This is one of my older computers that has been down now for quite some time and has a lot of data that I didn't back up and want to save. Everytime I try and boot it, I get an error message that reads "The following file is either missing or corrupted: C:\ WINDOWS \ IFSHLP.SYS". I have a complete Quickrestore disk that will allow me to restore it to factory condition, but to do that will erase EVERYTHING that I have stored on the harddrive. I have ALOT of music stored on it that was "liberated" from Napster before they were forced to shut down that I want to keep.. Where would I look to repair/ replace the missing or corrupted files without losing my music? :(

This may be an oversimplification, but do you have the ability to actually boot from a CD ROM drive? If you have a bootable CD and you are able to set your boot sequence through the BIOS to boot from a CD you may have a chance. Hopefully you don't have any sort of funny minifile drivers for your 'C' drive (i.e. disk compression or NTFS). BTW, which operating system was installed on your computer?
Sometimes with older operating systems you can just perform the 'SYS C:' command and it will rewrite various boot files to give you a bootable drive. If all your other startup files are there you will be away to the races.

The O.S on it is WinME

Yes. I have a "fixit" CD that allows me to go into DOS, but I can't get windows to start. I've tried runnig a "setup" commmand from DOS and it keeps telling me "Bad Command"


Normally, whenever I start the computer, it will start with the WinME logo, then will go to a black screen with the error message "The following file is either missing or corrupted: C:\ WINDOWS \ IFSHLP.SYS". then freezes at that point :(

I'm no computer expert but this worked for me. Check to see if your original CDs has partial restore option. If it does you can restore just that file. One time mine wouldn't boot and I got a message that some .dll is either missing or corrupted and I just restored that file and was able to boot up again. This was on a IBM Aptiva with Win98.

Can you boot up in safe mode and do a system restore?

I tried it, and it makes an attempt to restore, then stops and gives me a string of hexadecimal numbers saying that they may be damaged or corrupted,then asks if I want to continue. When I say yes, it starts to go very fast, the screen turns red and says that the system has been halted!

maybe from a command prompt run the sfc command I think me supports it. Another option is to extract the missing file form your me cd and from dos use a floppy to copy it over to the proper directory. To extract the file it would be easier if you had another me machine or xp they both have a tool built in. Msconfig and in there an option to check files or extract. You will tell it to extract from the main windows directory. In win98 it was the win98 directory so I'm assuming winme will be the correct one. Explore you cd and it will be obviouse which directory is correct. Once you have the file go to dos and copy it into the proper directory. Another thing to try from dos is a scandisk maybe you have some damaged sectors or something.

Here's a few links to try to explain what is happening.

This one tells what the IFSHLP.SYS file does: http://www.computerhope.com/ifshlp.htm

This board talks about some possible fixes.
http://www.computing.net/windowsme/wwwboard/forum/44277.html

It sounds to me like you have to press the F8 function key as soon as you get the beep immediately before the O.S. loads from disk after the POST (Power On Self Test). That should bring you to a text screen where you will be prompted for each line of you startup execution lines (like the autoexec.bat & config.sys for the older O.S.). You can bypass the IFSHLP.SYS line, but I wonder if it is related to your minifile drivers which in turn allow your computer to actually read & interpret what is written on the disk.
The 2nd link talks about ways to extract & replace certain files on your system from the .CAB files on your CD. I don't have the time right now but I will look deeper into it soon. In the meantime you'll want to take a look. Just don't go and format that drive & reload if you don't want to lose your music downloads.

Here's a link to the Microsoft Knowledgebase with step by step instructions (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q258471) . Give it a shot!

I went into the Compaq website and asked for assistance in their on-line chat room. Two seperate technicians told me to download a boot disk from a website called http://www.infotechcommunity.com/bootdisks/bootme.exe

I did this and was able to boot into the system. They then told me to follow these instructions sent via e-mail:



SBC Yahoo!Mail


Welcome, gar159@ameritech....
[Sign Out, My Account] Mail Home |Help

Dear Garfield,

This e-mail is a follow-up to your recent Presario chat session. As
promised earlier, here is the solution to the issue you mentioned
during
our chat session.

After creating the Windows ME startup disk, boot the system with the
startup disk. To do so, insert the Windows ME startup disk into the
floppy disk drive and restart the system.

The system will return to the screen like this:

A:\>

In this prompt type c: [Syntax given below]

A:\>c:

You will get a screen like this.

C:\>

In this prompt type cd\windows\options\cabs [Syntax given below]

C:\>cd\windows\options\cabs

You will get a screen like this.

