DESPERATE-C & A drives assigned to use DOS

Today, while running a Windows version of a software I
have in DOS, too, I tried to open the DOS version and it
asked me which one do I want to use because they
conflict. I chose DOS.
Now, I can't get into my computer in Normal Mode. When I
try, I get the error message: Windows Protection Error.
System Halted.
If I go to Control Panel, System, Peformance tab, there
is a box telling me there is a compatibility paging
issue. It states that the C & A drives are both using an
MS-DOS compatibility mode file system. There is no
access to my computer except through the Safe mode.
I have tried everything from System Restore, to clean
booting, and even disabling the protection modes in the
advanced tab of my Systems. I don't know what else to
do. I have looked through the articles listed on
Microsoft, as well as Dell (it is a Dell comp.) and I am
desperate to try something to get my computer to
recognize it should be a Windows OS.
Please offer any suggestions. Thank you so much.

SaltPeter
Sat Feb 07 23:08:46 CST 2004

If you have a real mode dos driver controlling your ide controllers and run
Windows, the 32 bit drivers get corrupted. Sometimes the Win OS catches this
and adds a "NOIDE" key in the reigistry before the IDE drivers get zapped.

Now you know why a WinME installation disables real-mode DOS in a default
installation.

Open registry and CTRL+F to search for "NOIDE". if you find it, delete it
and reboot. If you don't find it, repair your ME installation.

Don't install applications that require real-mode DOS, even with
compatibility mode. Run them from a DOS boot floppy only and don't write to
drive with it.

"Lori" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:c92401c3edca$42ffc160$a601280a@phx.gbl...
> Today, while running a Windows version of a software I
> have in DOS, too, I tried to open the DOS version and it
> asked me which one do I want to use because they
> conflict. I chose DOS.
> Now, I can't get into my computer in Normal Mode. When I
> try, I get the error message: Windows Protection Error.
> System Halted.
> If I go to Control Panel, System, Peformance tab, there
> is a box telling me there is a compatibility paging
> issue. It states that the C & A drives are both using an
> MS-DOS compatibility mode file system. There is no
> access to my computer except through the Safe mode.
> I have tried everything from System Restore, to clean
> booting, and even disabling the protection modes in the
> advanced tab of my Systems. I don't know what else to
> do. I have looked through the articles listed on
> Microsoft, as well as Dell (it is a Dell comp.) and I am
> desperate to try something to get my computer to
> recognize it should be a Windows OS.
> Please offer any suggestions. Thank you so much.

cquirke
Sun Feb 08 07:32:24 CST 2004

On Sat, 7 Feb 2004 14:32:25 -0800, "Lori"

>Today, while running a Windows version of a software I
>have in DOS, too, I tried to open the DOS version and it
>asked me which one do I want to use because they
>conflict. I chose DOS.

What program was this?

>Now, I can't get into my computer in Normal Mode. When I
>try, I get the error message: Windows Protection Error.
>System Halted.

So are you referring to Safe Mode in what follows?

>If I go to Control Panel, System, Peformance tab, there
>is a box telling me there is a compatibility paging
>issue. It states that the C & A drives are both using an
>MS-DOS compatibility mode file system. There is no
>access to my computer except through the Safe mode.

OK. Safe Mode truly "runs on top of DOS" in that 32-bit drivers are
not used. So by definition, your disk drives will be in DOS
compatibility mode. If they are in DOS compatibility Mode when in
Normal Mode, then it's appropriate to read this:

http://users.iafrica.com/c/cq/cquirke/doscompat.htm

>I have tried everything from System Restore, to clean
>booting, and even disabling the protection modes in the
>advanced tab of my Systems. I don't know what else to
>do. I have looked through the articles listed on
>Microsoft, as well as Dell (it is a Dell comp.) and I am
>desperate to try something to get my computer to
>recognize it should be a Windows OS.
>Please offer any suggestions. Thank you so much.

Start by telling us what app you ran, then we can better guess at the
mechanism of your problem. Meantime, do the prelim...

http://users.iafrica.com/c/cq/cquirke/bthink.htm

...to check your hardware is OK, with particular reference to...

http://users.iafrica.com/c/cq/cquirke/virtest.htm

...to formally exclude active malware.



