"Cannot find a device file"

Jo4

I deleted files which I thought were no longer needed on an old computer because it stated it was short of memory.  The computer is only used for one program,  The person who owns the computer said that they had created files and that they were no longer using them so I transferred them to an external hard drive which they own.  However when you switch on the computer you get the following two screens although when you press the enter button after each screen the computer then goes to the log in screen.  I am delighted to say it does allow you to log in however how can I get the computer to go straight to the log in screen rather than having to press enter on the two screens below?

Neil_Jones

What version of Windows is this?  That message is common on Windows 95, 98 and ME.

https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/v60392881 may or may not work on that version of Windows.

booneruk

I haven't seen an error screen like that in many a year!

It looks like Symantec files that are expected to be there are no longer (typically a manual deletion of a folder rather than running the uninstaller would do this). When you get into windows is there a listing for any symantec applications in add/remove programs? If you can run the uninstaller it might get rid of the issue. 

If you can't find an uninstaller, perhaps try installing Revo Uninstaller and see if that can find any symantec things to uninstall (though if the version of Windows is as ancient as I expect you might not be able to run this tool)

https://www.revouninstaller.com/products/revo-uninstaller-free/

Jo4

Neil_Jones said:

What version of Windows is this?  That message is common on Windows 95, 98 and ME.

https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/v60392881 may or may not work on that version of Windows.

Windows 98

The computer no longer works online.

Jo4

booneruk said:

I haven't seen an error screen like that in many a year!

It looks like Symantec files that are expected to be there are no longer (typically a manual deletion of a folder rather than running the uninstaller would do this). When you get into windows is there a listing for any symantec applications in add/remove programs? If you can run the uninstaller it might get rid of the issue. 

If you can't find an uninstaller, perhaps try installing Revo Uninstaller and see if that can find any symantec things to uninstall (though if the version of Windows is as ancient as I expect you might not be able to run this tool)

https://www.revouninstaller.com/products/revo-uninstaller-free/

It is a very old computer but the person that is using it has other computers but still uses this one for one program.

I went to Add / Remove programs and trying uninstalling it from there.

I will try this when I am near this computer again which may be this evening, hence posting on here today for help!

mta999

system.ini or the registry (or both) specify which files are to be executed at startup

If you have deleted that file you will get this message. you need to remove reference to this startup file from system.ini and/or the registry

You will have to use regedit to edit the registry. I believe system.ini is a simple text file

Jo4

mta999 said:

system.ini or the registry (or both) specify which files are to be executed at startup

If you have deleted that file you will get this message. you need to remove reference to this startup file from system.ini and/or the registry

You will have to use regedit to edit the registry. I believe system.ini is a simple text file

How would I do that?

mta999

use regedit (google how), search in turn for those two file names, delete the key referring to them

PHK

mta999 said:

system.ini or the registry (or both) specify which files are to be executed at startup

If you have deleted that file you will get this message. you need to remove reference to this startup file from system.ini and/or the registry

You will have to use regedit to edit the registry. I believe system.ini is a simple text file

VXD files are device drivers, connected to hardware. I believe these particular ones relate to low level scanning of the hardware 

Removing the registry entries may cause further problems with the software that relies on these drivers. 

My suggestion would be to copy the deleted files from the backup the OP made. Then make use cleanup and defragment and only then if storage (not memory ) is low use control panel to uninstall unused software. Also empty temporary files and any documents no longer needed. 

GDB2222

I assume that you transferred a whole bunch of files from the folder programs/symantec/ to the spare drive. The first thing to try is just to transfer them back.

If that doesn’t work, look in add/remove programs and report back here with the names of anything from Symantec or Norton.

Which particular program does your friend use on this pc?