sharonlee

I'm trying to install windows 98SE and I keep getting error loading user.exe. I tried to do the ddeml.dll extract that microsoft explains, but I get that it cant open the file. I don't understand what happened, I did a reformat with no problem but as soon as I tried to install the O/S it went through the scan and then gave me this message. C: only has command file on it, and it's showing files on a d: drive for some reason, (says it's my ram), the cd-rom is showing as e: previous to reformatting it was d: Anything I find searching the error only deals with it happening in windows, not while installing windows. I can't get the file into window\system because it doesn't exist yet until I can get the O/S installed
Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks

greyknight17

Welcome to TSF.

Did you load the files from the Windows 98 bootdisk yet?

sharonlee

I boot from boot disk it loads files to d: (ramdrive) c: shows no files on it. I have tried fdisk several times to delete and create partion, format with and without the /s. No difference. When I setup from cd-rom it goes through the scandisk (the blue screen) then says no errors on drive c: & drive d: When I fdisk only drive c: shows up. Then it goes through the copy setup files and right away I get the user.exe error. I have done reformat on it and installed windows 98 a few times with no problems. Don't understand why I'm getting this error. Prior to reformat I had a problem with the graphics. I changed a setting in the display and the screen went scrambled I guess is the best way to describe it. I couldn't get back in to it to change it back. Safe mode wouldn't work either it kept telling me I couldn't get in from safe mode, can't recall now exactly what it said, something about a hem(?) something file missing, but I couldn't get in it. so I decided to do the reformat.

greyknight17

So you booted with the bootdisk and then chose to load "With CDROM Support" right? Then insert CD and install Windows.

SPEEDO

Try writing zeros to the drive using the drive manufacturers utility, This will clean it off proper then see if you can install after that.

UnknownFromHell

Hi There

I Hope I Can B Of Some Help

When You Boot From Win98,WinMe Bootable Floppy & You Select Start The Computer With CD-ROM Support...

After you make your selection, the Config.sys file loads the appropriate
CD-ROM driver (if selected) and then loads a 2MB RAMDrive. The RAMDrive is
used to store all the diagnostic tools necessary to troubleshoot the most
common problems.

Note:--
The RAMdrive causes your CD-Rom to pushed back 1 drive letter. If your
CD-Rom is usually drive D:, it will now be Drive E:.

The Ebd.cab file is a compressed file whose contents are extracted to the
Ramdrive during the startup process. The table below identifies the files
in the Ebd.cab file.

File --------- Function
Attrib.exe --------- Add or remove file attributes
Chkdsk.exe --------- A simpler and smaller disk status tool
Debug.exe --------- Debugging utility
Edit.com --------- Real-mode emergency text editor
Ext.exe --------- New, simple file extract utility
Format.com --------- Disk format tool
Mscdex.exe --------- Microsoft CD-ROM file extension for MS-DOS
Scandisk.exe ------- Disk status tool
Scandisk.ini --------- Disk status tool configuration file
Sys.com --------- Transfers system files and make disk bootable

The RAMDrive is created during the processing of the Config.sys file and is
2MB in size. The Ramdrive is created using system RAM to emulate a physical
Hard Disk. Without creating the RAMdrive, we would not have enough space on
a single 1.44 meg floppy disk to contain all the diagnostic tools as well
as the CD-Rom drivers.

Since the RAMDrive is created during the processing of the Config.sys file
and uses System RAM, it is only temporary. It will disappear if you restart
your computer normally.

I Hope You Have Understood The Concept Of RAM Drive.

After You 've Selected The Option You 'll Be Greeted By Prompt Namely 'A:\'
After Fdisk (Make The Partition Active), Unconditional Formating Is Neccessary
eg :-- (Format c:, Don't Use /q)

Insert The CD In the CD-ROM
Type E: (press Enter)
type Setup (Press enter)

Eureka You 've Done It

C Ya (In Hell )

sharonlee

Thanks All!!! Been away for a couple days just now seeing the responses.

greyknight17 - Yes that is what I'm doing, it runs the scandisk, but when it starts to load the set up files I get the user.exe error.

speedo - not sure what you mean

unknowfromhell - Thanks for the info. I figured it wasn't a real drive because when I partition it's not showing up. And yes the drive is set to active, and I did the format too, boot from from boot disk with cd-rom support, but it won't install it keeps giving me the user.exe error

sharonlee

Since my last post, I tried to load windows 98 as well got another message error loading gdi.exe. I tried changing the graphics in the bois and tried to install again then it went back to the same user.exe error. I then tried a different hard drive, with both windows 98 and 98se, same user.exe error on both in the second hard drive as well. Any ideas what it could be? Could something in the bios be the problem?

sharonlee

Also to speedo, I did the utilities and erased the hard drive, didn't help at all, not sure what writting zero's is though.

sharonlee

Thanks all for the help but I figured out the problem, it was a bad stick of ram in it. One was good, one wasn't and I guess it was causing the problem.
Thanks agian!!!

greyknight17

Hi sharonlee, you got it before I did.

My next guess was going to be the ram. This has caused many problems for many people. I remember this happening to me and I couldn't figure it out until one of my friends reminded me to check out the ram. So obvious.

For the writing zeros, what it's basically doing is wiping clean your hard drive. A simple format will not erase all the data on a hard drive. If someone is really eager to recover the data on your hard drive, they can. But by writing zeros to it, it will make it impossible to recover your data.