Computer Caught in Reboot Loop After Using DriveSpace (130018)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2
  • Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2.1
  • Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2.5
This article was previously published under Q130018

SYMPTOMS

When you are using DriveSpace to compress a drive, your computer may become stuck in a reboot (or restart) loop. If you press the F8 key when your computer restarts and then choose Command Prompt Only, your computer enters the reboot loop again. If you choose Step-By-Step Confirmation, you can start Windows 95. However, when you run DriveSpace, your computer enters the reboot loop again.

CAUSE

This problem can occur if any of the following conditions exists:
  • A "DRVSpace=0" or "DBLSpace=0" setting is present in the Msdos.sys file.
  • The Drvspace.bin or the Dblspace.bin file is damaged and was not loaded at startup.
  • You load the EMM386 memory manager and you are using the lower E000 range. This behavior has occurred on Compaq Deskpro 386/20e computers and may occur on other computers.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:
  1. If the "DRVSpace=0" or "DBLSpace=0" setting exists in the Msdos.sys file, disable the setting by placing a semicolon (;) at the beginning of the line. For example:
          ;DRVSpace=0

    For information about how to edit the Msdos.sys file, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    ARTICLE-ID: 118579
    TITLE : Contents of the Windows Msdos.sys File


    If the "DRVSpace=0" or "DBLSpace=0" setting does not exist in the Msdos.sys file, or if this step does not resolve the problem, proceed to the next step.
  2. Rename the existing Drvspace.bin and Dblspace.bin files and then extract new copies of the files from your original Windows 95 disks or CD-ROM. To do so, follow these steps:

    1. Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8 key, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.
    2. Delete the Restart.drv file from the hidden Failsafe.drv folder on the physical boot drive (usually either drive C or the host for drive C if drive C is compressed). To do so, type the following command at the command prompt

      deltree <drive>:\failsafe.drv\restart.drv

      where <drive> is the physical boot drive.
    3. Copy the Autoexec.bat and Config.sys files from the hidden Failsafe.drv folder on the physical boot drive (usually either drive C or the host for drive C if drive C is compressed) to the root folder of drive C, replacing the files that are already there. To do so, type the following commands at the command prompt

      copy <drive>:\failsafe.drv\autoexec.bat c:\ /y
      copy <drive>:\failsafe.drv\config.sys c:\ /y

      where <drive> is the physical boot drive.
    4. Remove the Read-Only, System, and Hidden attributes from the Drvspace.bin and Dblspace.bin files in the root folder of the physical boot drive (usually either drive C or the host for drive C if drive C is compressed). To do so, type the following command at the command prompt:

      attrib -r -s -h *.bin

    5. Rename the Drvspace.bin and Dblspace.bin files in the root folder of the physical boot drive (usually either drive C or the host for drive C if drive C is compressed). To do so, type the following command at the command prompt:

      ren *.bin *.bix

    6. If you use Microsoft Plus!, extract the Drvspace.bin file from your original Microsoft Plus! disks or CD-ROM to the root folder of the physical boot drive (usually either drive C or the host for drive C if drive C is compressed).

      If you do not use Microsoft Plus!, extract the Drvspace.bin file from your original Windows 95 disks or CD-ROM to the root folder of the physical boot drive (usually either drive C or the host for drive C if drive C is compressed).

      If you use OEM Service Release 2, extract the Drvspace.bin file from your original OEM Service Release 2 disks or CD-ROM to the root folder of the physical boot drive (usually either drive C or the host for drive C if drive C is compressed).

      For information about using the Extract tool, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

      ARTICLE-ID: 129605
      TITLE : How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files

    7. Copy the Drvspace.bin file in the root folder of the physical boot drive (usually either drive C or the host for drive C if drive C is compressed) to a file named Dblspace.bin in the root folder of the physical boot drive (usually either drive C or the host for drive C if drive C is compressed). To do so, type the following lines at the command prompt

      copy <drive>:\drvspace.bin c:\dblspace.bin

      where <drive> is the physical boot drive.

      If drive C is compressed, copy the Drvspace.bin file to the root folder of the host drive. To do so, type the following command at the command prompt

      copy <drive>:\drvspace.bin <x>:\dblspace.bin

      where <drive> is the physical boot drive and <x> is the host drive for drive C.
    8. Restart your computer normally.
    If this step does not resolve the problem, proceed to the next step.
  3. To allow DriveSpace to finish successfully, do not load Emm386.exe. To do so, follow these steps:

    1. Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8 key, and then choose Step-By-Step Confirmation from the Startup menu.

      In Windows 98, press and hold the CTRL key until you see the Windows 98 Startup menu, and then choose Step-By-Step Confirmation.
    2. Press Y at each prompt except when you are prompted to start EMM386. Press N at this prompt.

MORE INFORMATION

When you compress an existing drive, Windows 95 must load the real-mode compression drivers into memory. As Windows 95 restarts the computer in mini-Windows, Restart.drv tests for the existence of the real-mode compression drivers. If the real-mode compression drivers have not been loaded, the computer is restarted until the compression drivers have been loaded. If the real-mode compression drivers cannot be loaded, the computer restarts indefinitely.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/16/2004
Keywords:kbDiskMemory kbenv kbprb KB130018
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