submix8c

Got a couple of "oldies" I intend to run w98 on. Will check sysrqmts to see if R@H will run on them. Would tie them into main PC using ICS; don't know if there's a bandwidth issue with ISP using such a setup. (Don't stay up more than 12 hrs/day...) Made this post to mark it for future reference (and so I won't forget...). B)

Yes, "preallocated", but unlike FAT Partition Table (at the "front of drive"), AFAIK the MFT can be anywhere ("best" place is middle of partition).

No... the "ping" has a "built-in wait time" that you can specify (in the second example "10 seconds"). The " > nul " only sends the "console output" to never-never land... Different ways to "stall", that was one of them... Yes... in seconds, whatever value you want...

@#$%^ !!!! How in the heck did you get the "cabs" entry??? Boot into SAFE MODE, go into Device Manager and REMOVE anything under "Sound" that says "ESS" and/or "Allegro"! Reboot, let it find the dang thing again. Ohhh, yes it does, just not functioning! Oh, and "SNDVOL32.EXE" better be in the Windows folder!And answer these questions, PLEASE! I NEED TO KNOW! 1 - EXACT model of PC (on the back) 2 - Does your floppy work now, i.e. do you have a floppy disk, can insert it, and maybe format it? Let's confirm you have a floppy drive... 3 - Have you yet "browsed around" in your BIOS (that IS your BIOS that you access using was it F2?). If there's something in there that we can "disable" (e.g. MPU401,COM1, and Printer), then you will have some free IRQ's (I noted you use a USB Printer, right?). REMEMBER if you "browse" in there, select "Exit Without Save" Function Key (or whatever)... -- In other words, what does NOT have something "plugged in"??? WE NEED FREE RESOURCES so what you DO use can be re-assigned! NOTICE that the BIOS usually allows for re-assigning SOME items then Windows will use what the BIOS said to use!!! edit - maybe this better be taken off-line (eg via e-mail or IM...) this topic is getting CLOBBERED!

1 - this won't do it2 - same here (both depend on the device being recognized and actively functional); so you now have a "sound" symbol in the Tray at the bottom? 3 - so you say there is no red-X on top of the "ESS Allegro" device (Sound, Video, and Game Controllers); actually says "This Device is working properly"... please list the Drivers, if you will... 4 - during boot ??? that confuses me... 5 - possible... you need to get one of those items onto a free IRQ, so go to "Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools->System Information", open "Hardware Resources", click on "IRQs" and list the contents. I will check on your network card to see what's "acceptable"; worst case if NIC fails accessing internet, you can set it back and be back online... Please answer point-by-point to keep it clear... edit BTW, I had an "oddball" combo modem/sound card (sux) and had to install the modem part before the sound part would kick in; wierd! So, if it comes down to it and you don't use the modem (only the NIC, ie DSL), then get a good sound card (they're cheap), and trash the combo POS. Not sure if that's the case - HP don't say much about it, but vase upon previous posts, I suspect this is the case. Oh yeah, does it appear your Floppy is now working? (tried it yet?) May need it... AND!!! one more thing - look on back of PC box; should be a tag/sticker/something and tell me the EXACT model number (front will only say generically 7585...); there are several versions of 7585...

ESS Allegro - don't know the Chipset (is on the actual chip inside your PC) but here is a link - http://www.esstech.com/techsupp/drivers.shtm Notice there are two variations of Allegro... Also, go to here - http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwar...516〈=en and download the FIRST file, not the second (I suspect you have been using the second) and install it instead... worth a try. edit - FWIW, may-be/appears-to-be the ESS1989/ESS1989s Chip (allegro-1) and (gulp!) could be a "combo" modem/sound card (god, they stink!)

