Microsoft KB Archive/136630

= Creating a New Win.com File When You Cannot Start Windows =

Article ID: 136630

Article Last Modified on 1/19/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 95
 * Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release

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This article was previously published under Q136630



SYMPTOMS
When you try to start Windows 95/98, you may receive one of the following error messages and be returned to the MS-DOS prompt:


 * The following file is missing or corrupted: Win.com
 * The following file is missing or corrupted: Win.com Program too big to fit in memory
 * Cannot find Win.com, unable to continue loading Windows
 * Program too large



CAUSE
This issue can occur if the Win.com file is missing or damaged. Check the file to see if it is the correct size:



RESOLUTION
Create a new Win.com file by extracting the Win.cnf file from your Windows disks or CD-ROM to the Windows folder, and then renaming it to Win.com. To do so, follow these steps:

 Extract the Win.cnf file from your Windows disks or CD-ROM to the Windows folder. For information about how to do so, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: 129605

TITLE : How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files

NOTE: The Win.cnf file is in the following locations:  Disk 3 of the original Windows 95 disks Win95_03.cab of the original Windows 95 CD-ROM Win98_28.cab of the original Windows 98 CD-ROM Win98_25.cab of the original Windows 98 Second Edition CD-ROM </li> Rename the Win.cnf file in the Windows folder to Win.com. To do so, type the following line, and then press ENTER:

ren c:\windows\win.cnf c:\windows\win.com </li> Restart your computer.</li></ol>

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MORE INFORMATION
If the Win.com file is too small, you receive the first error message listed above. If the Win.com file is too large, you receive the second error message. If the Win.com file is missing, you receive the third error message.

Additional query words: 98 win com

Keywords: kbenv kberrmsg kbfaq kbprb KB136630

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