[lisa7257]

Hello! This is new to me so please be patient with me....My computer is giving me nothing but " C:> " (C prompt ) and telling me that VMM32.VXD is required to run Windows.

My Operating system is Windows98 and this is an older pc. Up until yesterday it was working fine. I tried to 'reinstall' Windows98 but now all I get is the following message:

C:\>SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VMM32.VXD

C:\>

VMM32.VXD is required to run WINDOWS.
If this file is not in your PATH, you may need to reinstall Windows.

What is PATH?!? and how do I make sure this VMM32.VXD file is in the PATH?
I don't know "exactly" what the PATH command should read or where it can be found or how I can modify it.

Please advise at your earliest. I know you guys are busy but I would really like to get this taken care of on my own as soon as possible.

Please feel free to email me if you would like.

THANKX!
lisa7257

 

[bandit429]

Lisa,,,can you get to the point where you see only this at the end?
C:\>
at this point type
scanreg /restore
a space after scanreg. The screen should take you to a menu. Choose a date from that menu before the problem occured and hit enter then follow the instructions. Finallly when its over you will come back to the
C:\>
type windows or if that does nt work type exit and hit enter.

Edit: If you need to just type in the C prompt and hit enter.
C:\>

 

[lisa7257]

Hi, Bandit429:

Thanks for the immediate reply! You are very fast! Tried everything you said. Did the "scanreg /restore" thing and up pops the MENU, as you said it would. I clicked on a DATE, the screen turned to blue for about 30 seconds and I patiently waited for the "instructions". There were none. I received a black screen then the C:\> again. What's with this thing! All I want to do is get back my desktop, my start button, my programs. It keeps asking for the PATH and the VMM32.VXD....I have located it in C:\Windows\System\VMM32.VXD folder. Can I move the folder to some other location?

I don't know what else to try. I do not have an OEM Windows98 CD, as this is a "2nd-hand" pc. I even tried to do the "bootdisk" floppy from b*otdisk but this didn't even work. It always goes back to the C:\> prompt.

Any more suggestions? Right now I can't even use my pc so now I am using my friend's. Thanks for all your suggestions...

 

[HotBlue]

Hi Lisa,

PATH is the way to tell DOS where else to look for a file other than in the directory you are currently in. Your PATH command has included the filename which will confuse DOS no end. The command line will come from a file called AUTOEXEC.BAT - you will need to edit this.
Make sure you are in C:\ and type SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND then Enter. Next type EDIT AUTOEXEC.BAT then Enter (this opens the DOS editor). Find the line that has SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VMM32.VXD and remove the \VMM32.VXD part. Press <Alt>F then S to save the changes then <Alt>F then X to exit the program.
Now press <Alt>Ctrl> to restart your machine and (hopefully) it should be alright. If you still get the error it is possible the file VMM32.VXD is not in the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory. You will need to get a copy from somewhere (a friend with Win 98?) and put it in the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory.
Complicated but hope it works.

All the best.

 

[bandit429]

You probably left this part out by accident and if you did then ignore this post,, at the end of the restore it is supposed to go back to the C:\>,,type windows and hit enter or type exit and hit enter.

Edit: Another command you can try is
scanreg /fix

 

[lisa7257]

This is great! Everyone is very helpful. Thanks a lot and I will give it a try. Will let you know how it turns out.

 

[wingman14]

How to repair vmm32.vxd error without losing any data.

Put a windows startup floppy in drive.
When a: prompt appears switch to c: by typing in c: then enter.
Then type cd\windows
Then type rename win.com win.bak

Then insert windows 98 cd

Change c: prompt to d:, then type setup

When Windows asks if you want to use the directory C:\Windows.000, instead choose "Other" and type in C:\Windows [without the .000 following]. You'll need your CD-key handy.

Then follow on screen instructions.