VXD Error Messages

The first response would've likely have been to uninstall the program that you think may have created the blue screens.

Exactly how did you perform the 'reinstall' of your Windows 'program' ?

Did you just stick the CD in and run it?

Thank you for the reply. To answer your question, yes, I just did a reinstall of Windows 98SE and didn't mess with anything already on my computer. Should I have done that?

My system is the Dell Dimension XPS R400 128MB

What you said about "clean install" definitely makes sense. I'm just not sure how to do it. Do you have any suggestions/solutions?

I think I bought this system in the Fall of 1998 because I believe that my warranty ran out in December. Is there any way I can find this out using the Dell website?

Thank you SO much for your help. I really do appreciate it.

Uhm, well, probably not. If the copy of Windows already on the hard drive was corrupted, then installing another copy 'over the top of it', could likely compound the problems.

It's not the end of the world, but it's not stopped the problem either.

You'll probably need to back up files you'd like to save and format the drive and do a 'clean' reinstall of Win98.....

What year did you buy your system (if you can remember)?

Yes, there are documents on the Dell Knowledge Base regarding formatting your drive, installing your OS, and installing your device drivers. (add to that the reinstallation of your programs to boot.)

First, before you do anything, save any files that you love or are important to you. This is a must. They will be lost otherwise.

Since you bought the system in the Fall of 1998, you've got free lifetime phone support. Unless you're really comfortable with the idea of formatting and the rest yourself, I'd call Dell. I'd do this AFTER having already backed up the files I wanted to save.

Also, there's a very, very, small outside chance that the zztop utility placed on your drive might still be intact. What zztop is - it's a duplicate image hidden on your hard drive that when used can restore the software on the hard drive back to exactly the way it was when the system was bought new. ZZTop DOES overwrite everything that's currently on your drive including all your created files. ZZTop can be damaged by being overwritten by defrag, or by a hard drive that's really full. (ZZTop was first placed on Dell systems beginning in early 1998 and ended with WinMe systems.)

Call Tech (after saving your files) and see what help and information they might offer you.

I have no doubt you can do this, but a little help never hurts.

Good luck!

Hi, KathyWills.

This is a Dell article for reinstalling W98/98se. If you are able, printing a copy for a reference and to read, may help you.

http://support.us.dell.com/us/en/kb/document.asp?DN=1026820


Bev.

Message Edited on 09/19/02 03:22PM by shesagordie

Hello again NV ..... I finally back up and running. I did a "clean install" and reinstalled everything I had. So feeling confident as I was, I got back into the Real Arcade website and downloaded one of the games I have already paid for and LO AND BEHOLD.........GOT ANOTHER "VXD ERROR" !!!!!! I'm really ready to pull my hair out. Should I just go ahead and toss this infernal hard drive and start over again or perhaps should I purchase another OS and start all over again???? Any thoughts on my next steps????? I'm all out of ideas.

Thanks.
Kathy
NVRambo wrote:
-
- Yes, there are documents on the Dell Knowledge Base
- regarding formatting your drive, installing your OS,
- and installing your device drivers. (add to that the
- reinstallation of your programs to boot.)
-
- First, before you do anything, save any files that
- you love or are important to you. This is a must.
- They will be lost otherwise.
-
- Since you bought the system in the Fall of 1998,
- you've got free lifetime phone support. Unless
- you're really comfortable with the idea of
- formatting and the rest yourself, I'd call Dell.
- I'd do this AFTER having already backed up the files
- I wanted to save.
-
- Also, there's a very, very, small outside chance
- that the zztop utility placed on your drive might
- still be intact. What zztop is - it's a duplicate
- image hidden on your hard drive that when used can
- restore the software on the hard drive back to
- exactly the way it was when the system was bought
- new. ZZTop DOES overwrite everything that's
- currently on your drive including all your created
- files. ZZTop can be damaged by being overwritten by
- defrag, or by a hard drive that's really full.
- (ZZTop was first placed on Dell systems beginning in
- early 1998 and ended with WinMe systems.)
-
- Call Tech (after saving your files) and see what
- help and information they might offer you.
-
- I have no doubt you can do this, but a little help
- never hurts.
-
- Good luck!
-
-
-
- Dell Dimension XPS R 400 / 128mb
- Dell Dimension 4100 / 1Ghz / 256mb
------------------------------------------------------
- Antec SX830, 300w, (2) 80mm fans
- P4 2.0A Northwood
- AVC Sunflower Cooler / 5200rpm /34cfm
- ASUS P4S333
- 512mb Crucial PC2100 DDR SDRAM
- Visiontek Xtasy GeForce3 Ti 200 64mb
- SBLive! Value Audio
- 3Com 3C905TX ethernet
- Sony CDRW CRX1611
- Sony DVD DDU1621
- Maxtor 20gb ATA 100 7200rpm
- Maxtor 40gb ATA 100/133 7200rpm

KathyWillis,
Have you considered the possibility that these RealOneArcade games are corrupting your audio driver files? It seems pretty clear that this is what's happening based on the error message you posted. Painful as it may be you may have to abandon the online games if you want your system to remain stable. Either that or get the developer of the games you download to work out the bugs.

********* Custom built Athlon Thunderbird 800MHz, Abit KT7A mobo, 256MB PC133 SDRAM Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 40GB 7200RPM ATA 100 MSI StarForce 818 nVidia GeForce2 MX 32MB 4xAGP Micron 700Mx 17" monitor E-IDE 50x CD-ROM, Yamaha 16x/10x/40x CD-RW Turtle Beach Santa Cruz DSP Sound, Altec Lansing ACS-33 speakers Toshiba PCX1100 DOCSIS cable modem, Linksys NC100 FastEthernet 10/100 NIC Philips Vesta Pro Scan PC Camera, Logitech optical wheel mouse Win 98SE Message Edited on 09/24/02 09:06PM by The_Namek