Computer wont start Windows 98

Question

I was uninstalling a program using the uninstall feature on the control panel. After the program uninstalled, the computer rebooted and then shut down when Windows started.

I can not start in the safe mode, but am able to start with Windows 98 startup disk. I can view the C drive thru DOS, but when I try to start Windows, system shuts down.

I tried all the steps in the Windows troubleshooter with no luck. I could reformat the drive but I need to back up many files, and not very practical in DOS. Any suggestions??

System info: Windows 98 2nd Ed.

thomcat · Answer

What exactly happens when you try to start your computer? Do you get an error message? If so, post the exact message here. What program were you uninstalling when your problems started?

dbramlet · Answer

As the message says, wininit.exe should be in the c:\windows directory. See if you have it under your windows directory. Since you have restored an earlier registry then that means your problem isn't in the registry but in the windows start somewhere.
Dave

Mike_E · Answer

The Windows screen wiil come up and then the screen will go black and show the C prompt. Then it prints the following:

e h i k l m n o p q r s t u v x y z {|}~ (then a bunch of characters)

Then the computer shuts down. This all happens in a matter of a few seconds.

The program I was uninstalling was something my wife downloaded off the internet about 6 months ago called "coupons". Not sure if that program is related, but that is when the problem started.

Mike_E · Answer

yes I can boot from floppy start up disk. I tried to change the registry to prior version, but did not solve the problem.

When I start from the C drive, I don't get any error messages, the computer just shuts down after the Windows screen comes up.

If I boot up with the start up disk, the go to the C drive and start windows, then I get the following:

c:\windows\wininit.exe

e h i k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z { | } ~ (then a bunch of characters)

then it says press any key to continue, then shuts down.

dbramlet · Answer

Boot to the a prompt and then edit the autoexec.bat and config.sys files and see if you have any strange lines in there. You can also from the a prompt or maybe even the C prompt restore an earlier registery. Type in: scanreg /restore (enter) be sure there is a space between scanreg and the /
Choose to restore a know good boot date from the choices.
Dave

Mike_E · Answer

I figured it out. The wininit.exe file was missing from my windows folder. I had the worm (virus) that used that file name and I deleted the file a couple of weeks ago. Not sure why it crashed 2 weeks later???

I copied the file from my other computer and it works fine. THanks for all the help!

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Computer wont start Windows 98

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