I suspect you're using Norton Antivirus.  If so, make the first line in
autoexec.bat SET DOS16M=2.  I've seen this problem on several vendors systems,
especially when running Norton Antivirus V2.  Once it loads, the A20 address line
that himem uses isn't properly turned loose on a warm boot.

Dave Gillett wrote:

> On 23 Aug 99, at 7:49, JM Sudela wrote:
>
> > I have a Compact Presario PC that is acting real strange.
> >
> > I am running Win 98 2nd Edit. w Intel 200 mhz Pent chip, 32 mg RAM.
> >
> > When I re-boot the SYS I regularly experience a failed re-boot and
> > receive the notice that HIMEM.SYS is missing from the Windows directory.
> >
> > I have re-booted with software that adds HIMEM.SYS to Windows, but it
> > continues to lose it.
> >
> > What could be causing this?
>
>   The message that "HIMEM.SYS is missing" rarely means that the file is not
> in the Windows directory.  It *usually* means that the file has not been
> loaded into memory during the boot process, as it should have been.  [Re-
> adding it to the directory is unlikely to fix this!]
>
>   In my experience, this usually means that the boot hard drive is not
> getting quite enough power.  This may be because the power supply is
> beginning to fail, or because the drive power lead is, by way of additional
> connectors and "Y" adapters, trying to supply power to too many other devices
> -- my rule of thumb is no more than one hard drive per lead.
>
> David G
>
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