Moving Hard Drive to new PC (Windows 98SE)

MEB · External Since: Jan 16, 2009 Posts: 42

Did you do a DIR in DOS to see if you can READ the directory structure?
**** Do NOT try anything else yet. ****

Post whether you can or can't, and if you receive drive errors.

PRE-Download Testdisk in case you need it.
http://www.cgsecurity.org/

READ about the tool and how to use it, and if you have issues, you MIGHT be
able to use it to correct any issues on the disk. Please post your DIR
results FIRST.

--
~
--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The *REAL WORLD* of Law, Justice, and Government
_______

"musicmaakr" <musicmaakr.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C20B6092-072B-46C7-BE1E-0AEF56E315E7@microsoft.com...
> Ok per reuqest let me provide as much info as I can. First of all the
machine
> will boot to a command prompt and safe mode command prompt. Not sure what
the
> difference is but that's the choices I get on the startup menu. Anytime I
try
> to run windows it freezes up when it loads the VKD device. The new PC is
old
> as well that is about the same time period as the one that got fried. Post
> counts up to 196M installed and is a Compaq. There is a video card for
the
> display and a network (enet) card but other than that there is nothing
else
> in this unit. I did try to slave a hard drive just to copy files over but
can
> not get it to recognize the drive. I tried several jumper settings but
that
> is really a different problem. I'm just trying to get it to run 98 long
> enough for me to copy data over from the network. Processor is a Pentium
II
> 400Mhz. I hope this helps. Thanks in advance for all your help.
> --
> musicmaakr
>
>
> "musicmaakr" wrote:
>
> > A lightning strike fried the system board on my desktop (Windows 98 SE)
..
> > Yea, I know, I've been meaning to upgrade for a while. Anyway, I moved
the
> > hard drive to a different desktop and of course it would not boot. I can
get
> > to the hard drive and run setup but it's been too long. Is that the
smart
> > thing to do?. I just need for it to recognize the drivers and hardware
on the
> > new system.
> > --
> > musicmaakr

musicmaakr · External Since: Apr 14, 2009 Posts: 7

Yes, I can see the directory structure. I can edit files etc. It just freezes
up every time it loads VKD device.
--
musicmaakr

"MEB" wrote:

>
> Did you do a DIR in DOS to see if you can READ the directory structure?
> **** Do NOT try anything else yet. ****
>
> Post whether you can or can't, and if you receive drive errors.
>
> PRE-Download Testdisk in case you need it.
> http://www.cgsecurity.org/
>
> READ about the tool and how to use it, and if you have issues, you MIGHT be
> able to use it to correct any issues on the disk. Please post your DIR
> results FIRST.
>
> --
> ~
> --
> MEB
> http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
> Windows Diagnostics, Security, Networking
> http://peoplescounsel.org
> The *REAL WORLD* of Law, Justice, and Government
> _______
>
>
>
> "musicmaakr" <musicmaakr.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:C20B6092-072B-46C7-BE1E-0AEF56E315E7@microsoft.com...
> > Ok per reuqest let me provide as much info as I can. First of all the
> machine
> > will boot to a command prompt and safe mode command prompt. Not sure what
> the
> > difference is but that's the choices I get on the startup menu. Anytime I
> try
> > to run windows it freezes up when it loads the VKD device. The new PC is
> old
> > as well that is about the same time period as the one that got fried. Post
> > counts up to 196M installed and is a Compaq. There is a video card for
> the
> > display and a network (enet) card but other than that there is nothing
> else
> > in this unit. I did try to slave a hard drive just to copy files over but
> can
> > not get it to recognize the drive. I tried several jumper settings but
> that
> > is really a different problem. I'm just trying to get it to run 98 long
> > enough for me to copy data over from the network. Processor is a Pentium
> II
> > 400Mhz. I hope this helps. Thanks in advance for all your help.
> > --
> > musicmaakr
> >
> >
> > "musicmaakr" wrote:
> >
> > > A lightning strike fried the system board on my desktop (Windows 98 SE)
> ..
> > > Yea, I know, I've been meaning to upgrade for a while. Anyway, I moved
> the
> > > hard drive to a different desktop and of course it would not boot. I can
> get
> > > to the hard drive and run setup but it's been too long. Is that the
> smart
> > > thing to do?. I just need for it to recognize the drivers and hardware
> on the
> > > new system.
> > > --
> > > musicmaakr
>
>
>

