DriveSpace May Fail to Restart in Mini-Windows Mode

Last reviewed: March 20, 1998
Article ID: Q136830
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you perform a DriveSpace operation that requires Windows 95 to restart, Windows 95 may be unable to restart in mini-Windows mode, causing the operation to fail. You may receive an error message similar to one of the following messages, or your computer may stop responding (hang).

  • DrvSpace caused a General Protection Fault in module W31SPACE.EXE
  • DrvSpace caused a Page Fault in module W31SPACE.EXE
  • Error Loading PROGMAN.EXE
  • Error Loading GDI.EXE
  • Error Loading USER.EXE
  • Error loading VGA.DRV
  • Cannot start Windows in standard mode
  • Segment load failure in W31space.exe
  • Standard Mode: Bad fault in MSDos Extender

CAUSE

This problem can occur if the files in the hidden Failsafe.drv folder or the Mini.cab file in the Windows\System folder are damaged. These files are required for Windows 95 to restart in mini-Windows mode.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:

  1. Restart your computer at an MS-DOS prompt. To do so, press the F8 key when you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, and then choose Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.

  2. Backup your Autoexec.bat and Config.sys files, and then copy the Autoexec.bat and Config.sys files from the hidden Failsafe.drv folder on the physical boot drive (usually either drive C or the host for drive C if drive C is compressed) to the root directory of drive C, replacing the files that are already there. To backup your Autoexec.bat and Config.sys files and then copy the files, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each line

          copy <drive>:\autoexec.bat autoexec.xxx
          copy <drive>:\config.sys config.xxx
          copy <drive>:\failsafe.drv\autoexec.bat c:\ /y
          copy <drive>:\failsafe.drv\config.sys c:\ /y
    

    where <drive> is the physical boot drive.

  3. Remove the Failsafe.drv folder from the physical boot drive (usually either drive C or the host for drive C if drive C is compressed).

    IMPORTANT NOTE: The Failsafe.drv folder may contain drivers necessary for troubleshooting if this procedure does not correct the problem. You should copy the Failsafe.drv folder and all its contents to another drive or folder before deleting it. To remove the Failsafe.drv folder, type the following command at an MS- DOS command prompt

          deltree <drive>:\failsafe.drv
    

    where <drive> is the physical boot drive.

  4. Copy the Mini.cab file from your original Windows 95 disks or CD-ROM to the Windows\System folder.

    NOTE: The Mini.cab file is located on disk 1 of the standard 3.5-inch Windows 95 disks, or in the Win95 folder on the Windows 95 CD-ROM. You can copy this file using Windows Explorer or the COPY command. You do not need to use the EXTRACT command with this file.

    If you are using Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95 and you do not have access to your original Windows 95 disks or CD-ROM, you can extract the Mini.cab file from the Microsoft Plus! disks or CD-ROM. The Mini.cab file is located in the Plus_2.cab file on the CD-ROM, or in the Plus_1.cab file on the disks. For information about using the EXTRACT command, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

          ARTICLE-ID: Q129605
    
          TITLE     : How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files
    
    

  5. Restart Windows 95 normally.

  6. Run DriveSpace and try the operation again.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about DriveSpace operations that require Windows 95 to restart, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q124558
   TITLE     : DriveSpace Err Msg: Mini.cab File Is Missing or Damaged...


Additional query words: 95
Keywords : drvspace win95 winplus kberrmsg kbtool
Version : 95
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb


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Last reviewed: March 20, 1998
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