T-21 + Win98SE with "Phantom" Hardware

[oldbob]

Long Story:

I was at the local library "hot spot" using my T-21 Thinkpad notebook [running Win98SE] and having trouble connecting to the internet. I normally use a Realtek wireless LAN card, and switched to a US Robotic card, I don't have a driver CD for this card so I was unable to connect.

When I went back to the Realtek card I started getting a message "New hardware found". This is after the US Robotic card was removed. Now every time I boot up I get the "New hardware" message, even when there is NO CARD in the PCMCIA slot !!!

I went into - Control Panel > Add New Hardware and found "Unknown device" message [even when NOTHING is installed] !!! There is no option to REMOVE new hardware only how to further install it.

I suspect I will have to go into the registry and do some editing, BUT I have no idea where to start.

Any advice/suggestions ???

[andyP]

Do you know SCANREG?
If you can boot into DOS, from cd or fdd, go to, (if I remember rightly), C:\win98\system und type in SCANREG. This should back up the registry and offer the opportunity to roll back the registry to a previous date. (W98 backs up the registry automatically during the first boot each day for a total of 5 times, then it overwrites). As your T21 works, it might be worth first checking the location of scanreg in windows.

All files betwwen the registry date you choose to restore to and now will probably go missing. Do NOT forget to backup any important files.

[oldbob]

andyP,

Thanks for response, how about if I "Run" Scanreg ?

[andyP]

If windows is running it doesn't work. However, you jogged my memory again, I believe there may have also been "scanregw" which might work when windows is running. Don't forget, you've got maximum 4 attempts.

[oldbob]

andyP,

You're correct, I ran scanreg with Windows running and all I got was "No registry errors".

Will boot up in DOS and try again.

[oldbob]

After trying unsuccessfully to use - C:\> ScanReg /Restore
(Earliest date was day I inserted US Robotic card)

This got my 76 year old brain "in gear" [spending time on Linux] I tried -

Control Panel > Network (icon)

And there was listed all my network connections. I removed all but Realtek [my working LAN card] and rebooted Win98SE.

This was the message -

The "error message" is a "black & white" screen that appears BEFORE Win98SE starts to load. It reads as follows -

"Cannot find a device file that may be need to run Windows or a Windows application.

The Windows registry or SYSTEM.INI file refers to the device file, but the device file no longer exists.

If you deleted the file on purpose, try uninstalling the associated application using the uninstall or setup program.

If you still want to use the application associated with this device file, try reinstalling that application to replace the missing file.

Sibbri.386

Press any key to continue"

There is no box to check to block this message and I don't think Win98SE has an "Install Wizard".

Voila! - The message was GONE !!! and operation is back to what it was before.

Thanks again for all your interest and support.

[andyP]

Shame scanreg didn't work out, seems it was too late But glad you got it solved.