Calling all Computer Geniuses - "fatal exception" error on start up - Win 95?

Question

Hello and Thanks in advance for your insights/help:

I recently took down a 10 year old computer from my closet shelf; I want to save the data files I have on that hard drive and back them up on a DVD.

It is a Compaq Presario laptop, model 1220, running Windows 95 (remember that?!) I turn it on, the Windows music plays, my initial screensaver comes up, but then the icons and "My Computer" button do not show up - I get an error message instead - every time, even after pressing F10 and running ScanDisk, which always seems to run ok and never indicates anything wrong with the hard drive.

Here's the error message, exactly, word for word:

"A fatal exception 0E has occurred at 0028: C0266970 in VXD VMMC (06) + 00002970. The current application will be terminated. x press any key to terminate the current application."

Then two options are given below the above message, exactly as below:

"Press Ctrl-Alt-Del again to restart your computer. You will lose any unsaved information in all applications." "Press any key to continue..."

(A long message, but that's precisely it - word for word)

Of course, I have tried both options to no avail - I cannot get past this annoying message to access the Start button to access the Hard Drive, no matter what I do (run Scan Disk - again and again, or do the Ctrl/alt/del thing, or "press any key" - the same merry-go-round happens over and over, leaving me with that stinking error message. )

Anybody have a clue as to how to defeat that message and/or repair the damage?

I still have the master re-start disk (from Compaq), but I'm afraid if I put that thing in (I've never ever done it before) it'll wipe the hard drive clean, and the whole point is I WANT MY DATA.

Thanks,

Dave in Arizona

Answer 1

After doing some quick research, I found an article that links this problem to a Symantec program. (Norton's anti-virus maybe?)



My best recommendation is to try booting into safe mode first. This is done by pressing F8 as the computer boots up. It should go to a black and white screen.You should be able to pick safe mode from there.



If you can get in, you should try to uninstall any Symantec products. (Norton's anti-virus maybe?) Also, back up your info from here, just in case.

Answer 2

As the computer is booting, when you either hear a beep or when you see the message "Starting Windows 95", press your F8 key. If done properly you should get into the Windows 95 Startup menu screen. In this black and white menu choose option 3 to enter Safe Mode to access a driverless version of your desktop. There you can diagnose any startup programs or devices that may causing the problem.

Answer 3

take out the internal hard drive and covert it to a external hard drive, the more memory the better once u do that you can convert it from there 2 wherever u need to, its pretty hard to do so try and get geek squad to do it.