Still some kind of error/conflict; which item in particular (ACPI by chance)? Uses/needs DMA Channel-2 (at least mine does); still some kind of conflict. Once everything is cleared up, you will probably have full access to it. That dang BIOS (have you tried what I said? get that screen, and browse around, just EXIT-NO-SAVE.) Must have something set causing it... ECP Printer Port same DMA? Mine is set to Channel-3, and the DMA-Controller is (must use?) using Channel-4.Check the Printer Port/Floppy to see if attempting to use same DMA# (right-click in Device Manager, select Properties; listed in Resources for those items). Are you referring to the Scandisk or Booting-Into-Windows? "Scandisk.exe" is for DOS (i.e. "booting into Command Prompt" via F8/Ctrl befor windows starts; the BootMenu) and running ScanDisk from Start/Programs/Acessories /SystemTools/Scandisk is for windows... if it's the second case giving heartburn, there's some kind of problem...Go to Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools->System Information, expand "Hardware Resources", click on "Conflicts/Sharing" (first entry), click on any item, go to top click "Edit->Select All" then "Edit->Copy" and paste it in a "codebox" in a post. Do the same thing for each item (a separate CodeBox for each). This may help isolate what's wrong/missing. FWIW, some of the "unofficial" stuff (not sure about the Unofficial Service Pack; have to check that) requires IE6SP1 installed first, and you have that (PLEASE don't tell me you installed IE6 after others...). I was a MainFramer remember? B) @RainyShadow - thx for assist; we'll git-er clean yet! edit - also noted this in your WIN.INI - [internal] Install=1196742559 Install2=1196742559 Device2=yLzIvLy7vL7GyMjOzcvNuc/Hzss= ?? Never seen that before... WTF is it, anyone??? (never mind; it's BitDefender stuff...)

"expand.exe" - it's in the OS. Needs to be executed from the command prompt. only need to expand "pinball.in_"; other components expand/install from it... u need to have some minor knowledge on INF structure also... put all components into a folder, go to command prompt, change to that folder, run "expand /?" to get the gist of how it works; then proceed to expand!

Warning! This applies to most of the CAB's; some of them do indeed run "one-to-the-other", i.e. "link" (for want of a better term)!example - double-click on driver13.cab - opens fine, but notice the 3gb file double-click on driver14.cab - won't "open"... continued from driver13.cab! mini.cab - self-contained precopy1.cab chains to precopy2.cab catalog3.cab chains through to win98_74.cab win98_ol.cab - self-contained many/most of the chained cabs are "self-contained", but some (see above) must chain. this subject has been brought up before. there ar many INF's that point to files within the CABS for specific filenames. to fully "slipstrteam", you would have to rebuild all cabs, modify all inf's accordingly, then modify layout1/2/3.inf accordingly, pointing also to the modified (other).inf's. determination of the "continued" modules (via chaining) can be determined by looking in the MAKECAB documentation for the specific internal format and using a hex editor to see if, indeed. a given module is chained/continued from/to any previous/next cabinet. alternative - make variable-sized cabs one-by-one with correct module names according to the various INF's specifications without chaining. @Jaymo - not saying your method won't work... just clarifying the mis-statement made by the aforementioned link. HTH; happy slipstreaming!

