"Error loading GDI.EXE"

Dear All,

Have searched this forum and "Google" for the above error message but cannot find anything re the two sets of circumstances when it appears on my screen!

(A) I want to boot to "Safe Mode ". I can reach the "Menu" without any problem, I choose "Safe Mode" and the following text appears thereunder:-

"Windows is bypassing your startup files.
HIMEM is testing extended memory...done. "

After a few seconds new screen appears. It is black with the following white text along the top:-

"Error loading GDI.EXE. You must reinstall Windows "

After 2-3 seconds the system shuts down completely.

(B) I've just tried to update my Nvidia Display Drivers ( from v56.64 to v71.84). Nvidia tell you to uninstall old drivers (via "Add/Remove ") before installing new ones. I used "Add/Remove" in Control Panel and was instructed to restart system to complete uninstall. Pressed "Restart" button and watched attentively (being careful not to hold my breath). Normal screens appeared, followed by various unusual ones telling me about building databases etc but just when I was expecting my desktop to appear---guess what?! Right--- a black screen with the message---

"Error loading GDI.EXE. You must reinstall
Windows "

After 2-3 seconds system shuts down completely.

Can anyone tell me what my problem is and advise if there is any way I can sort things out WITHOUT having to reinstall windows?

I've found GDI.EXE in my "System Files ". Double click it and nothing happens. Is it corrupt? Can't I download a nice new one from somewhere to replace it with?!

All assistance would be greatly appreciated.

 

Boot the computer with a boot floppy, choose with CD rom support. Don't have one? Go to Bootdisk and get the file for your version of 98 OEM. Put a floppy into the drive and run this file. Do not copy the file to a floppy and expect it to work.
Before the A:\> appears there will be a message giving you the drive letter for the CD, it will not be the usual letter, it may be E. Use this letter in place of the X below.
Insert your win98 CD into the drive.
Do these commands.

c:
cd\windows\system
extract /y X:\win98\win98_45.cab gdi.exe

Take out floppy and reboot.

 

Error loading GDI.EXE

Many thanks markp62 for your time and trouble.

I do have boot floppy.

Could not see any message giving the drive letter for the CD.

My Drive D is my RW drive and my Drive E is my CD/ROM playerdrive.

Not sure that my CD is what is normally accepted as a "Win98CD ". It is entitled "Recovery CD-ROM ".

Anyway:-

(A) Booted with the floppy, put my CD in Drive D and typed in your commands. Resultant message was

"ERROR: Cannot open file: D:\win98_45.cab

So----

(B) Booted with the floppy, put my CD in Drive E and typed in your commands. Resultant message was

"CDR101: Not ready reading drive E
Abort,Retry,Fail? "

So, haven't got very far. Can you advise me further Mark please (words of one syllable appreciated)?

Thanks again. Graham.

 

Graham Newey--Perhaps of help
http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=146904
There are possibilities other than reinstalling Windows.
And, while I do not know what you looked for on Google, if the above does not help, perhaps one of these references will
http://www.google.com/search?source...+loading+GDI.EXE.+You+must+reinstall+Windows"

 

When you boot with a floppy, it usually loads a RAM drive in D:, pushing your cd-rom to E: Try again with your cd in the normal D: drive and use E:\ in the command line.

 

markp62

Re my last post---in para (A) message ACTUALLY read--

"ERROR: Cannot open file: D:\win98\win98_45.cab "

Sorry for any confusion

Graham

 

I have a feeling that an OEM machine such as Compaq. Dell or HP etc. is being dealt with here.

The below is why I think that.

That is USUALLY because most of the Autoexec.bat files on the SUDs have " ECHO OFF " at the beginning.

I have diliberately and purposedly edited all of my SUDs to get rid of that. Then I can see everything that is being done.

I have also added " PAUSE " commands inbetween various lines so that things do not go by so fast that I do not see them. And I can be sure that what should be done is actually done.

I can also see what letter the CDROM is actually going to be.

BillyBob

 

I see you have a recovery CD versus having a MS CD. However there is another way to do this. This type CD usually copies the windows setup files onto the harddrive.
Boot the computer with the floppy, you can choose without CD support as you aren't going to use it.
When you see the A:\> appear, do this command first;
dir c:\windows\options\cabs
If you see a bunch of names scrolling on the screen, you are in luck. Then do these commands. There is only a slight difference between these and the previous.
c:
cd\windows\system
extract /y c:\windows\options\cabs\win98_48.cab gdi.exe
Take out floppy and try to boot normally.

 

Error loading GDI.EXE

markp62

Thanks for your latest post.

OK-- booted PC with floppy (Recovery CD in bedside cabinet) without CD support.

At A:\> did your first command. Bingo! Whole bunch of stuff scrolls by.

Then did your next three commands and got following message:-

"Cabinet win98_48.cab
No matching files "

SO--- repeated your last command but with "45.cab "(force of habit) instead of "48.cab ". Got following message:-

"Cabinet win98_45.cab
Extracting gdi.exe "

After about 25 secs got:-

"C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM> "

Waited a few minutes. Nothing happened. Had to press re-set button as didn't know what else to do.

Tried to get into "Safe Mode ". No go-- "Error loading GDI.EXE. You must reinstall windows" followed by complete shutdown. Back to square one.

Seem to be getting nearer but no cigar!

Vot u tink??

Graham

PS: Billy Bob-- system is OEM--- "Evesham "--well known in UK--possibly not in USA. Regret didn't understand anything else in your post. Sorry

 

Graham

No problem. I understand.

system is OEM--- "Evesham "

Being an OEM machine does indeed leave me out anyway. As each Brand may well have their own way of doing things.

BillyBob

 

It certainly sounds like the extraction went successful. But it does sound like you need to reinstall windows. It would be bit by bit any other way.
I know that you do not want to use your recovery CD, as yours may be the type to wipe the drive no matter what. The presence of those files in that folder is a big plus here, as you can reinstall from there. The only problem I foresee is when windows setup asks for the product key. If you do not have have it on paper, and you can't get into Safe Mode to see what it is. There is another way to get it. Use the floppy again, and do this set of commands at the A:\>.
c:
cd\windows
regedit /e c:\key.txt hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion
edit c:\key.txt
Please note the word "currentversion" is all one word, for some reason this forum causes the way it appears above.

Look for the word "ProductKey" with the key in this format, "XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX ", it should be right on the screen when Edit first opens the file.
After you write it down, then use this command to start the windows reinstall.
c:\windows\options\cabs\setup
Note: near the beginning of the install, you will be prompted as to which folder to install windows, make sure it says C:\Windows. It will sometimes add ".001" to the name, and you do not want this.