dadiOH · External Since: Mar 28, 2009 Posts: 11

musicmaakr wrote:
> Ok per reuqest let me provide as much info as I can. First of all the
> machine will boot to a command prompt and safe mode command prompt.
> Not sure what the difference is but that's the choices I get on the
> startup menu. Anytime I try to run windows it freezes up when it
> loads the VKD device. The new PC is old as well that is about the
> same time period as the one that got fried. Post counts up to 196M
> installed and is a Compaq. There is a video card for the display and
> a network (enet) card but other than that there is nothing else in
> this unit. I did try to slave a hard drive just to copy files over
> but can not get it to recognize the drive. I tried several jumper
> settings but that is really a different problem. I'm just trying to
> get it to run 98 long enough for me to copy data over from the
> network. Processor is a Pentium II 400Mhz. I hope this helps. Thanks
> in advance for all your help.

Does your boot menu have "Selective Startup" or similar name as an option?
If so, you might try that...it lets you confirm the loading of all drivers,
one by one, so when you get to the problem one don't load it. That might
get you to Windows so you can do your copying.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

PCR · External Since: Jun 21, 2004 Posts: 5941

musicmaakr wrote:
> Brian, thanks for the link. I viewed it and that is exactly what it
> is doing. However the solution they provide is to try another
> keyboard. It does the same thing. The keyboard works fine up until
> the time windows loads that driver. I can't find it in the win.ini or
> system.ini files. Is there any other way I can keep it from loading
> that driver?

It should be in System.ini, [386Enh] section...
keyboard=*vkd

I guess you could try typing that in with the asterisk in front, but get
it into the right section. It should also be in the Registry, but you
can't just type it in.

At your DOS Prompt, try...

(a) SmartDrv
Loads the disk cache to speed up DOS commands.

(b) RegEdit /e C:\Windows\Temp\VMM32.txt
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\VMM32Files"

That's all one line with a space after VMM32.txt, & use the quotes. If
you omit the part that is within the quotes, you will export the entire
Registry into VMM32.txt-- instead of just the single desired key!

Edit VMM32.txt. Do you see "vkd.vxd" in it? If not, you probably must
reinstall Windows to generate a new VMM32.vxd (conglomerate .vxd file) &
Registry. Alternatively, you may find a copy of vkd.vxd, & put it into
the folder...
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VMM32
....Doing so will compensate for its absence in the conglomerate
VMM32.vxd file, whose contents are described in that Registry key.

Here is my full result, but yours legitimately may vary...

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\VMM32Files]
"vdd.vxd"=hex:00
"vflatd.vxd"=hex:00
"vshare.vxd"=hex:00
"vwin32.vxd"=hex:00
"vfbackup.vxd"=hex:00
"vcomm.vxd"=hex:00
"combuff.vxd"=hex:00
"vcd.vxd"=hex:00
"vpd.vxd"=hex:00
"spooler.vxd"=hex:00
"udf.vxd"=hex:00
"vfat.vxd"=hex:00
"vcache.vxd"=hex:00
"vcond.vxd"=hex:00
"vcdfsd.vxd"=hex:00
"int13.vxd"=hex:00
"vxdldr.vxd"=hex:00
"vdef.vxd"=hex:00
"dynapage.vxd"=hex:00
"configmg.vxd"=hex:00
"ntkern.vxd"=hex:00
"ebios.vxd"=hex:00
"vmd.vxd"=hex:00
"dosnet.vxd"=hex:00
"vpicd.vxd"=hex:00
"vtd.vxd"=hex:00
"reboot.vxd"=hex:00
"vdmad.vxd"=hex:00
"vsd.vxd"=hex:00
"v86mmgr.vxd"=hex:00
"pageswap.vxd"=hex:00
"dosmgr.vxd"=hex:00
"vmpoll.vxd"=hex:00
"shell.vxd"=hex:00
"parity.vxd"=hex:00
"biosxlat.vxd"=hex:00
"vmcpd.vxd"=hex:00
"vtdapi.vxd"=hex:00
"perf.vxd"=hex:00
"vkd.vxd"=hex:00
"vmouse.vxd"=hex:00
"mtrr.vxd"=hex:00
"enable.vxd"=hex:00

