Microsoft KB Archive/134431

Windows 95 Hangs After Installing Microsoft Mouse Driver

PSS ID Number: Q134431 Article last modified on 08-22-1995

9.00 9.01 95

WINDOWS

= SYMPTOMS =

After installing the Microsoft Mouse driver, you may receive the following error message when you restart your computer:

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 this device file, try reinstalling that application to replace the missing file.

C:

Press any key to continue

When you press a key, you receive the following error message:

Error loading C:.drv. You must reinstall Windows.

You then see the screen that tells you it is safe to turn your computer off.

= CAUSE =

The Microsoft Mouse driver versions 9.0 and 9.01 are not designed to function with Windows 95. They replace a driver on the “keyboard=” line in the System.ini file, and add Pointer.exe to the “load=” line in the Win.ini file. Although the Microsoft Mouse Setup program replaces the actual mouse driver, it does not completely update the “keyboard=” or “load=” lines in the initialization files. Reinstalling Windows 95 does not correct the problem.

= RESOLUTION =

To correct this problem, use the following steps to manually update the System.ini and Win.ini files:

  Restart the computer. When you see the “Starting Windows 95” message, press the F8 key and then choose Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.   Edit the System.ini file. Change the line that reads mouse.drv=c:.drv to read: mouse.drv=mouse.drv   Change the line that reads keyboard=C:.386 -or- keyboard=C:.386 to read: keyboard=*vkd   Save the System.ini file and then open the Win.ini file.   Remove the following entry from the “load=” line: C:.exe -or- C:.exe NOTE: Do not remove any other entry from the “load=” line.   Save and then close the file.   Restart Windows 95 normally.   Press ALT+S, use the UP ARROW key to select Settings, press the RIGHT ARROW key to select Control Panel, and then press ENTER. </li>  Use the ARROW keys to select the Mouse tool, and then press ENTER. </li>  Use the TAB and RIGHT ARROW keys to select the General tab. </li>  Press ALT+C. </li>  Press ALT+A to show all devices, and then select an appropriate mouse driver from the list. </li>  After you press the OK button, restart your computer when you are prompted to do so. </li></ol>

= MORE INFORMATION =

The Microsoft Mouse driver versions 9.0 and 9.01 are not designed to work with Windows 95. However, the Microsoft IntelliPoint and IntelliType software version 1.1 does work with Windows 95 and should be available concurrently with Windows 95. Please call the Microsoft Sales and Information Center at (800) 426-9400 for information about these products.

KBCategory: kbenv KBSubcategory: win95 wpp95 windrvvr Additional reference words: 9.00 9.01 95

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Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1995.