C:\Windows\Options\Cabs>

In this prompt type setup /im [Syntax given below]

C:\Windows\Options\Cabs>setup /im [press Enter]

This starts Windows ME Setup. Please read each prompt carefully and
heed
all warnings as you continue through the setup process.

We are committed to helping you with any questions you may have about
your Presario product. If you would like to attempt another chat
interaction, please visit the following Web site:

http://www.hp.com/support/presariochat

Alternatively, if you would like assistance through e-mail, please
reply
to this message with details and we will respond as quickly as
possible.
Our normal response time is one to two hours depending on the
complexity
of the issue.

We look forward to hearing from you and hope to be of future
assistance.

Regards,

Rick
HP Total Care


The only problem with this is that when I type in the command line C:\Windows\Options\Cabs>setup /im

I get a "bad command file" where it can't find any options. I can change directories to get into windows, and there are many, many files there, there just isn't anything labeled "options". :(

I've got a very bad feeling that I'm going to end up being forced to do a full restore which will result in me losing all of my music files graemlins/sad.gif

Originally posted by Cam:
Here's a link to the Microsoft Knowledgebase with step by step instructions (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q258471) . Give it a shot! I printed out all of these steps and will try them as soon as I get home from work..

Thanks smile.gif

I think it is a mistype it should be C:\Windows\Options\Cabs\setup /im. That just loads over the top which isn't a good idea. Here is microsofts instructions which are step by step of what I suggested above.

In Windows
To extract files in Windows Millennium Edition, use the System Configuration Utility tool. To do this, follow these steps: 1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type msconfig, and then press ENTER.
3. On the General tab, click Extract File.
4. In the Specify the system file you would like to restore box, type drive:\windows\path\file (where drive is the drive on which the Windows folder is installed, generally drive C, path is the location in the Windows folder is the destination of the file that you are extracting, and file is the file that you want to extract).
5. Click Start, click Browse, and then locate the Windows installation files. If you are using an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) version of Windows Millennium Edition, the installation files are on the hard disk at C:\Windows\Options\Install by default. If you are using a retail full version or upgrade version, you can also insert the Windows Millennium Edition installation CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive, and then locate the installation files. The folder is named "Win9x". For example, if your CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive is D:, the folder is named "D:\Win9x". For Windows 98, the folder is named D:\Win98.
6. Click OK, and then follow the instructions on the screen.

I can't get windows to run at all. I can only boot up and run commands in DOS :(

I have another question too. When attempting to run the command scanreg/ restore, that command shoud be run in the windows directory correct?

ex. c:\cd windows

then

c:\windows\scanreg/ restore

is this correct?

scanreg is run from the c prompt. If it errors out type c:\dir scanreg /s and it will find it. Get to that directory and then run it.

You need to extract the files off your winme disk on another computer then go to dos and use a floppy to move them to ther proper directory. Your posting on here so you have access to another computer.

Sure , its an eMachines. I also type here from my computer at work too (just like I'm doing right now) smile.gif

When I get home though, I'm going to try the c:\dir scanreg/s and see what happens

I am really grateful to ALL of you guys for the help you've been offering :cool:

Well, I tried it when I got home, unfortunately it didn't work. I believe that the reason it didn't is because somwhow my entire operating system got wiped out :eek: . The files and directories are still there, just there isnt any O.S to run them from. I keep getting the "bad command or file" statement when trying scanreg/ restore because there aren't any points left on the hard drive to restore from.

Whats making me think this, is that I tried installing the full version of WinMe using the WinMe startup disk, and when I try changing drives from a:\> to e:\>, it wont even recognise the e:\> drive :(

I have a special CD called "FixIt" that will allow me to boot up through the CD drive which is e:\>, opens on a:\>, then allows me to switch from a:\> to e:\> easlily, but when I installed the WinMe Upgrade CD, and typed in the command "setup" in drive e:\> it gave me the options "Abort, Retry, Fail"

What I'm starting to believe is that the WinMe upgrade won't work because it has nothing to upgrade from, and the WinMe full version won't work because its not seeing any drivers for drive e:\>

I've just about run out of ideas, any suggestions?

Garfield,
If you were to ship that box to me I can get your files back smile.gif . At this point, the need to get a copy of XP home edition (full Version) and rebuild the system.

HEY HEY!!! I GOT BACK ON LINE!!! graemlins/hurray.gif

The problem was the start-up disk I was using. I lost the origional a long time ago, so I went to the Compaq website and had a copy downloaded to me from one of their chat room techs. Come to find out that the start-up disk they downloaded to me was missing all the drivers needed to run the set up command.

Man I am SO GLAD that this nightmare is over graemlins/beers.gif

Now all I have to do is get the full version of XP and I'll be all set smile.gif

Thanks everyone graemlins/thumbsup.gif