"Could not load" mesage at start up.

I recently starting removing some programs from my computer that I didn't need anymore. Now, when I boot up my computer, I get a pop-up window that says, "Could not load or run 'REGISTER.EXE' specified in the WIN.INI file. Make sure the file exists on your computer or the reference to it in the WIN.INI file." I'm sure this has something to do with my removal of unnecessary programs but, I looked and couldn't find the WIN.INI file. I would appreciate any suggestions.

 

What did you use to remove these programs? Add/Remove Programs? Or just deleting them off the computer?

Read the Welcome to Computers post at the top of the Forums.
We need much more information.

 

{varies with os}you can do a search(start button,search, files and folders) and type in win.ini, or you can go to start button, choose run, and type in sysedit, or win.ini. If you can find the referance and remove it and have no more problems, you will be lucky. Alot of times you have to hunt them down in the registry, which I would not recommend to the faint of heart.

 

I used the add/remove program. I am using Windows 98 on an IBM Aptiva (a few years old). AMD processor with 48 MGs and 333 mz. I still have 60% of available memory. The message appears when I boot up so I am doing nothing else when the message appears. I did use the search strategy you suggested but had no luck. Also went into the system folders but didn't see anything that looked like what I wanted so I didn't do anything there. I did find registration items for two programs I have, Family Tree and Text Bridge (a scanner program), but the icon I removed that was on the desktop didn't look anything like those. I suspect it was a program my wife used when that was our only computer and she downloaded something from the internet but she has no memory of it (that was some time ago). I can think of nothing else that might help.

Thank you.

 

Go here:
http://www.vtoy.fi/jv16/shtml/regcleaner.shtml
and download reg cleaner. Run it and see if that helps.

 

The contents of the Win.ini file can be viewed using MSCONFIG. Go to Start, Run, type MSCONFIG and enter. Click on the WIN.INI tab and look for the REGISTER.EXE reference. It may be under another heading (probably [run]) so you may have to expand some of the headings. You can delete the reference from there, but I would check to see exactly what the command is (in other words, it won't be just "register.exe", there will be a directory reference in front of it.) It's probably something like "c:\program files\some program you've downloaded\register.exe" or something similar. I'm sure it's one of the programs you've deleted, if so, just delete the reference. If not, you need to reinstall that program.

It's been a while since I've used Win98, but I pretty sure MSCONFIG is include in it. You may have to use SYSEDIT (this is the Win95 version of MSCONFIG.) But the procedure is basically the same. You're looking for the Win.ini file and the register.exe reference in that file.

BTW, if neither command works, you can also browse to your Windows folder and look for Win.ini in it. However, you will have to make Windows let you view hidden files and folders in the Tools, Folder Options, View tab (which is probably why Search did not find it - or show it anyway.)

Good luck!

 

Brandon,

That was brilliant! I followed your directions and the problem was solved in about two minutes. Thank you. Tae, I was going to try your suggestion next. Thanks both of you for taking the time to deal with my problem.

Dale

 

Out of curiosity (since I don't remember) which one worked? The MSCONFIG or SYSEDIT?

Glad I could help.

 

Brandon,

It was the MISCONFIG. Everything is running smoothly now. Thanks again.

Dale