Safe Mode Boot Does Not Process Machine Switch for Himem.sys

 Last reviewed: August 22, 1995
Article ID: Q133442
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

You may not be able to start Windows 95 in Safe mode if your computer requires a machine-switch parameter on the Himem.sys line in the Config.sys file in order to boot.

CAUSE

When you start Windows 95 in Safe mode, the Config.sys file is not processed. Therefore, the Himem.sys line, and any parameter on the line, is not processed.

RESOLUTION

To process the Himem.sys line when you start Windows 95 in Safe mode, follow these steps:

  1. Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8 key, and then choose Step-by-Step Confirmation from the Startup menu.

  2. Press Y when you are prompted to load the DoubleSpace driver, press N when you are prompted to process the system registry, press Y when you are prompted to process the startup device drivers, and then press Y when you are prompted to process Himem.sys, Ifshlp.sys, and Setver.exe.

  3. Press N when you are prompted to process the startup command file (Autoexec.bat) and when you are prompted to load the Windows graphical user interface.

  4. At the command prompt, type "win /d:m" (without quotation marks) to start Windows 95 in Safe mode.

MORE INFORMATION

The following line is an example of a Himem.sys line with a machine-switch parameter: 

   device=c:\windows\himem.sys /m:1

KBCategory: kbenv
KBSubcategory: wpp95 win95 winboot
Additional reference words: 95



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Last reviewed: August 22, 1995
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