Replacing missing SYSTEM file

How can I replace a missing or corrupt System file by extracting it from the Windows CABS folder? What are the steps to follow?

 

Rick2u, What is the name of the file ?
Do you have Winzip ?
If you have Winzip or something like it, that can extract from .cab
files, I will post back and tell you in which .cab file the file is, and which folder to extract it to.
Another way might be to ..
- Start Button
- Run
-type sfc
and see if the corrupt file is detected/repaired
you will most likely need your original Windows CD on line
regards

 

Thanks Merlin,
I don't have Winzip or the original Windows 98 CD (since it was preinstalled), but, if you can tell me how to do it manually, using the Start button, etc., it would be much appreciated. By the way, this is a hypothetical case, in case the occasion ever arises. I don't actually have a missing file.

 

Rick,

This works or did when I ran Win98. You'll have to substitute the proper information for your own situation as far as location of the files, etc. From a command line prompt:

Extract /a X:\win98\driver11.cab filename.ext /l (path to copy to)

example:

Extract /a d:\win98\driver11.cab comctl32.dll /l c:\windows\desktop

That would extract the file names comctl32.dll from the win98 directory located on the D: drive and place a copy of it on your Desktop. Pay no mind to the driver11.cab designation, that merely tell the Extract command where to begin searching for the file. It'll automatically search all the CAB files on the disk. It assumes you have the Extract command in your Path.

Most people prefer to use the System File checker in Win98 since it will do this work for you with less effort.

If you have no install disk, try searching your drive for *.cab and see if you come up with any Win98 cabs. They'll be easy to distinguish from any other found.

Cheers. ps. Get Winzip, it's unlimited use trialware and worth its weight in gold. It will allow you to browse CAB files right in Windows Explorer and be able to pick any file you want and instantly extract it.

 

Here's a complete list of the Extract command switches:

Microsoft (R) Diamond Extraction Tool - Version (16) 1.00.0530 (04/3/95)
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corp 1994-1995. All rights reserved.

EXTRACT [/Y] [/A] [/D | /E] [/L dir] cabinet [filename ...]
EXTRACT [/Y] source [newname]
EXTRACT [/Y] /C source destination

cabinet - Cabinet file (contains two or more files).
filename - Name of the file to extract from the cabinet.
Wild cards and multiple filenames (separated by
blanks) may be used.

source - Compressed file (a cabinet with only one file).
newname - New filename to give the extracted file.
If not supplied, the original name is used.

/A Process ALL cabinets. Follows cabinet chain
starting in first cabinet mentioned.
/C Copy source file to destination (to copy from DMF disks).
/D Display cabinet directory (use with filename to avoid extract).
/E Extract (use instead of *.* to extract all files).
/L dir Location to place extracted files (default is current directory).
/Y Do not prompt before overwriting an existing file.

 

If you have the Windows 98 cab files on your hard drive (Usually in C:\Windows\Options\Cabs) you can still use SFC, as far as I know. Someone with Win98 could help you more with the details. Some general information here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q185836

I THINK that Win98 had the cabview function incorporated so you wouldn't need WinZip or similar. This is from
http://www.aumha.org/a/powertoy.htm

Do a Start | FIND |Files or Folders on *.cab then pick one. Eiither double-click the file icon inside the Find window or right-click it and select View. Once you have opened the .cab file for viewing you should be able to right-click on any of the file icons inside and select Extract, then pick the location where you want to place the file.

 

And here's a batch file I used when I was hot and heavy into Win9x:

++++++++++++Copycab.bat script follows+++++++++++

::syntax=copycab <file to find & copy> <destination>
cls
@echo off
if exist c:\win95\win95_02.cab Extract /a c:\win95\win95_02.cab %1 /l %2
if exist d:\win95\win95_02.cab Extract /a d:\win95\win95_02.cab %1 /l %2
if exist e:\win95\win95_02.cab Extract /a e:\win95\win95_02.cab %1 /l %2
if exist f:\win95\win95_02.cab Extract /a f:\win95\win95_02.cab %1 /l %2
if exist g:\win95\win95_02.cab Extract /a g:\win95\win95_02.cab %1 /l %2
if exist h:\win95\win95_02.cab Extract /a h:\win95\win95_02.cab %1 /l %2
if exist i:\win95\win95_02.cab Extract /a i:\win95\win95_02.cab %1 /l %2
if exist z:\win95\win95_02.cab Extract /a z:\win95\win95_02.cab %1 /l %2
if exist c:\win98\driver11.cab Extract /a c:\win98\driver11.cab %1 /l %2
if exist d:\win98\driver11.cab Extract /a d:\win98\driver11.cab %1 /l %2
if exist e:\win98\driver11.cab Extract /a e:\win98\driver11.cab %1 /l %2
if exist f:\win98\driver11.cab Extract /a f:\win98\driver11.cab %1 /l %2
if exist g:\win98\driver11.cab Extract /a h:\win98\driver11.cab %1 /l %2
if exist h:\win98\driver11.cab Extract /a c:\win98\driver11.cab %1 /l %2
if exist i:\win98\driver11.cab Extract /a i:\win98\driver11.cab %1 /l %2
if exist z:\win98\driver11.cab Extract /a z:\win98\driver11.cab %1 /l %2

++++++++++++++++++End of script+++++++++++

Copy that and paste it into Notepad. Then save it as C:\copycab.bat.

Then when you want to do a search for a particular cab file of either Win95 or Win98, place the install cd in your drive bay, and go to Start > Run > and type:


copycab (your file to find) (your destination)

Example copycab comctl32.dll c:\windows\desktop

It'll look on your root drive and many other drives so it doesn't matter so much that your CD-ROM drive is some different letter than D:.

 

showoff

 

Not really Alice, Now if I had put C:\Windows\Options\Cabs in there for a possible path in addition to the others, then I'd be showing off.

God help me, I hate to see DOS get ditched.

 

That too, but I was also thinking about your "post width extension" since the batch file didn't look like it needed it

Nope, it didn't (just checked)

 

True Now if I put:

if exist c:\Windows\Options\Cabs\win95_02.cab Extract /a c:\windows\options\cabs\win95_02.cab %1 /l %2

it'll need it. I was just over preparing. ROFL

{ "@@@@@@@ "; "@@@@@@@@ "; "@@@@@ "; "@@@@@ "; "@@@ "; "@@@@ "; "@@@@ "; "@@@@@@ "; "@@@@@@@@@ "; "@@@@@@@ "; "@@@@@@@@ "; "@@@@@@@@ "},@),@,@,@,@,@,@,@,@,@,@@,@@,@@)," ")

 

anticipatory post width extension

 

Yeah, they have vaccine for that I think. Or was it a little blue pill. ROFL