can't start up in normal mode

playingwithfire · 06-25-2007, 10:26 AM

I have an old comp with win 98. 3 years ago we were having trouble with viruses and slow running etc so we decided to "cleanup" the comp by deleting everything. (Dumb) We really messed it up and could not start the comp again...so we bought a new comp with win xp. All that I want off the 98 system is my pictures. When I start it up I get this message:

Cannot find a device file that may be needed to run Windows or a Windows application.

The windows registry or SYSTEM.INI file refers to this device file but the device file no longer exists.

If you deleted this file on purpose, try uninstalling the associated application using its uninstall or setup program.

If you still want to use the application associated with this device file try reinstalling that application to replace the missing file.

C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\NORTON~2\NAVAP.VXD

There is no Norton in the "add/remove programs" so how do I uninstall?

Is there anyway to get my pics off this comp?

Thanx,
Barb

**manic** · 06-25-2007, 12:42 PM

You may try hooking the drive up to your new system, as a slave drive
possibly and extracting files that way. Depends on what your new system
is.

playingwithfire · 06-25-2007, 08:26 PM

New system is windows XP

What if old system has viruses etc.?

Geekgirl · 06-25-2007, 08:46 PM

You can scan the slaved drive with your anti virus program, making sure the files you pull off are not infected.

playingwithfire · 06-26-2007, 08:04 AM

OK thanks, Is there a site you recommend that gives a step by step process for installing the slave drive?

**Kalim** · 06-26-2007, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by playingwithfire

OK thanks, Is there a site you recommend that gives a step by step process for installing the slave drive?

Yes, right here.

First let us know if your HDDs are both IDE (PATA) or SATA?

**Bartender** · 06-26-2007, 11:56 PM

Slaving an old drive is easy, but you have to understand the IDE bus and the jumpers on the backs of your drives. Just google "IDE master slave" or "IDE master slave jumpers" and you'll find all kinds of stuff.
This might be complicated by something else - does your newer PC use the SATA or PATA interface? If it's PATA you'll see the wide, flat ribbon coming off the back of the HDD. If it's SATA (the newer interface) the data cable coming off the back of the hard drive will be a small cable about the size of a lightweight table lamp cord. The SATA cable is usually red in color.

Even if the new PC uses SATA, there should be one IDE bus on the motherboard. You could use that bus for the older drive.

You will need to understand and identify the IDE #1 and #2 ports on your motherboard, you'll need to identify whether your IDE cables are 40 or 80 wire, you'll need to understand which clip to use on the IDE ribbon cable for master or slave, and you'll need to understand how to set the little jumpers. This has been covered so many times there's no need to go into it again. Google or go back thru previous TSF threads.

Once you have the second drive plugged in to either your IDE #1 cable or IDE #2 cable, and it's properly jumpered, Windows will identify the second drive and assign it a letter, probly "D". You should be able to use Windows Explorer to look at, copy, move the files.

Another way to retrieve files is with a MEPIS or PCLinuxOS LiveCD and a thumb drive. Toss the LiveCD in the optical drive, boot from the drive, find the HDD, copy the files. It's easy to do, you wouldn't have to worry about viruses

playingwithfire · 06-28-2007, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bartender

Another way to retrieve files is with a MEPIS or PCLinuxOS LiveCD and a thumb drive. Toss the LiveCD in the optical drive, boot from the drive, find the HDD, copy the files. It's easy to do, you wouldn't have to worry about viruses

This sounds way easier. I don't really like the idea of taking apart the computer

I can't even figure out how to take off the cover

I know it's probly simple...but I don't wanna break anything.
I looked at the mepis website and it says I can download free testing or released versions from mirror sites, I will have to buy a thumb drive...

Thanx,
Barb

**Bartender** · 06-28-2007, 09:21 PM

Well, it might be easier or it might not - if you've never seen a Linux desktop you'll probly be scratching your head some. Not because it's difficult, just because it's something you've never seen before.

