Trying to revive an old PC........VxD errors

Last night I started playing with this thing in an attempt to fix the 'missing or corrupt VXD' error on bootup. I copied a new file to the drive in safe mode, then on reboot got error 'Invalid VxD Dynamic Link call from NWREDIR (**) + 000000*** to device "0487 ", service * ' continue? If yes, comes up again with different values for the *.
Does this 4 or 5 times then freezes on black screen. I ended up removing all network adapters and protocols listed in 'network' section of control panel as well as from device manager. After trying many different things, the night ended with finally getting into Windows (yeah), with missing sound card errors. Today I put the modem in, downloaded and installed drivers, configured connection and after dialing and trying to register, was told network adapter was not installed. So into 'network' and add adapter and protocols. Gather up missing files from Win CD (on another PC) and reboot after all installed. ERROR!! 'Invalid Vxd.................' UGHH! Now I can't get past that error, no matter what I try.

It's a Laser 486SX, SIIG Enhanced BIOS card. Can get into Safemode. Scandisk runs. Floppy drive works. CD-ROM is not recognized, doesn't read (didn't last night either). Sound card driven. Can't seem to load drivers for it (card or CD-ROM). Not sure if I'm just not getting good download or what. On normal boot with card installed, get prompted to install so I assume card is working. CD-ROM functions (opens and closes, runs) and light flashes on boot, though it doesn't show itself in BIOS or device manager, not found when starting from bootdisk.
If I remove BIOS card and boot, error 'no operating system'. Have tried all 4 jumper settings on card, enabling shadow for corresponding setting in BIOS. Freezes on '**shadow enabled' for any but original jumper setting. Have loaded default BIOS, changed HD type from 1 to user defined with proper cylinder, heads and sector sizes, all with same result.

Bootlog shows
loading Vxd = ebios
load failed = ebios
Didn't find ebios vxd on drive so put a copy in C:, C:\windows and C:\windows\system not knowing for sure where the proper place is. Still fails.

If I could get the CD-ROM working I would just reload Windows, but therein lies my problem. It's an ESS model ES1869 card and USDrives model USDRIVES 24DT. Found card drivers but for the drive (will I need separate ones?) but have been unable to install. Will try some other downloads tomorrow.

Anyone have any suggestions, other than give it up?
BTW, sorry about the preceeding book.

 

I would try putting Ebios.Vxd into the C:\Windows\System\Vmm32 folder. I believe Ebios is one of the files inserted into Vmm32.Vxd when it is created by windows setup.

 

Thanks Mark. Had my hopes up after reading that, but no luck. Is there a way I can tell where it's trying to call that file from, or change where it calls from?

Will be back tonight.

 

If it was originally embedded into Vmm32.Vxd, you'll find a Value for it at this key. I am not sure if deleting the Value here will help.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\VMM32Files
If it is called separately, it would be called from this Key. Deleting the Key that has it's name here would definitely affect something. It would be a sub Key under this one.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD

 

It is located at
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\VMM32Files and the value is 00, as is everything else under that key.

There is no key for it at
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD.

I'll try deleting the value.

 

Well, I didn't give up! And after alot of head-banging and a few late nights, it's running.

No matter what I tried, I was unable to get past the vxd errors again, so I formatted the drive, stuck it in my XP machine, and after some diggin was able to initialize it and copy the Win95 CD to it. Stuck it back in and ran setup. Got an 'IDE HDD Controller Failure' message on first boot and stalled. Removed sound card and CD-ROM and it started up perfectly. Shut down, reinstalled card and drive and on boot all were recognized, including 2nd IDE controller, and installed. Shutdown, installed modem and it was recognized and installed on startup also. Great! Configure internet connection, add protocols and it's online. Open Internet Explorer, WHOA, version 4 Never seen it before and it was mostly displayed in source code and it wouldn't let me go much of anywhere, not even Windows Update. "Unsupported Browser" Couldn't even get to evolt's browser download page. So back to the XP machine, download IE5, split it with chainsaw and copy to the 95 machine with 10 floppys. Whew! Now then, download and install AVG and it's time for Windows Update, and Aida32, Spybot and AdAware. Double whew. I had forgotten how slow dialup is.

Summary, alot of work for an 811MB drive, 16MB RAM that I'll probably never find 30 pin upgrades for, not to mention the processor, but worth every minute spent. Why? Call it first time challenge resulting in success. Not only the repair part, but my first crack at Windows 95 also. All very hands-on educational.



P.S. Thanks for your help Mark!