UNABLE TO CONTROL A20 LINE

[lemsion]

HELLO TECHS
I have this error message, "Unable to control A20 line, XMS driver not installed" each time I boot my computer.The drive was affected by NYB virus,I tried to clear the virus to no avail.So I formatted the drive.It worked for a few days.When I try to boot now it gives me the same error message "Unable to control A20 line
XMS driver not installed
Missing HIMEM.SYS"
Well any idea is welcome.I really need a solution.BYE
LEMSION

 

[ifican]

Hi !

What is your OS ?

Do you you clean your virus with last version of your antivirus ?

Have you been on antivirus site to see if NYB virus doesn't infected your memory ?? Because some antivirus just clean your H.D., not your memory.

 

[lemsion]

Hi ifican,
Thanks for your contribution.
My operating system is Windows 98
Yes I cleaned the virus with Norton Anti-Virus Rescue Disk
My hard disk is OK.
How do I clean the memory?

 

[satrow]

Isn't this related to a bios memory controller fault?


Andy.

 

[lemsion]

Hello Satraw;
Thanks. I am not sure.
Give me another idea to try.For I have tried many ways of resolving the problem but all in Vain.Please help.IS LEMSION

 

[satrow]

See this

http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/sys/booterrGBER01-c.html

Andy.

 

[satrow]

Also some ideas here

http://blog.thedevins.com/archives/000511.php

Andy.

 

[swayda]

The message you are receiving is an old DOS message. DOS could only use 20 memory address lines until the HIMEM.SYS driver fixed the problem. If HIMEM.SYS is missing from your system it will be reported as such as you have noted. Windows 4.x is a descendant of DOS.

Memory can't be infected by a virus like a disk. When the power goes off memory is cleared of all data.

Your fastest solution is to make a boot disk, copy HIMEM.SYS to it, boot your computer and copy it to your Windows directory.

Don Swayser
swayser@optonline.net

 

[lemsion]

Hello Swayda,
Thanks a lot for your suggestion. I made a new bootable disk and copied the HIMEM.SYS but it did not resolve the problem.I tried to boot but the same error message came on.I even tried running safe mode command prompt but I was not able to reach the command prompt. So give me another idea.

 

[satrow]

Have you tried starting with a different keyboard?

Andy.

 

[lemsion]

Satrow;
I have done that.I am just confused

 

[swayda]

When you see the message "Starting Windows" tap the F-8 key. Choose command prompt. Type
edit config.sys
The config.sys should read.
device=c:\windows\himem.sys

That's the A-20 handler. It may have others and among hem should be

device=c:\windows\emm386.exe

That could be

devicehigh=c:\windows\emm386.exe

himem.sys must come before emm386.exe.

I've seen that message before and every single time it has been fixed by loading himem.sys. I seriously doubt it's your hardware.

Make sure both himem and emm are in the directory the device= points to.

I'm not at home right now. I will post a copy of the config.sys I am using on a Windows 4.0 system at home.

Don Swayser
swayser@optonline.net