>---------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
Consumer Asks: "What are you?"
Market Research: ' What would you like us to be? '
>---------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

Lori
Sun Feb 08 09:00:31 CST 2004

I did look for the NOIDE and it isn't there. When you
talk about reinstalling ME, do I do that with my ME
Reinstallation CD Dell gave me? And if so, will it erase
everything I have on my hard drive? Thanks for your
reply.
>-----Original Message-----
>If you have a real mode dos driver controlling your ide
controllers and run
>Windows, the 32 bit drivers get corrupted. Sometimes the
Win OS catches this
>and adds a "NOIDE" key in the reigistry before the IDE
drivers get zapped.
>
>Now you know why a WinME installation disables real-mode
DOS in a default
>installation.
>
>Open registry and CTRL+F to search for "NOIDE". if you
find it, delete it
>and reboot. If you don't find it, repair your ME
installation.
>
>Don't install applications that require real-mode DOS,
even with
>compatibility mode. Run them from a DOS boot floppy only
and don't write to
>drive with it.
>
>"Lori" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message
>news:c92401c3edca$42ffc160$a601280a@phx.gbl...
>> Today, while running a Windows version of a software I
>> have in DOS, too, I tried to open the DOS version and
it
>> asked me which one do I want to use because they
>> conflict. I chose DOS.
>> Now, I can't get into my computer in Normal Mode.
When I
>> try, I get the error message: Windows Protection
Error.
>> System Halted.
>> If I go to Control Panel, System, Peformance tab, there
>> is a box telling me there is a compatibility paging
>> issue. It states that the C & A drives are both using
an
>> MS-DOS compatibility mode file system. There is no
>> access to my computer except through the Safe mode.
>> I have tried everything from System Restore, to clean
>> booting, and even disabling the protection modes in the
>> advanced tab of my Systems. I don't know what else to
>> do. I have looked through the articles listed on
>> Microsoft, as well as Dell (it is a Dell comp.) and I
am
>> desperate to try something to get my computer to
>> recognize it should be a Windows OS.
>> Please offer any suggestions. Thank you so much.
>
>
>.
>

Lori
Sun Feb 08 09:03:31 CST 2004

First of all, thank you so much for taking the time to
write back. I was running a software for court reporters
called Total Eclipse (the windows version) and Eclipse
(the DOS version). I doubt that will help you. It's
made by Advantage Software.

Yes, I was referring to anything I was able to do as in
Safe Mode. I cannot access Normal Mode.

I think I've exhausted every article on Microsoft's web
site, but I will look at the link you sent. Please let
me know if there's anything else you can think of to
correct this. Right now I am trying to figure it out by
msconfig, general, advanced, settings and clicking one
box at a time to see if any help. So far, no luck.
Thanks again.
Lori
>-----Original Message-----
>On Sat, 7 Feb 2004 14:32:25 -0800, "Lori"
>
>>Today, while running a Windows version of a software I
>>have in DOS, too, I tried to open the DOS version and
it
>>asked me which one do I want to use because they
>>conflict. I chose DOS.
>
>What program was this?
>
>>Now, I can't get into my computer in Normal Mode. When
I
>>try, I get the error message: Windows Protection
Error.
>>System Halted.
>
>So are you referring to Safe Mode in what follows?
>
>>If I go to Control Panel, System, Peformance tab, there
>>is a box telling me there is a compatibility paging
>>issue. It states that the C & A drives are both using
an
>>MS-DOS compatibility mode file system. There is no
>>access to my computer except through the Safe mode.
>
>OK. Safe Mode truly "runs on top of DOS" in that 32-bit
drivers are
>not used. So by definition, your disk drives will be in
DOS
>compatibility mode. If they are in DOS compatibility
Mode when in
>Normal Mode, then it's appropriate to read this:
>
>http://users.iafrica.com/c/cq/cquirke/doscompat.htm
>
>>I have tried everything from System Restore, to clean
>>booting, and even disabling the protection modes in the
>>advanced tab of my Systems. I don't know what else to
>>do. I have looked through the articles listed on
>>Microsoft, as well as Dell (it is a Dell comp.) and I
am
>>desperate to try something to get my computer to
>>recognize it should be a Windows OS.
>>Please offer any suggestions. Thank you so much.
>
>Start by telling us what app you ran, then we can better
guess at the
>mechanism of your problem. Meantime, do the prelim...
>
>http://users.iafrica.com/c/cq/cquirke/bthink.htm
>
>....to check your hardware is OK, with particular
reference to...
>
>http://users.iafrica.com/c/cq/cquirke/virtest.htm
>
>....to formally exclude active malware.
>
>
>
>>---------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
> Consumer Asks: "What are you?"
> Market Research: ' What would you like us to be? '
>>---------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
>.
>

