> Brendhan-you might try this.If Windows don't complete its startup
> process.Restart your computer by pressing the Reset or the"3-finger
> salute"(Ctrl-Alt-Del).Then press the F8 key after hearing the beep and the
> message in black and white,"Starting Windows 98 appears.
When the computer locks up ctrl+alt+del won't restart it so I hit the reset button.
> You'll then see the Windows startup menu.Press Shift-F5 to exit to the
> command prompt.
got it C:\
> The Windows 98swap file (Win386.swp) is usually located in your C\Windows
> directory,if it isn't C use the CD command,and type the following:
C:\win 386.swp
HIMEM.SYS missing
That is the response I get.
> attrib -r -s -h win386.swp
C:\attrib -r -s -h win386.swp
file not found- win386.swp
> del win386.swp
C:\del win386.swp
file not found
> Then change to your temp directory,if it isn't C:\ use the CD command
temp directory???????
> attrib -r -h *.tmp
C:\attrib -r -h *.tmp
file not found- *.tmp
> del *.tmp
C:\del *.tmp
file not found
> The last step run Scandisk by typing scandisk at the prompt.
C:\scandisk
cannot run scandisk due to no himem.sys is basically the error I got.
OK I think what you have me trying to do here is delete the win 386.swp file or modify it. Unfortunatly something is stopping it related with the himem.sys. Continue with the ideas and possibile solutions. I can get it to a normal windows about 50% of the time thru a step by step startup. So I want to continue to try to fix it and not have to do the dreaded format C: It's  not due for at least another 8 months. Thanks again for the help.



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