Windows95 error message

granjan · External Since: Jun 08, 2005 Posts: 18

My brother has an old IBM Aptiva running Win95. While browsing the
internet it locked up and he received this error message:
"Windows has disabled direct disk access to protect your long
file-names. To override this protection, see the LOCK /? command
for more information.
The system has been halted. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to restart your
computer."

I found some information through a Google search. Microsoft Q136061
shows some possible reasons for this to occur, but I have a question
or two about the resolution. One possible is too many temporary
files with resolution method: start your computer to a command
prompt and delete all .tmp files. Okay I know how to start in safe
mode but how do I delete the files using a command prompt?
Another possible is not enough disk space. Resolution is to start
in safe mode and empty the recycle bin. This I can handle.
I will be trying to tell him how to do this by phone and he knows
almost nothing about computers, so I need very simple
instructions...nothing too technical please.
Thanks for any help,
Janice

Jerry · External Since: Feb 06, 2006 Posts: 8

I believe that when it says boot to a command prompt, it is referring to a
dos prompt. One possible way to do this is to reboot and after POST
completes, (most PC's will 'beep' quietly when this happens) begin to gently
bur repeatedly tap the F8 key (About once or twice per second) until you see
the 'Start Menu' screen. there will be several options including 'Safe Mode'
but what you want is 'Command Prompt'. It will quickly yield a command
prompt to either C:\ or C:\Windows
(if Windows is on the C Drive). I am not familiar with Q136061 but I am
assuming it is referring to files in C:\Windows\Temp folder. If so then type
CD C:\Windows\Temp and that will get you to that folder. Next type Del
*.tmp . If you can still get into windows it might firstly be an advantage
to check C:\Windows\Temp and look for any 'hidden' files. Easily done if you
have the 'Show All Files' box checked in the 'Folder Options>View box. If
you are supposed to look for .tmp files in more folders then you will have
to look in those folders as well.
--
Jer S.

Ben Myers · External Since: Mar 21, 2006 Posts: 270

Tell him to start the computer, tap the F8 key repeatedly until the startup
menu appears, select "Safe mode", then find and rename the "c:\autoexec.bat"
and "c:\config.sys" files to "autoexec.bak" and "config.bak". If this doesn't
help, ask him to send you copies of the "c:\windows\win.ini" and
"c:\windows\system.ini" files.

Ben

"granjan" <me.RemoveThis@nowhere.com> wrote in message news:uPlMBDCWHHA.4624@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> My brother has an old IBM Aptiva running Win95. While browsing the
> internet it locked up and he received this error message:
> "Windows has disabled direct disk access to protect your long
> file-names. To override this protection, see the LOCK /? command
> for more information.
> The system has been halted. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to restart your
> computer."
>
> I found some information through a Google search. Microsoft Q136061
> shows some possible reasons for this to occur, but I have a question
> or two about the resolution. One possible is too many temporary
> files with resolution method: start your computer to a command
> prompt and delete all .tmp files. Okay I know how to start in safe
> mode but how do I delete the files using a command prompt?
> Another possible is not enough disk space. Resolution is to start
> in safe mode and empty the recycle bin. This I can handle.
> I will be trying to tell him how to do this by phone and he knows
> almost nothing about computers, so I need very simple
> instructions...nothing too technical please.
> Thanks for any help,
> Janice
>
>

granjan · External Since: Jun 08, 2005 Posts: 18

Thank you very much for the info. Wish me luck.
Janice

"Jerry" <jwsmsmithremove RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uqge4iDWHHA.4964@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
|I believe that when it says boot to a command prompt, it is
referring to a
| dos prompt. One possible way to do this is to reboot and after
POST
| completes, (most PC's will 'beep' quietly when this happens) begin
to gently
| bur repeatedly tap the F8 key (About once or twice per second)
until you see
| the 'Start Menu' screen. there will be several options including
'Safe Mode'
| but what you want is 'Command Prompt'. It will quickly yield a
command
| prompt to either C:\ or C:\Windows
| (if Windows is on the C Drive). I am not familiar with Q136061 but
I am
| assuming it is referring to files in C:\Windows\Temp folder. If so
then type
| CD C:\Windows\Temp and that will get you to that folder. Next
type Del
| *.tmp . If you can still get into windows it might firstly be an
advantage
| to check C:\Windows\Temp and look for any 'hidden' files. Easily
done if you
| have the 'Show All Files' box checked in the 'Folder Options>View
box. If
| you are supposed to look for .tmp files in more folders then you
will have
| to look in those folders as well.
| --
| Jer S.
|
|

granjan · External Since: Jun 08, 2005 Posts: 18

Thanks again...this is what I needed. He's up and running.

"Jerry" <jwsmsmithremove RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uqge4iDWHHA.4964@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
|I believe that when it says boot to a command prompt, it is
referring to a
| dos prompt. One possible way to do this is to reboot and after
POST
| completes, (most PC's will 'beep' quietly when this happens) begin
to gently
| bur repeatedly tap the F8 key (About once or twice per second)
until you see
| the 'Start Menu' screen. there will be several options including
'Safe Mode'
| but what you want is 'Command Prompt'. It will quickly yield a
command
| prompt to either C:\ or C:\Windows
| (if Windows is on the C Drive). I am not familiar with Q136061 but
I am
| assuming it is referring to files in C:\Windows\Temp folder. If so
then type
| CD C:\Windows\Temp and that will get you to that folder. Next
type Del
| *.tmp . If you can still get into windows it might firstly be an
advantage
| to check C:\Windows\Temp and look for any 'hidden' files. Easily
done if you
| have the 'Show All Files' box checked in the 'Folder Options>View
box. If
| you are supposed to look for .tmp files in more folders then you
will have
| to look in those folders as well.
| --
| Jer S.
|
|