I do think that opening the old PC up, removing the old HDD, and slaving to your new PC would be easier, but let me give you a push in the right direction for using a Linux LiveCD.
Do you know anyone using Linux? If so they should be able to turn you on to a MEPIS or PCLOS LiveCD or know how to burn one for you. Again, building a LiveCD is not complicated if someone has broadband but lots of people find it hard the first few times.

One thing I'd check first. This is a problem that can crop up with an old PC, especially one thrown in the closet - if the motherboard battery is dead you'll have problems no matter what. Replacing motherboard (CMOS) battery is another easy project but can be confusing the first time.

Anyway. If you think the old CMOS battery is good or you put in a new one, and you have a MEPIS or PCLOS or even a new Kubuntu/Ubuntu LiveCD (the last versions of Ubuntu would not auto-recognize Windows partitions but Feisty (7.04) does) you boot from the LiveCD. It'll take some poking around (and some googling beforehand?) but the Windows partition will be there and you can copy files to a thumb drive pretty easily. You should even be able to burn files to the CD drive. I haven't tried that but can't think of a reason why it wouldn't work.

EDIT: When you visit Linux download sites, go for the stable version, not the testing versions. Linux, unlike Windows, is constantly in motion and the more adventurous souls are always trying out test versions. You want the stable

Also, Knoppix is supposed to be super-easy for accessing Windows data. I've never used it, but have read that it's very straightforward.

playingwithfire · 06-29-2007, 09:27 AM

Wow,

Thanks for all the advice and info!

I'll get my husband to help me look at opening it up over the weekend, and I'll have to do more research into the linux.

**Bartender** · 06-30-2007, 07:25 AM

I googled "slave IDE hard drive" and found numerous guides with pictures. Do some homework on this, maybe print out a couple of the guides, and above all else don't unplug anything without taking careful notes. I've made the mistake of pulling stuff apart without making a record of where it went. Got a little panicky when I couldn't figure out how to put the thing back together...

http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading...hard-drive.htm
http://www.mikeshardware.com/howtos/...ct_ide_hd.html

I don't have broadband so can't check, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are some videos on youtube...

playingwithfire · 06-30-2007, 09:24 PM

Good news! My brother says he knows how to do it and will help me the next time he's in town!! Thanks again for all your help!!

06-25-2007, 10:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
playingwithfire Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 12 OS: xp	can't start up in normal mode I have an old comp with win 98. 3 years ago we were having trouble with viruses and slow running etc so we decided to "cleanup" the comp by deleting everything. (Dumb) We really messed it up and could not start the comp again...so we bought a new comp with win xp. All that I want off the 98 system is my pictures. When I start it up I get this message: Cannot find a device file that may be needed to run Windows or a Windows application. The windows registry or SYSTEM.INI file refers to this device file but the device file no longer exists. If you deleted this file on purpose, try uninstalling the associated application using its uninstall or setup program. If you still want to use the application associated with this device file try reinstalling that application to replace the missing file. C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\NORTON~2\NAVAP.VXD There is no Norton in the "add/remove programs" so how do I uninstall? Is there anyway to get my pics off this comp? Thanx, Barb

06-25-2007, 12:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,254 OS: xp	Re: can't start up in normal mode You may try hooking the drive up to your new system, as a slave drive possibly and extracting files that way. Depends on what your new system is. __________________

06-25-2007, 08:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
playingwithfire Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 12 OS: xp	Re: can't start up in normal mode New system is windows XP What if old system has viruses etc.?

06-25-2007, 08:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,192 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Re: can't start up in normal mode You can scan the slaved drive with your anti virus program, making sure the files you pull off are not infected. __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!*

06-26-2007, 08:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
playingwithfire Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 12 OS: xp	Re: can't start up in normal mode OK thanks, Is there a site you recommend that gives a step by step process for installing the slave drive?

