PM
I think it was only about $5 or $10 Canadian -- seriously not much at all.

johnnymk
09-11-2004, 09:00 AM
How much did they pay at an auction for that? You can get p600, with 256megs of ram for free if you know enough people.

I am ready to build a CD to CDRW machine for a friend. I only need a PII 400 or slightly higher computer. Got any contacts for a cheap machine other than EBay?