Too bad it doesn't come out alphabetized!

>> "musicmaakr" <musicmaakr.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:B7F40432-56DD-490E-B546-C560A6AFDA14@microsoft.com...
>> > Hi Bob! Thanks for the reply. It won't load windows even in safe
>> > mode. It starts to and then freezes when it load driver VKD. I
>> > believe that is the keyboard. I have to pull the plug on the
>> > desktop after that. --
>> > musicmaakr
>> >
>> >
>> > "Bob Harris" wrote:
>> >
>> >> If the hard drive is still good, it should be fairly easy to move
>> >> it to a new PC and run win98.
>> >>
>> >> But, realize that less and less modern hardware supports win98.
>> >> It is possible to have too new a motherboard for win98 (no
>> >> drivers), or too much
>> >> RAM, or too fast a CPU.
>> >>
>> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312108
>> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/253912
>> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304943
>> >>
>> >> But, assuming that the new PC/motherboard is similar in vintage
>> >> to the old
>> >> one, then moving should only require a boot into safe mode to
>> >> remove old drivers and install new ones, then it should boot into
>> >> the full windows mode.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "musicmaakr" <musicmaakr.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
>> >> message news:0E90DA7A-59BC-4789-B73E-A11CC97B565C@microsoft.com...
>> >> >A lightning strike fried the system board on my desktop
>> >> >(Windows 98 SE) .
>> >> > Yea, I know, I've been meaning to upgrade for a while. Anyway,
>> >> > I moved the
>> >> > hard drive to a different desktop and of course it would not
>> >> > boot. I can
>> >> > get
>> >> > to the hard drive and run setup but it's been too long. Is that
>> >> > the smart
>> >> > thing to do?. I just need for it to recognize the drivers and
>> >> > hardware on
>> >> > the
>> >> > new system.
>> >> > --
>> >> > musicmaakr
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>> See if this helps:
>> Error Message: While Initializing Device VKD -- Windows Protection
>> Error -- You Need to Restart Your Computer
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/263318
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Brian A. Sesko
>> Conflicts start where information lacks.
>> http://basconotw.mvps.org/
>>
>> Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
>> How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR
pcrrcp.DeleteThis@netzero.net

MEB · External Since: Jan 16, 2009 Posts: 42

"dadiOH" <dadiOH RemoveThis @invalid.com> wrote in message
news:%2322uv1svJHA.3832@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> musicmaakr wrote:
> > Ok per reuqest let me provide as much info as I can. First of all the
> > machine will boot to a command prompt and safe mode command prompt.
> > Not sure what the difference is but that's the choices I get on the
> > startup menu. Anytime I try to run windows it freezes up when it
> > loads the VKD device. The new PC is old as well that is about the
> > same time period as the one that got fried. Post counts up to 196M
> > installed and is a Compaq. There is a video card for the display and
> > a network (enet) card but other than that there is nothing else in
> > this unit. I did try to slave a hard drive just to copy files over
> > but can not get it to recognize the drive. I tried several jumper
> > settings but that is really a different problem. I'm just trying to
> > get it to run 98 long enough for me to copy data over from the
> > network. Processor is a Pentium II 400Mhz. I hope this helps. Thanks
> > in advance for all your help.
>
> Does your boot menu have "Selective Startup" or similar name as an option?
> If so, you might try that...it lets you confirm the loading of all
drivers,
> one by one, so when you get to the problem one don't load it. That might
> get you to Windows so you can do your copying.
>
> --
>
> dadiOH

Right, or use create bootlog for an actual txt to look at.