cquirke
Sun Feb 08 10:37:24 CST 2004

On Sun, 8 Feb 2004 07:03:31 -0800, "Lori"
<anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>First of all, thank you so much for taking the time to
>write back. I was running a software for court reporters
>called Total Eclipse (the windows version) and Eclipse
>(the DOS version). I doubt that will help you.

It does, in that this doesn't sound like the sort of software that can
be expected to pick a fight with the HD. If you'd said "Norton
Calibrat" or "Ontrack Disk Manager", I'd be more alarmed

>Yes, I was referring to anything I was able to do as in
>Safe Mode. I cannot access Normal Mode.

In which case, DOS Compat Mode is a red herring.

>Right now I am trying to figure it out by msconfig,
>general, advanced, settings and clicking one
>box at a time to see if any help.

Yes, disabling startup entries is a good start - in fact, given this
is a DOS app that may have started the mess, simply renaming away
C:\CONFIG.SYS and C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT would fix, e.g. if the app had added
a Smartdrv line or something. But if you are WinME, that does not
apply; WinME would disregard such settings, though it would be
affected by Set statements (e.g. Set Path=C:\DOS).

Also, try replacing Explorer.exe as shell in System.ini ...

shell=explorer.exe

...change to...

; shell=explorer.exe
shell=taskman.exe

...then use the Run menu to run stuff from there. If that helps,
think about malware of software patching in to the shell via CLSIDs
etc. as well as via that shell= line (which should have nothing except
explorer.exe on it, and not expiorer.exe with capital-"i")


>--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -
Error Messages Are Your Friends
>--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -

Lori
Sun Feb 08 13:13:45 CST 2004

Since we last wrote, I got in touch with Microsoft, paid
for them to help me and the verdict was, they said I
needed to reinstall ME over my existing ME. So while
doing that, it got to 65% and I got an SUWIN error. They
tried to install it from the CABS, but no luck; couldn't
find it. SO I am now installing it fresh. Good thing I
backed the important stuff up last night. I pray this
new attempt won't stop at 65%. But thanks for your
help. I am so frustrated...
>-----Original Message-----
>On Sun, 8 Feb 2004 07:03:31 -0800, "Lori"
><anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
>>First of all, thank you so much for taking the time to
>>write back. I was running a software for court
reporters
>>called Total Eclipse (the windows version) and Eclipse
>>(the DOS version). I doubt that will help you.
>
>It does, in that this doesn't sound like the sort of
software that can
>be expected to pick a fight with the HD. If you'd
said "Norton
>Calibrat" or "Ontrack Disk Manager", I'd be more alarmed
>
>>Yes, I was referring to anything I was able to do as in
>>Safe Mode. I cannot access Normal Mode.
>
>In which case, DOS Compat Mode is a red herring.
>
>>Right now I am trying to figure it out by msconfig,
>>general, advanced, settings and clicking one
>>box at a time to see if any help.
>
>Yes, disabling startup entries is a good start - in
fact, given this
>is a DOS app that may have started the mess, simply
renaming away
>C:\CONFIG.SYS and C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT would fix, e.g. if the
app had added
>a Smartdrv line or something. But if you are WinME,
that does not
>apply; WinME would disregard such settings, though it
would be
>affected by Set statements (e.g. Set Path=C:\DOS).
>
>Also, try replacing Explorer.exe as shell in
System.ini ...
>
> shell=explorer.exe
>
>....change to...
>
> ; shell=explorer.exe
> shell=taskman.exe
>
>....then use the Run menu to run stuff from there. If
that helps,
>think about malware of software patching in to the shell
via CLSIDs
>etc. as well as via that shell= line (which should have
nothing except
>explorer.exe on it, and not expiorer.exe with capital-
"i")
>
>
>>--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -
> Error Messages Are Your Friends
>>--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -
>.
>

Mike
Sun Feb 08 14:14:38 CST 2004

Lori,

Your SUWIN 65% error. Would this by any chance have referred to VERX.DLL? If
so the following may be of help.

