HELP!!!

Yes, of course I deleted the wrong things!! I really thought I was careful on my laptop. So, I cleaned some things up and obviously screwed up.

Error message:

While initializing device IOS:
Error: An I/O SUBSYSTEM driver failed to load. Either a file in the .\iosubsys sbdirectory is corrupt, or the system is low on memory.

Somewhere in my trying to solve this, I got something about himem something.

I have the windows 98 disc, if that helps. If I have to, I realize I MAY have to start over.

But, please help if possible!!

Thanks,

SueCan you boot to safe mode?THank you. No, everytime I choose that option, that's when it goes through Windows start up and then to the black screen with the error message above.I believe you will need to re-install your MBoard drivers on that laptop...did you recieve a CD with it when you purchased it ? ?
If not you will have to travel to the manuf' site.

patio. Another thought...there is a non-destructive way to re-install Win98 without losing all your files and settings. All it takes is some basic DOS commands so post back if this is the way you decide to go...
Does that laptop have a floppy drive?

patio. THanks! No, the laptop was a used one. But, yes, if I can put win 98 back on, that sounds great! I can handle dos commands, but I've been trying some things and am not sure if I'm right. I can't SEEM to do cd to my floppy or cd drive. And the command prompt for "C" looks like this: C:\>. Is that right?

So, floppy and CD. But only have the CD for win 98.

Please let me know what's next when you have time. I don't really care about any other programs on the laptop, but 2 LARGE files in Word that I've been working on for work, and would LOVE to get them back.

Oh, thanks so much!You can also boot from a Linux Live CD and then copy the files to a floppy for safety. It writes nothing to your hard drive and then later you can reinstall Windows (if you must). Save the data first!

http://iso.linuxquestions.org/distro.php?distro=58Try doing a "dirty" install. Boot from the windows CD and start the installation process. Be sure to have the product key handy. Windows should install over top of itsself without deleteing data. Pay attention to the install directory and be sure to use the original directory. (c:\windows and not c:\windows001 or similar).I can't seem to boot from the cd. I guess I don't know what to do!

Thanks, SueThe CD if it's an original should be bootable, can you change your boot priority in the BIOS ? ?
If not HEAD over to bootdisk.com and DLoad a win98SE custom boot disk.
This file needs to be extracted to a clean floppy first.
Then boot up with the floppy in and choose "Start machine with CDRom support"
You're drive letters will all bump up by one letter except for C:
in other words if you're CDRom is currently D: it will become E:...this is because the bootdisk installs a temporary RAM drive for the diagnostic tools.
At the A: prompt type C: and hit enter.
Rename win.com to win.old and hit enter.
Now from the C: prompt type E: and hit enter this will log your CDRom drive.
At the E: prompt type setup and hit enter and the setup process should begin.

IMPORTANT: at some point early on Windows setup will ask you where you want to install to and the default listing will be Windows 000 or something of that nature...this happens because it has already detected a previous install.
Don't select the default or you will wind up with 2 ver. of Win98, instead type in C:\Windows and it will re-install into your current Windows directory without overwriting all your info.

You may need to re-install some of the laptop drivers such as video etc.

Now retrieve and back up the Word files you needed and you should be good to go...

Hope this helps,
patio. Thank you so much. I did end up paying someone to come out. I'm not sure if he used your info here that I gave him, but he did restore it all.

YIPPEE!

THanks again for being there for us newbies/screw-ups. And, $80 later it won't happen again!

Sue