"J. P. Gilliver · External Since: Feb 08, 2009 Posts: 44

In message <u6ux#9rvJHA.1212@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl>, MEB
<MEB@not.?.invalid> writes:
>
> Did you do a DIR in DOS to see if you can READ the directory structure?
>**** Do NOT try anything else yet. ****

That's dir /s (i. e. with subdirectories). Dir on its own will of course
just list the root one.
>
>Post whether you can or can't, and if you receive drive errors.
>
>PRE-Download Testdisk in case you need it.
>http://www.cgsecurity.org/
>
> READ about the tool and how to use it, and if you have issues, you MIGHT be
>able to use it to correct any issues on the disk. Please post your DIR
>results FIRST.
>

--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

"What terrible way to die."
"There are no good ways."

"J. P. Gilliver · External Since: Feb 08, 2009 Posts: 44

In message <#22uv1svJHA.3832@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>, dadiOH
<dadiOH RemoveThis @invalid.com> writes:
>musicmaakr wrote:
>> Ok per reuqest let me provide as much info as I can. First of all the
>> machine will boot to a command prompt and safe mode command prompt.
>> Not sure what the difference is but that's the choices I get on the

(Yes, I've often wondered that!)

>> startup menu. Anytime I try to run windows it freezes up when it
>> loads the VKD device. The new PC is old as well that is about the
>> same time period as the one that got fried. Post counts up to 196M
>> installed and is a Compaq. There is a video card for the display and
>> a network (enet) card but other than that there is nothing else in

I'd say try removing the network card - I've known systems hang while
looking for a network (sometimes coming back but after several minutes).
I don't actually think this is your problem, but might be worth a try.

>> this unit. I did try to slave a hard drive just to copy files over
>> but can not get it to recognize the drive. I tried several jumper

Can not get what to recognise which drive - do you mean you've tried
your rescued drive in another system which won't recognise it, or you've
tried a further drive in the system you're trying to boot on and the
system won't recognise _that_ drive?

>> settings but that is really a different problem. I'm just trying to
>> get it to run 98 long enough for me to copy data over from the
>> network. Processor is a Pentium II 400Mhz. I hope this helps. Thanks
>> in advance for all your help.
>
>Does your boot menu have "Selective Startup" or similar name as an option?
>If so, you might try that...it lets you confirm the loading of all drivers,
>one by one, so when you get to the problem one don't load it. That might
>get you to Windows so you can do your copying.
>
I was going to suggest that. Note that the instructions for that option
are not in the menu (normal, safe mode, command prompt, etc.) at the top
of the screen, but are across the bottom of the screen: shift+F8 on the
machine I've just booted while typing this.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

"What terrible way to die."
"There are no good ways."

PCR · External Since: Jun 21, 2004 Posts: 5941

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
> In message <#22uv1svJHA.3832@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>, dadiOH
> <dadiOH.RemoveThis@invalid.com> writes:
>>musicmaakr wrote:
>>> Ok per reuqest let me provide as much info as I can. First of all
>>> the machine will boot to a command prompt and safe mode command
>>> prompt. Not sure what the difference is but that's the choices I
>>> get on the
>
> (Yes, I've often wondered that!)

Command Prompt Only is a Normal Mode boot-- except Windows is not
started. It stops right after IO.sys, Msdos.sys, Config.sys &
Autoexec.bat are run.

Safe Mode Command Prompt Mode is a Safe Mode boot-- except Windows is
not started. Config.sys & Autoexec.bat are not run. (I guess IO.sys &
Msdos.sys were run, but elements within them surely may have been
ignored.)