VERX.DLL error
You appear to be attempting to reinstall Win Me over a system where a version
of Windows Media Player 9 had previously been installed without having first
removed it - not easy I know. Boot to DOS using a floppy and delete or rename
the file WMPLOC.DLL in the windows\system folder and then try reinstalling Win
Me. This should work and now allow you to reinstall Win Me although you may
well have some problems with WMP.

It is also possible that you had installed IE6 and this also needs to be
uninstalled before (re-)installing Win Me. If this is the case you might want
to have a look at MS KB 312451 - "How to Remove Internet Explorer 6 by
Reinstalling Windows" (http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=312451) and also KB
293907 - "How to Uninstall Internet Explorer 6"
(http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=293907).

If it is now too late to remove IE6 and after completing your re-install you
have problems due to the resulting version soup between the version of IE5.5
included in the Win Me setup and IE6 please post back and I or someone else
can give some guidance as to how best to proceed.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP
mcmaltby@hotmail.com


Lori <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> Since we last wrote, I got in touch with Microsoft, paid
> for them to help me and the verdict was, they said I
> needed to reinstall ME over my existing ME. So while
> doing that, it got to 65% and I got an SUWIN error. They
> tried to install it from the CABS, but no luck; couldn't
> find it. SO I am now installing it fresh. Good thing I
> backed the important stuff up last night. I pray this
> new attempt won't stop at 65%. But thanks for your
> help. I am so frustrated...

cquirke
Sun Feb 08 15:46:44 CST 2004

On Sun, 8 Feb 2004 11:13:45 -0800, "Lori"

>Since we last wrote, I got in touch with Microsoft, paid
>for them to help me and the verdict was, they said I
>needed to reinstall ME over my existing ME. So while
>doing that, it got to 65% and I got an SUWIN error. They
>tried to install it from the CABS, but no luck; couldn't
>find it. SO I am now installing it fresh. Good thing I
>backed the important stuff up last night. I pray this
>new attempt won't stop at 65%. But thanks for your
>help. I am so frustrated...

Did you do "the prelim", as per...

http://users.iafrica.com/c/cq/cquirke/bthink.htm

...which includes...

http://users.iafrica.com/c/cq/cquirke/virtest.htm

...? I would NOT go anywhere near reinstalling Windows until I'd
covered that ground. Bad hardware or active malware could reduce your
PC to rubble if you try "just reinstalling Windows" in their presence!



>---------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
Consumer Asks: "What are you?"
Market Research: ' What would you like us to be? '
>---------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

Lori
Tue Feb 10 05:59:14 CST 2004

Thanks again for getting back to me. I am about to throw
out the computer. i did a clean install and now I can't
boot up and the MS-DOS compatbility mode file system is
still on my C drive.
I read the links and I guess I'm not computer-savvy enough
to really follow them. I did try to do an anti-virus
check on my c drive when this started. I HAD etrust from
Computer Associates. However, it couldn't enter the Boot
Drive. I thought that told me something, but no one at
Microsoft or Dell seemed to acknowledge it.
I am probably going out today to buy a new computer. I
annot even get into this one anymore unless my Windows ME
CD is in the drive and then it runs slow, has no sound and
is operating in MS-Dos mode. I can't handle this after
four days, three of which were spend on the phone day and
night.
But, once again, thanks for trying.
>-----Original Message-----
>On Sun, 8 Feb 2004 11:13:45 -0800, "Lori"
>
>>Since we last wrote, I got in touch with Microsoft, paid
>>for them to help me and the verdict was, they said I
>>needed to reinstall ME over my existing ME. So while
>>doing that, it got to 65% and I got an SUWIN error.
They
>>tried to install it from the CABS, but no luck; couldn't
>>find it. SO I am now installing it fresh. Good thing I
>>backed the important stuff up last night. I pray this
>>new attempt won't stop at 65%. But thanks for your
>>help. I am so frustrated...
>
>Did you do "the prelim", as per...
>
>http://users.iafrica.com/c/cq/cquirke/bthink.htm
>
>....which includes...
>
>http://users.iafrica.com/c/cq/cquirke/virtest.htm
>
>....? I would NOT go anywhere near reinstalling Windows
until I'd
>covered that ground. Bad hardware or active malware
could reduce your
>PC to rubble if you try "just reinstalling Windows" in
their presence!
>
>
>
>>---------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
> Consumer Asks: "What are you?"
> Market Research: ' What would you like us to be? '
>>---------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
>.
>

