Error Message When You Start Computer in Normal Mode: Invalid VxD Dynamic Link Call to Device 3, Service B (306482)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q306482

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to start your computer in any of the Windows operating systems listed at the beginning of this article, you may receive the Windows splash screen, and then the computer restarts. Next, the Startup menu appears, with Safe Mode selected. If you select Normal Mode, you may receive the following error message:
Invalid VxD dynamic link call to device 3, service B. Your Windows configuration is invalid. Run the Windows Setup program again to correct this problem.
The computer shuts down. You can start in Safe mode without problems or error messages.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the System.ini file is blank.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, extract a new copy of the System.ini file to your hard disk. To do this, follow these steps.

NOTE: Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.
  1. Restart the computer, and then, when prompted, select Safe Mode.
  2. Browse to C:\Windows. If no files are visible, click Show Files.
  3. On the View menu, click Folder Options.
  4. On the View tab, click to clear the Hide file extensions for known file types check box, and then click to select the Show all files check box.
  5. Click OK. If no files are visible, click Show Files.
  6. Right-click System.ini, click Rename, type System.old, and then press ENTER.
  7. Double-click the Sysbckup folder in the same directory.
  8. On the View menu, click Details, and then click Name to sort the files by name.
  9. Find the most recent rb*.cab file from before the date and time that the problem started. Double-click this file.
  10. Right-click System.ini, and then click Extract.
  11. In the Choose a Folder in which to save the files box, browse to C:\Windows, and then click OK.
  12. Close the .cab file, and then browse to C:\Windows.
  13. Double-click System.ini. If System.ini is blank, repeat steps 9 through 12, using the next most-recent .cab file.
  14. Close System.ini, and then restart the computer.NOTE: With Windows 98 it is also possible to replace the System.ini file by restoring to an earlier registry. One of the files that is replaced with an earlier version is the System.ini file. For additional information about how to restore to an earlier version of the registry, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    221512 How to Manually Restore the Windows 98/Me Registry

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/20/2004
Keywords:kbenv kberrmsg kbprb KB306482
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