Going out on a limb here... Your PC Specs - http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/documen...516〈=en Go there and go to Driver Downloads (listed on the left) and download all Win95/98/ME drivers available and make note of which-thing-is-which. I usually make a folder for them and for eg 95, make a sub-folder "95", save the "Downloads" screen to it first, then proceed to download to "95"... Keeps me un-confused! This is a just-in-case you need some of the drivers. Sometimes things get criss-crossed in the Devices/drivers. This method has worked before - - Restart into Safe Mode - Start->Settings->Control Panel->System->Device Manager - Expand the following one-by-one - CDROM, Disk Drives, Floppy Disk Controllers -- For Each expanded, right-click on sub-items, select Remove and do it --- Do Not allow reboot Ever while we do all of this! (system may ask; say NO!) - Expand the following - Hard Disk Controllers -- Right-click on each/all Primary/Secondary sub-items, select Remove and do it -- Right-click on each remaining sub-item(s) (these will be BMIDE Contollers), select Remove and do it --- note - you may or may not get a "Can't do it" message; don't remember the method of over-riding - Expand the following - Mouse, Modems, Ports and do the Remove trick for all sub-items - Expand System devices and do the remove trick for all sub-items - Expand the USB Devices and remove USB devices first, then USB Root Hub Devices This will take a while because each sub-item has to be done one-by-one and the display "resets" after each Remove operation. If something refuses to be Removed, just click OK or Cancel (whatever). (Working partially from feeble memory on some of this stuff...) Now reboot into Normal. All kinds of things will be Re-Found. Let it do it; if any item being "found" asks for locations of things they will (usually) be found in - 1 - Windows\Options\Cabs (the normal look-see place that I noted many/most INF's/drivers are located) 2 - Windows\INF or Windows\INF\Other (INF's necessary to install Driver modules) 3 - Windows\System32\Drivers So if during INF installation, you get a message "where is such-and-such", redirect it to one/all of the above (has to be there somewhere). Also, you may get a message "Reboot, wanna do it now?", just reboot (may occur several times). Keep rebooting until nothing else is "found". Also, can I assume you are using DSL through your LAN connection? Or is it the Modem? If Modem DO NOT remove the COM ports or Modem; the Network (LAN) "card" I didn't say to remove, so leave it be. The LAN card doesn't appear to have any conflicts. Overkill??? Yes, once again, but this method has usually provided a "fail-safe" way to re-install all your hardware. Lastly, provided you are semi-ok now, run Add New Hardware Wizard to ensure nothing got "left out". Don't worry, as long as nothing "critical" (eg Printer) doesn't get re-detected, this stuf can be re-added. Any conflicts after this has to be something else we didn't "remove". Any other "updated" drivers you may need can be obtained as long as you retain Internet access. Shall we pray? Whew!!!! edit - @RainyShadow (just seen your post) - good point; that shouldn't be checked now; he was instructed to "reset" the MSCONFIG settings (already done? double-check)... @MikeyHunt - Go there in Normal Startup, ensure that no "Troubleshooting" options are checked before resorting to above insanity; then re-check that "drivers" info you posted to see if it "went away"... if so, you may be good-to-go! (under above screen File System selection) Quick note - you have TweakUI installed; may have to "reset" some stuff there too. I say this 'cause you indicated you're able to "Run" things, but can't seem to get the Desktop items to "go"...

??? Can you make a kind-of diagram of that? Something doesn't sound right... Following the procedure in MS Help, it should all work fine (all PC's access Internet) and "talk" to each other (all on same Workgroup) provided the User-ID's are present for the corrrect accesses between those that you allow (also depends on File/Folder security in Shares). Remember, there are two parts for "cross-connection access" (loosely termed) - the network setup and the user accesses. User accesses are irrelevant for the purpose of internet access; they only apply to Local, not Internet, but do apply if one needs to access the other... (slightly garbled explanation)

Potential IRQ/Memory Conflict in Hardware? I hesitate to ask this, but can you go to "Start->Settings->Control Panel->System", then the "Device Manager? or "Start->Progams->Accessories->System Tools->System Information"? Either place will indicate a failing/conflicting Device. The first should show normally (ie no nasty symbols). The second should give a selection for "Hardware Resources->Conflicts/Sharing". Some things under this one are not necessarily errors. If anything bad is going on with Devices, then your system may lock up. It appears that (provided this is all original hardware - looked like it might be), then using Safe Mode and deleting certain items in the "Device Manager" (not all, maybe most) and rebooting will cause a re-search for drivers (which appear to be in your CABS folder). Report back after attempting to do either of the above two items. (Still can't see how you can get on Internet but not do other things. And still may have something to do with the OS itself - can't get over that WinME file...)

Thought that might be the case... Hopefully your recommendations will get the problem fixed. At least my previous post prompted further insight/suggestions.C-ya!

Dunno if this would work (don't know much about Vista), but you might try running DiskPart from a Command Prompt and setting the C-drive as Active (if it isn't). Also sometimes the Recovery Partition can be set to Active, and use the Recovery procedures (hopefully not completely wiping/reinstalling C-drive). Your setup appears to be - C = Vista D = Recovery E = (CD/DVD?) F = XP (currently Active?) Again, no knowledge of Vista, but do you have a Boot Selection (as in pressing F8) that's not showing? If so, may get lucky (depending on how vastly different Vista's Boot Loader stuff is from XP)...