Lori
Tue Feb 10 06:02:03 CST 2004

Thank you Mike for replying. The tech did something with
the VERX.dll file. You were right about that. But as of
yesterday, we did a clean install. Now I STILL have to C
drive MS-DOS compatibility mode file system on that drive,
I can't boot up without the Windows ME CD intsalled, I
have no sound and the computer freezes up constantly.
I think I am buying a new one today. I have been at this
four days now and I really can't take dealing with
Microsoft phone techs or idiotic Dell techs another day.
I thank you once again for your concern, but I don't know
what else to do now...
Lori
>-----Original Message-----
>Lori,
>
>Your SUWIN 65% error. Would this by any chance have
referred to VERX.DLL? If
>so the following may be of help.
>
>VERX.DLL error
>You appear to be attempting to reinstall Win Me over a
system where a version
>of Windows Media Player 9 had previously been installed
without having first
>removed it - not easy I know. Boot to DOS using a floppy
and delete or rename
>the file WMPLOC.DLL in the windows\system folder and then
try reinstalling Win
>Me. This should work and now allow you to reinstall Win
Me although you may
>well have some problems with WMP.
>
>It is also possible that you had installed IE6 and this
also needs to be
>uninstalled before (re-)installing Win Me. If this is
the case you might want
>to have a look at MS KB 312451 - "How to Remove Internet
Explorer 6 by
>Reinstalling Windows" (http://support.microsoft.com?
kbid=312451) and also KB
>293907 - "How to Uninstall Internet Explorer 6"
>(http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=293907).
>
>If it is now too late to remove IE6 and after completing
your re-install you
>have problems due to the resulting version soup between
the version of IE5.5
>included in the Win Me setup and IE6 please post back and
I or someone else
>can give some guidance as to how best to proceed.
>--
>Mike Maltby MS-MVP
>mcmaltby@hotmail.com
>
>
>Lori <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
>> Since we last wrote, I got in touch with Microsoft, paid
>> for them to help me and the verdict was, they said I
>> needed to reinstall ME over my existing ME. So while
>> doing that, it got to 65% and I got an SUWIN error.
They
>> tried to install it from the CABS, but no luck; couldn't
>> find it. SO I am now installing it fresh. Good thing I
>> backed the important stuff up last night. I pray this
>> new attempt won't stop at 65%. But thanks for your
>> help. I am so frustrated...
>
>
>.
>

cquirke
Tue Feb 10 18:32:14 CST 2004

On Tue, 10 Feb 2004 03:59:14 -0800, "Lori"

>Thanks again for getting back to me. I am about to throw
>out the computer. i did a clean install and now I can't
>boot up and the MS-DOS compatbility mode file system is
>still on my C drive.

Did you do these things?

<paste>

Meantime, do the prelim...

http://users.iafrica.com/c/cq/cquirke/bthink.htm

...to check your hardware is OK, with particular reference to...

http://users.iafrica.com/c/cq/cquirke/virtest.htm

...to formally exclude active malware.

</paste>

Those who "just re-install" rather than tshoot are doomed to have to
do it again and again :-)

See also http://users.iafrica.com/c/cq/cquirke/doscompat.htm

Problems that recur after a scorch and re-install either indicate a
bad installation disk, or problems outside the scope of the
installation (hardware, pre-OS malware). If insanity is doing the
same thing again and again while expecting a different result...



>---------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
Consumer Asks: "What are you?"
Market Research: ' What would you like us to be? '
>---------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -