Problem with computer HELP Forums

**LadyJ** · National Rally Co-ord

Hi Guys & Gals,

We have an old computer that has decided to play up I wonderd if any of you clever techy bods could help me please.

Computer is running on Windows 98 and it will not do anything at the moment when it starts up keep getting these messages.

A required .DLL file,C:Windows\SYSTEM\MSVCRT.DLL was not found

Then we get

Error loading explorer.exe you must reinstall windows.

As I am a complete computer idiot could you please make it very simple.

I have a feeling the whole thing has had it but could somebody please comfirm this.

smifee

hi jacquie

not much good at techie stuff but here goes.

had the same problems with windows 98. the error nessage relates to a file that has either been deleted or has corrupted.

i reloaded windows 98 several times and it lasted varying lengths of time before it crashed again. Twisted Evil

bit the bullet and got angie's laptop which runs XP. had to buy her a new desktop though Sad

i just followed the instructions that came with the computer to reinstall. lost a few bits that i hadn't backed up

have fun

mike

LeeUK · Last edited by LeeUK on Fri Jan 27, 2006 5:50 pm; edited 2 times in total

The computer itself will be ok.

Try pressing F8 just before windows would normally start to load and try running in Safe mode. I suspect you will have to re install windows.

If you have a CD with windows on, boot up the computer, press Delete
this should bring you to the Bios settings, in the settings look for boot order, usually its A: C: CD Rom:
set it to CD first, insert the CD, save and exit and follow instructions

Depending on the spec, if you can get hold of a XP version of windows, put that on and you shouldnt have any problems for a while.

Have you uninstalled something recently.
You could try and place the missing file back into the directory, this would involve using DOS so if all fails you could try finding the file on the net.

**LadyJ** · National Rally Co-ord

Hi Mike,

Problem is it wont let me re load windows either, the windows cd just doesnt do anything, I dont mind if we lose every thing on it but if I put the windows cd in nothing happens

olley · Campsite DB Admin

Hi ladyj some older computors will not boot from a cd.

You will need to boot from a floppy which has dos and mscdex on it, this will load the operating system and the drivers for the cd.

Sorry their is no way around it without getting a bit technical.

olley

MandyandDave · Moderator

Print this off Jac. It's in the Microsoft help pages

A required .DLL file, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSVCRT.DLL, was not found.
You may then be unable to start Windows.
CAUSE
This issue can occur if the Msvcrt.dll Windows system file is missing or damaged.
RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, replace the Msvcrt.dll file with a new copy from the Windows CD. To do this, use the appropriate steps.

Windows 98
Restart the computer with the Windows 98 Startup disk.
At the Microsoft Windows 98 Startup menu, type 1, and then press ENTER.
Record the drive letter assigned to the CD or DVD-ROM drive.
Type ext, and then press ENTER to start the Microsoft Extract Command Line Helper.
At the Please enter the path to the Windows CAB files (a: prompt, type drive:\win98 (where drive is the drive letter that you recorded in step 3), and then press ENTER.

Note: Depending on your installation of Windows, the Windows .cab files may also be stored in the \Windows\Options\Cabs folder.
At the Please enter the name(s) of the file(s) you want to extract: prompt, type msvcrt.dll, and then press ENTER.
At the Please enter the path to extract to ('Enter' for current directory): prompt, type c:\windows\system, and then press ENTER.
At the Is this okay? (y/n) prompt, type y, and then press ENTER to extract the file to the specified directory.
Remove the Windows 98 Startup disk, and then restart the computer.
MORE INFORMATION
For additional information about extracting Windows files, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q129605 How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files
First Published: May 16 2001 10:36AM
Keywords: kberrmsg win98 win98se kbWinME kbprb

Best of luck Dave

johnsandywhite

Hi LadyJ894. olley is absolutely correct. If you have the Windows 98 CD you should also have a Windows 98 floppy Boot Disc - if not you could borrow one from a friend?
Once the floppy has loaded and the CD installed in it's slot, you will then need to type setup Windows 98 should then install. Wink

**LadyJ** · National Rally Co-ord

Thanks Guys for all the help but it still wont load Crying or Very sad

Ive got the floppy and the cd and it gets to the windows set up then prepares to load and then come up with:- you already have window98 loaded on this computer
and cannot upgrade with this version Message SU0168.

I dont want to up grade just re load it but when i click on the message it just goes back to the set up A thingy bit blank screen

johnsandywhite

Sounds like it's time for a re-format. Can give the instuctions if required? But they may take some time to follow them through. Sad