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

• Microsoft Windows 98
• Microsoft Windows 95
• Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release version 2

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:

Windows 98:	24,791 bytes
Windows 95:	22,679 bytes
Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2:	24,503 bytes

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:

1. 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: Q129605
   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
   
   
   



2. 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



3. Restart your computer.

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

Keywords          : kbenv kberrmsg osr2 win95 winboot 
Version           : 95 98
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb 

Last Reviewed: January 22, 1999