Status Message: Ntkern.vxd Device Loader for This Device Could Not Load the Device Driver (294292)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
This article was previously published under Q294292

SYMPTOMS

After you installed Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition onto another drive of your computer, you may receive the following status message in Device Manager:
The Ntkern.vxd device loader(s) for this device could not load the device driver. (Code 2)
If your computer has a universal serial bus (USB) mouse connected, your computer may not find the mouse after Windows 98 Second Edition Setup is complete.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if Windows 98 Second Edition is installed on a different drive after you upgraded Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me) to Microsoft Windows XP.

NOTE: Similar symptoms can occur if someone accidentally copies the Win.com file to the root of the drive.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, remove the following two lines of code in the C:\Autoexec.bat file by using a text editor, such as, Microsoft Windows Notepad. If your mouse does not work, you may want to use Notepad from one of the Windows installations that works properly. 
SET windir=C:\WINDOWS
SET winbootdir=C:\WINDOWS
After you make this change, save the Autoexec.bat file, and then restart your computer.

MORE INFORMATION

Both the WinDir and WinBootDir variables are reset in memory to the correct location while Windows is starting, but these variable are not reset fast enough to discover some of the hardware.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/15/2006
Keywords:kbDriver kbenv kbprb KB294292
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