Hi, My friend has a Compaz Presario 5340. Got Win 98 in it. Been using it for little while til HE got this message when starting up his computer, Here's what it said....Courrpt or missing files C:\Windows\HIMEM.SYS
" " " C:\Windows\DBLBUFF.SYS
" " " C:\Windows\IFSHELP.SYS

Then saw this at bottom of those on lower screen "Cant find Win.Com"

He cant even boot up from anything. He cant even go in safe mode. Cant do anything. I am sure there's something we can do to fix this. Thanks!

You may have to boot from the Win98 disk. If you can do this (see below), then you will probably need to do it for each of the missing files you listed.

Error Message: The File C:\Windows\Himem.sys Is Missing or Corrupted

Article ID:296636Last Review:August 6, 2002Revision:1.0
This article was previously published under Q296636
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http://support.microsoft.com/library.../downArrow.gifSYMPTOMShttp://support.microsoft.com/library.../downArrow.gifCAUSEhttp://support.microsoft.com/library.../downArrow.gifRESOLUTIONhttp://support.microsoft.com/library.../downArrow.gifMORE INFORMATION
SYMPTOMS

When you start your computer, you may receive the following error message: The following file is missing or corrupted: C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS

HIMEM.SYS is missing
Make sure that the file is in your Windows directory.

Windows has stopped. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to restart your computer.
You may then be unable to start your Microsoft Windows 98 or Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition (SE)-based computer.
CAUSE

This issue can occur if the Himem.sys Windows system file is missing or damaged.
RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, extract a new copy of the Himem.sys file from your Windows 98 or Windows 98 SE CD:
1.Start your computer with CD-ROM support by using your Windows 98 startup disk.
2.Insert the Windows media into the CD or DVD-ROM drive.
3.Type the following command line (where drive is the drive letter of the CD or DVD-ROM drive), and then press ENTER: drive:For example: D:
Note: If you have an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) installation of Windows, your Windows installation files may be located in the C:\Windows\Options\Cabs folder on the hard disk.
4.Type the following command line, and then press ENTER: cd\win98
5.Type the following command line, and then press ENTER: extract /a /y /e /l c:\windows base4.cab himem.sys
6.After the file is extracted, restart your computer.
MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about extracting Windows files, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 129605 How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files

Rueful Rogue has the key to replacing those missing files.

One suggestion though...

Once you boot to the CD I would look at the C: drive and make sure you still have a Windows folder as well as some other folders before worrying about extracting the missing files.

Files do not delete themselves...

I booted to CD and I dont know where or how to look at the C: drive. I did what I was supposed to do by typing this... D:\extract /a /y /e /l c:\windows base4.cab himem.sys Teh I get the error msg that says INVALID SWITCH so I tried doing different ways and get BAD COMMAND OR FILE NAME. Hmmm.. Feels so dumb when I cant get this to work..

Did you complete step 4 above BEFORE doing step 5? If you're not in the win98 directory, the computer cannot find the files.

Drop the "\" after D:

OK I did Typed cd\win98. But I think I see where the problem is, It's that \ after the D: Ok, I will let you know how it goes. Man feels stupid over that \ lol.

Basically, after you boot to the cd and you are at the D:\ prompt

you type C:\
It responds C:\

you type DIR /w/p
It responds with a listing of files and folders on your drive C:\
you Should need to hit enter a few times to list all of the files and folders on your PC

If you do not see a folder for Windows and Program~1 etc then you have lost more than the startup config files...

ok Here goes... I typed C: , it sayds invailid command so I typed D: , it said same thing So Finally I typed F:\cd\win98 and it took me to this F:win98> Here's where I got confused. I typed like this F:win98>Extract /a/y/e/l (not sure whether to put C: or D: or , I am lost right here) windows base4.cab himem.sys, After I typed any of those c: or D: in there, I keep getting that message "invalid switch /a/y/e/l" So when I put that F: in there after typing, It just went to F:win98>

Not sure if it wa ssupposed to do that or not. I got 3 files all together missing, Do I have to put all 3in before restarting or have to do it one by one? Wow, I know I am not thinking correctly. I know I will kick myself in the ass after I find out how easy it's done right way.

Obviously, your disk drive must be "F:", so once you get to the F:win98> then you type the command in just like it appears above, assuming that your hard drive where your operating system resides is designated "C:".

In the line extract /a /y /e /l c:\windows base4.cab himem.sys since you are already on the F: drive and in the win98 directory, the "extract" command is telling your computer to go there to get the file himem.sys and the C: is where it is telling it to put it. Hope that explains it.

As for missing files, I think you should be able to repeat the extract command two more times but change the file name each time, and then re-boot. If that doesn't work, then it'll have to be re-booted each time, and then repeat, re-boot, etc.

Even with those three files if you don't have win.com you dont have an OS...

Just to help you get there faster here are the three files you are trying to extract...

Copy these over then we can move on ...