>>> startup menu. Anytime I try to run windows it freezes up when it
>>> loads the VKD device. The new PC is old as well that is about the
>>> same time period as the one that got fried. Post counts up to 196M
>>> installed and is a Compaq. There is a video card for the display and
>>> a network (enet) card but other than that there is nothing else in
>
> I'd say try removing the network card - I've known systems hang while
> looking for a network (sometimes coming back but after several
> minutes). I don't actually think this is your problem, but might be
> worth a try.

No comment. (But maybe; who knows?)

>>> this unit. I did try to slave a hard drive just to copy files over
>>> but can not get it to recognize the drive. I tried several jumper
>
> Can not get what to recognise which drive - do you mean you've tried
> your rescued drive in another system which won't recognise it, or
> you've tried a further drive in the system you're trying to boot on
> and the system won't recognise _that_ drive?

I think he meant he could not slave a hard drive to this "new" machine
(which really is an old Compaq machine) with a drive from a fried
machine which isn't booting to Windows. But he's rather get it to boot
to Windows than to attach a second hard drive.

>>> settings but that is really a different problem. I'm just trying to
>>> get it to run 98 long enough for me to copy data over from the
>>> network. Processor is a Pentium II 400Mhz. I hope this helps. Thanks
>>> in advance for all your help.
>>
>>Does your boot menu have "Selective Startup" or similar name as an
>>option? If so, you might try that...it lets you confirm the loading
>>of all drivers, one by one, so when you get to the problem one don't
>>load it. That might get you to Windows so you can do your copying.
>>
> I was going to suggest that. Note that the instructions for that
> option are not in the menu (normal, safe mode, command prompt, etc.)
> at the top of the screen, but are across the bottom of the screen:
> shift+F8 on the machine I've just booted while typing this.

In the Startup Menu, that option reads: "Step-by-step Confirmation". It
is the same as pressing Shift+F8 during boot "just after the power-on
self test ends and before the DOS bootup phase ends". It suppossedly is
tough to press it at just the right moment, though-- which is why it
would be so nice if it showed up in his Startup Menu!

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR
pcrrcp.RemoveThis@netzero.net

Jeff Richards · External Since: Mar 14, 2004 Posts: 1333

You should run some hardware diagnostics to confirm that the keyboard port
is functioning properly. .

You should remove the network card until the problem is solved.

An error in loading VKD may indicate that VMM32.VXD is damaged, in which
case there's not much you can do other then reinstall Windows. A simpler
solution may be to get the network connection running in DOS.

If you can't get that other machine to recognise the drive as a slave then
it is possible that drive management software is installed. However, it
should be possible to install a second drive in the W98 machine and copy
files to it using DOS. You will lose long filenames unless you use a long
filename backup/restore procedure.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"musicmaakr" <musicmaakr.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C20B6092-072B-46C7-BE1E-0AEF56E315E7@microsoft.com...
> Ok per reuqest let me provide as much info as I can. First of all the
> machine
> will boot to a command prompt and safe mode command prompt. Not sure what
> the
> difference is but that's the choices I get on the startup menu. Anytime I
> try
> to run windows it freezes up when it loads the VKD device. The new PC is
> old
> as well that is about the same time period as the one that got fried. Post
> counts up to 196M installed and is a Compaq. There is a video card for
> the
> display and a network (enet) card but other than that there is nothing
> else
> in this unit. I did try to slave a hard drive just to copy files over but
> can
> not get it to recognize the drive. I tried several jumper settings but
> that
> is really a different problem. I'm just trying to get it to run 98 long
> enough for me to copy data over from the network. Processor is a Pentium
> II
> 400Mhz. I hope this helps. Thanks in advance for all your help.
> --
> musicmaakr

PCR · External Since: Jun 21, 2004 Posts: 5941

PCR wrote:
> J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
>> In message <#22uv1svJHA.3832@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>, dadiOH
>> <dadiOH.RemoveThis@invalid.com> writes:
>>>musicmaakr wrote:

...snip
>>>> settings but that is really a different problem. I'm just trying to
>>>> get it to run 98 long enough for me to copy data over from the
>>>> network. Processor is a Pentium II 400Mhz. I hope this helps.
>>>> Thanks in advance for all your help.
>>>
>>>Does your boot menu have "Selective Startup" or similar name as an
>>>option? If so, you might try that...it lets you confirm the loading
>>>of all drivers, one by one, so when you get to the problem one don't
>>>load it. That might get you to Windows so you can do your copying.
>>>
>> I was going to suggest that. Note that the instructions for that
>> option are not in the menu (normal, safe mode, command prompt, etc.)
>> at the top of the screen, but are across the bottom of the screen:
>> shift+F8 on the machine I've just booted while typing this.
>
> In the Startup Menu, that option reads: "Step-by-step Confirmation".
> It is the same as pressing Shift+F8 during boot "just after the
> power-on self test ends and before the DOS bootup phase ends". It
> suppossedly is tough to press it at just the right moment, though--
> which is why it would be so nice if it showed up in his Startup Menu!

That's a quote from "Windows 98 Secrets" (Livingston/Straub), & it
actually reads: "just after the power-on self test ends and before the
DOS bootup phase begins."

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR
pcrrcp.RemoveThis@netzero.net

"J. P. Gilliver · External Since: Feb 08, 2009 Posts: 44

In message <udG5gGIwJHA.6040.DeleteThis@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl>, PCR
<pcrrcp.DeleteThis@netzero.net> writes:
>J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
>> In message <#22uv1svJHA.3832@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>, dadiOH
>> <dadiOH.DeleteThis@invalid.com> writes:
>>>musicmaakr wrote:
>>>> Ok per reuqest let me provide as much info as I can. First of all
>>>> the machine will boot to a command prompt and safe mode command
>>>> prompt. Not sure what the difference is but that's the choices I
>>>> get on the
>>
>> (Yes, I've often wondered that!)
>
>Command Prompt Only is a Normal Mode boot-- except Windows is not
>started. It stops right after IO.sys, Msdos.sys, Config.sys &
>Autoexec.bat are run.
>
>Safe Mode Command Prompt Mode is a Safe Mode boot-- except Windows is
>not started. Config.sys & Autoexec.bat are not run. (I guess IO.sys &
>Msdos.sys were run, but elements within them surely may have been
>ignored.)
[]
Thanks for that.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

"He marches to the beat of a different tuba" - Tom Galloway

PCR · External Since: Jun 21, 2004 Posts: 5941

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
> In message <udG5gGIwJHA.6040 DeleteThis @TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl>, PCR
> <pcrrcp DeleteThis @netzero.net> writes:
>>J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
>>> In message <#22uv1svJHA.3832@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>, dadiOH
>>> <dadiOH DeleteThis @invalid.com> writes:
>>>>musicmaakr wrote:
>>>>> Ok per reuqest let me provide as much info as I can. First of all
>>>>> the machine will boot to a command prompt and safe mode command
>>>>> prompt. Not sure what the difference is but that's the choices I
>>>>> get on the
>>>
>>> (Yes, I've often wondered that!)
>>
>>Command Prompt Only is a Normal Mode boot-- except Windows is not
>>started. It stops right after IO.sys, Msdos.sys, Config.sys &
>>Autoexec.bat are run.
>>
>>Safe Mode Command Prompt Mode is a Safe Mode boot-- except Windows is
>>not started. Config.sys & Autoexec.bat are not run. (I guess IO.sys &
>>Msdos.sys were run, but elements within them surely may have been
>>ignored.)
> []
> Thanks for that.

You are welcome. I'm really no big expert on that. You get the same DOS
commands at both Command Prompt & Safe Mode Command Prompt, I strongly
believe. But Config.sys & Autoexec.bat weren't run in the case of Safe
Mode Command Prompt. Also, should one enter "WIN" at the prompt, one
gets...

HIMEM.SYS is missing.
Make sure that the file is in your Windows directory.

....instead of ending up in any mode of Windows! Therefore, any command
or batch file that depends on stuff loaded by Config.sys won't work!

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