Error Message When You Start Windows: The Following File is Missing or Corrupted: C:Windows\System\VMM32.vxd (311188)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98
This article was previously published under Q311188

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to start Windows, you may receive the following error message:
The following file is missing or corrupted:

C:Windows\System\VMM32.VXD

CAUSE

This issue can occur if the Dibeng.dll file is missing or is damaged.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, extract a new copy of Dibeng.dll from your original Windows compact disc (CD) to the Windows\System folder. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Insert a Windows 98 Startup disk, and then restart your computer to a command prompt. Select Start computer with CD-ROM support.
  2. Note the drive letter assigned to your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.
  3. Insert the Windows 98 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.
  4. At the command prompt, type C:, and then press ENTER.
  5. Type CD\Windows\System, and then press ENTER.
  6. Type rename dibeng.dll dibeng.old, and then press ENTER.
  7. Type Ext, and then press ENTER.
  8. At the Please enter the path to the Windows CAB files (a:) message, type drive:\win98 (where drive is the drive letter that you noted in step 2), and then press ENTER. For example, type

    E:\win98

    and then press ENTER.

    NOTE: If you have an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) installation of Windows, the cabinet (CAB) files may be located in the following folder:

    C:\WINDOWS\Options\Cabs

  9. At the Please enter the name(s) of the files(s) you want to extract message, type dibeng.dll, and then press ENTER.
  10. At the Please enter the path to extract to ("Enter" for current directory) message, type C:\Windows\System, and then press ENTER.
  11. At the Is this okay? (y/n) message, type y, and then press ENTER.

    The file is extracted.
  12. Remove the Windows 98 Startup disk, and then restart the computer.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about similar error messages, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

186771 Err Msg: Windows Could Not Combine VxDs into a Monolithic File Before Starting

191874 Error Message: VMM32.VXD: Missing/Unable to Load

For additional information about extracting files and troubleshooting Windows startup problems, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

129605 How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files

192926 How to Perform Clean-Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 98

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/20/2004
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB311188
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.