autoexec keeps computer from booting

The os is windows 98. This is a friends computer.

They said it would freeze on the Windows 98 splash screen. So I tracked it down and was able to get it to boot by completely disabling the autoexec.bat in msconfig. Here is what it looked like:

SET SNDSCAPE=C:\WINDOWS
SET BLASTER=A220 I7 D1 T2
REM [HEADER]
@ ECHO OFF










REM [CD-ROM Drive]

REM [Miscellaneous]

REM [Display]

REM [Sound, Midi, or Video Capture Card]

REM [Mouse]

REM - By Windows Setup - Set NWLANGUAGE=ENGLISH

C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\NETWORK~1\vIRUSS~1\40~1.XX\scan.exe C:\
@IF ERRORLEVEL 1 PAUSE


I didn't like the last two lines, so I did a diagnostic boot, and when it asked me if I wanted to load them I said No, and it still froze on boot up. Thats when I went in and took the check out of the autoexec.bat causing it to not load.

What can I do to have the autoexec load and windows not freeze?

 

try putting REM in fron of the last two lines

 

Errr? Doesn't REM=Remove? Did this just take your system out? I could be wrong.

 

REM keeps it from loading.

i'll try that zealottc

fyi, the system seemed fully functional with not having the autoexec not loading.

 

Bit of a guess here, but what the heck.

If the last two lines aren't doing it, the first two must be. The first looks harmless so try REMarking out the second line. It's trying to set the interrupt, IO address etc. for the sound card and this could be causing a hardware conflict that hangs the PC.

These lines are only needed for DOS games, so may never be needed. If they are you could try changing the value of the interrupt etc.

PS - Just checked google and this site has more details - looks like it's the settings for an Ensoniq Soundscape card.

They list the first two lines in you friend's autoexec .bat in a different order, but I don't think that will matter.

 

I'd recommend you also turn on logging so that you can see where the computer hangs to help you pinpoint the problem. I believe you can find that option during bootup by pressing F8 at the appropriate time (same way to access safe-mode, etc..)

post what it says here and see what can be caught.

 

thank you lesrae. I'm pretty sure it is an Ensoniq sound card, b/c it is a Gateway 2000 (we actually have the exact same pc and ours is an ensoniq).

I'll post back if that doesn't work.