Using Nero, you can emulate Hard Disk for a Bootable CD. Most Burning softwares contain that option. Read the Help for your flavor. The other way is to load the Device Driver from Autoexec.Bat (a special utility is required; can't remember the name, so GOOGLE). In it, you would "find" the CD drive (in conjunction with CONFIG.SYS) and load them from the CD itself. An example can be found in soporific's UBCD (get the 98_Boot.img file, unzip the ZIP and open/extract with WinImage). As for automatically selecting the correct NIC driver, I'm not sure that can be done, but you can use CHOICE and select the one for the specific NIC at the workstation. The setup as far as IP (etc.) is up to you. HTH

There is also soporific's UBCD - Unattended Boot CD It already contains most updates contained in the Autopatcher. UBCD is an off-shoot and does it all automagically. Most (if not all) updates were derived from MSFN member's various projects/collections. FWIW, it very well could have all the drivers you need for your hardware (I think it does). AutoPatcher has a lot of extras as well (you run it after a clean/UBCD install). Go look-see

Depends on which "great items" you used and how you used them. If it you mean to boot it the way it used to, you need the Boot Image from the original CD. There are various utilities to extract it. Then you burn it with your favorite burning software as a Bootable CD (the software will ask where the boot image is). You can also make a "specialized" Boot Image. The only topic/"great item" I'm aware of that uses/specifies a Boot Image (it's a "specialized") is UBCD here - soporific's UBCD Look around the forum/google for info depending on what you're trying to do. p.s. post in the associated topic as necessary... you'll get more specific info...

@spacesurfer - WOOHOO! You are correct... The problem had lain in the usage of OLD style .BAT execution; this is obviously for 2K/XP/2Kn new-style .CMD execution. Yep, there's a difference (I had forgotten about). It works exactly like that. I assume that any executable parameters (following the .EXE, outside of quotes) will be passed (eg for "quiet" installs). Ennyhoo, the examples given in the Win9x attachment still apply (kind of). Best to check the differences if you want to create a fancy script, since changes have been made to how they work. BTW, the "title" appears to be irrelevant in this case, just a requirement of the syntax used (it doesn't do anything in this case - only relevant if starting another CMD/BAT window, not an EXE/COM)...

edit - removed contents since no longer needed...

Ok... I did say you only needed the BAT files as examples, so if you want to "cancel" the download, attached are the BAT files in question... remember that variables point to different other folders/files within the package.just_the_BAT.zip

@Glen9999 - Sounds like a relatively accurate expanation. Wouldn't use Nero for that myself. I use Ghost to create images on a "spare" partition. In the case of a CD Restore, I would (if I did it) Ghost the partition to a size-limited set of Ghost files (using "compression", so it would "fit") then burn to cd/dvd-RW. Boot from a Ghost Boot floppy, then restore from cd/dvd. Somehow I'm just not sure I would use Nero for "Backitup"; won't swear to this, but it may be just a glorified "MS Backup" to cd/dvd, where you have to specify what files to back up... But I'm an oddball, hey!

If you don't see this as a waste of download, go to - http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=80800 and download/install it (AutoPatcher)... in the "CODE" folder are a lot of ".BAT" modules you could use of examples of "how-to's". Yes, it installs anyway on a non-Win98SE OS (just won't run; it detects wrong OS). Copy the folder and sub-folders to elsewhere, then uninstall it (ADD/REMOVE; you got examples now). WOOHOO! DOS-oriented scripts!!! HTH Edit - Forgot... also save the ".BAT" files in the "root" directory. Hope you have time to "read" all the code and understand it (for your purposes anyway). Could be you need to "CALL" a sub-BAT/CMD then do a START of the associated EXE within it... don't quite remember. Ennyhoo, just get it for great examples. ComputerHope also has a lot of info on everything you see in the "scripts".

"nrestore.exe" appears to be a DOS-based Restore utility (after using Nero to do a System backup to CD/DVD?). Gleaned this from a google-search...

Huh???? What virus definitions; what product??? XP by itself has no "virus definitions". Every AntiVirus software vendor has their own way of updating.You have provided a Generic Question...

@dirtwarrior - ya think they should move this topic to the Funny Farm???? (rofl lmao!)