Why do I keep getting a message saying "while initializing device VK"?

While booting up my PC, after the Windows 98 logo briefly appears on screen, system takes me directly to a DOS screen that shows several options to select ...dos prompt, sod prompt in safe mode, safe mode, etc...there is a countdown clock that runs with a default setting to take me directly to safe mode. If I let it run on its own, it stops at the following line that reads...."while initializing device VK"...then nothing happens. Can you probvide any guidance?

This question was answered on December 15, 2004. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

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Go into your system.ini folder and make sure the keyboard lines look normal under [386enh]

it should say: keyboard=*vkd under [boot] it should say keyboard.drv=keyboard.drv and the

[keyboard]column should look like this:

subtype=

type=4

keyboard.dll=

oemansi.bin=

Here are things to try.

Reboot with the keyboard detached, if the error doesn't occur, it is the keyboard, if it still occurs, it is either software or the motherboard port.

You can also try another different keyboard and see what happens.

1 If win95, restore registry with the system.1st file if win98, run a scanreg /restore and choose a date before problem started.

2 Try a system clean boot Rename the system.ini and use the system.cb file as a new one, (remember to add those 4 lines of happiness) that give mouse support and keep mmsystem errors from showing on reboot.

3 if these fail, try a full restore of system files (complete format and reinstall).

4 If a restore doesn't resolve it, you may need the motherboard replaced.

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Posted by Henry of Katharine Gibbs School - New York on December 15, 2004

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