06-26-2007, 11:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,285 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	Re: can't start up in normal mode Slaving an old drive is easy, but you have to understand the IDE bus and the jumpers on the backs of your drives. Just google "IDE master slave" or "IDE master slave jumpers" and you'll find all kinds of stuff. This might be complicated by something else - does your newer PC use the SATA or PATA interface? If it's PATA you'll see the wide, flat ribbon coming off the back of the HDD. If it's SATA (the newer interface) the data cable coming off the back of the hard drive will be a small cable about the size of a lightweight table lamp cord. The SATA cable is usually red in color. Even if the new PC uses SATA, there should be one IDE bus on the motherboard. You could use that bus for the older drive. You will need to understand and identify the IDE #1 and #2 ports on your motherboard, you'll need to identify whether your IDE cables are 40 or 80 wire, you'll need to understand which clip to use on the IDE ribbon cable for master or slave, and you'll need to understand how to set the little jumpers. This has been covered so many times there's no need to go into it again. Google or go back thru previous TSF threads. Once you have the second drive plugged in to either your IDE #1 cable or IDE #2 cable, and it's properly jumpered, Windows will identify the second drive and assign it a letter, probly "D". You should be able to use Windows Explorer to look at, copy, move the files. Another way to retrieve files is with a MEPIS or PCLinuxOS LiveCD and a thumb drive. Toss the LiveCD in the optical drive, boot from the drive, find the HDD, copy the files. It's easy to do, you wouldn't have to worry about viruses

06-28-2007, 09:21 PM	#9 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,285 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	Re: can't start up in normal mode Well, it might be easier or it might not - if you've never seen a Linux desktop you'll probly be scratching your head some. Not because it's difficult, just because it's something you've never seen before. I do think that opening the old PC up, removing the old HDD, and slaving to your new PC would be easier, but let me give you a push in the right direction for using a Linux LiveCD. Do you know anyone using Linux? If so they should be able to turn you on to a MEPIS or PCLOS LiveCD or know how to burn one for you. Again, building a LiveCD is not complicated if someone has broadband but lots of people find it hard the first few times. One thing I'd check first. This is a problem that can crop up with an old PC, especially one thrown in the closet - if the motherboard battery is dead you'll have problems no matter what. Replacing motherboard (CMOS) battery is another easy project but can be confusing the first time. Anyway. If you think the old CMOS battery is good or you put in a new one, and you have a MEPIS or PCLOS or even a new Kubuntu/Ubuntu LiveCD (the last versions of Ubuntu would not auto-recognize Windows partitions but Feisty (7.04) does) you boot from the LiveCD. It'll take some poking around (and some googling beforehand?) but the Windows partition will be there and you can copy files to a thumb drive pretty easily. You should even be able to burn files to the CD drive. I haven't tried that but can't think of a reason why it wouldn't work. EDIT: When you visit Linux download sites, go for the stable version, not the testing versions. Linux, unlike Windows, is constantly in motion and the more adventurous souls are always trying out test versions. You want the stable Also, Knoppix is supposed to be super-easy for accessing Windows data. I've never used it, but have read that it's very straightforward. Last edited by Bartender; 06-28-2007 at 09:49 PM.

06-29-2007, 09:27 AM	#10 (permalink)
playingwithfire Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 12 OS: xp	Re: can't start up in normal mode Wow, Thanks for all the advice and info! I'll get my husband to help me look at opening it up over the weekend, and I'll have to do more research into the linux.

06-30-2007, 07:25 AM	#11 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,285 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	Re: can't start up in normal mode I googled "slave IDE hard drive" and found numerous guides with pictures. Do some homework on this, maybe print out a couple of the guides, and above all else don't unplug anything without taking careful notes. I've made the mistake of pulling stuff apart without making a record of where it went. Got a little panicky when I couldn't figure out how to put the thing back together... http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading...hard-drive.htm http://www.mikeshardware.com/howtos/...ct_ide_hd.html I don't have broadband so can't check, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are some videos on youtube...

06-30-2007, 09:24 PM	#12 (permalink)
playingwithfire Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 12 OS: xp	Re: can't start up in normal mode Good news! My brother says he knows how to do it and will help me the next time he's in town!! Thanks again for all your help!!