Error Message: Error Loading User.exe. You Must Re-Install Windows (243372)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
This article was previously published under Q243372

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to start Windows, even in Safe mode, you may receive the following error message:
Error loading User.exe. You must re-install Windows.
The computer may then shut down.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the Ddeml.dll file is missing or corrupted.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue:
  1. Start your computer with the Windows Startup disk.
  2. Choose Start Windows 98 with CD-ROM Support from the Startup menu, and then press ENTER.
  3. Type the following command, and then press ENTER

    extract drive:\win98\win98_xx.cab ddeml.dll /l c:\windows\system

    where drive is the CD-ROM drive containing your Windows 98 CD-ROM, and xx is 28 if you are running Windows 98 Second Edition or 31 if you are running Windows 98.
  4. Remove the Startup disk, and then restart the computer.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/20/2004
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB243372
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.