MY 98se comuter has and (error:dos confiquration file) on it everytime
I start up. MY computer guy cannot fiqure out what the error is or how
to get rid of it. He has reformatted and install windows many times
after the error appears. Each time it shows up in a different
application. Has anyone encountered this type of error and what did
you do to correct it.

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Request for Question Clarification by clouseau-ga on 09 Jul 2003 11:52 PDT

Hello baybridge,

Most often, this error refers to a problem in the config.sys file. Can
you open that in notepad and paste the contents here? This may help
isolate the problem.

Regards,

-=clouseau=-

PS, the comment below is not totally correct. DOS is more than a DOs
shell on Windows 98. I highly doubt the problem is a BIOS error, as
well.

there's not enough information to decide what exact is the bug.
but since u've already down reformatting and re-installation,
you can try the following 3 ways:
1. low-format. if there's a harddrive error that normal format won't
work,
 find a software to low-format the harddrive, ask your comp guy for
it, he should have the software. the only harm is your harddrive will
"shrink" by a couple bytes, which is not that big a deal when you have
1GB + harddrive.
2. check your operation system source file (CD, network, whatever u'd
installing windows from.)  the windows systems after 3.2 (so 95 and
up) are all non-dos systems, the "dos" in it is only a command shell,
in other words, fake dos.
3. check bios.  i think this is a most possible problem.  download a
newer version of your bios and get your comp guy to flash it.

Hmm, I wouldn't listen to the comments from neo_dragon_kai-ga.

1. A low-level format is (usually) done only by the drive manufacturer
these days.  Occasionally, the drive manufacturer will give out this
utility, but it is almost certainly NOT necessary.

2. As closeau said, Windows 98 provides a real DOS environment.  It
wasn't until Windows ME that it began to be removed and Windows 2000
that it was completely gone.

3. Flashing the BIOS is generally not necessary unless the problem is
obviously going to be solved.  The motherboard manufacturer will list
the changes/bug fixes that are provided by a BIOS update.  Flashing
the BIOS is not something to be taken lightly as errors in the process
can very easily leave you dead in the water.

Closeau is probably on the right track.

Other questions would be:
Are you installing "old" software (i.e., DOS-based software)?

You say this happens when you start up, but then say in different
applications?
Do you mean that different applications are listed with the error?  Or
when you start up different applications this occurs?  Is there more
to the error message than this?

Bradley

if the error is in config.sys, reinstall the whole system should have
fixed it.

eek, isn't windows 98's memory allocated by windows, hence some older
DOS software wouldn't ran in windows?  I've always thought of Dos
Shell in windows 98 as a command shell.  (i used to have a seperate
DOS OP to play old old games)

the reason i suggested the 3 solutions is because i failed to see how
re-install the system on a freshly formatted harddrive would keep the
error if it's actually configuration error.  it's not like config.sys
is being kept.

low-format would fix some harddrive related problems.  True that it
wasn't even a common practice in the old days but once again, i failed
to see the problem being OP related.  however, i just thought of this,
i have no idea how long it would take to run a low format in today's
harddrive consider their volume, last time i did it was in 95-96 era. 
you know, when Win 95 just came out on pentiums?

i just thought i should clarify,
the solutions i gave is the last resort solution,
i just thought u don't really have much to lose if you 
already formatted your HD.