Creating a New Win.com File When You Cannot Start Windows

When you try to start Windows 95/98, you may receive one of the following error messages and be returned to the MS-DOS prompt:

• The following file is missing or corrupted: Win.com
• The following file is missing or corrupted: Win.com Program too big to fit in memory
• Cannot find Win.com, unable to continue loading Windows
• Program too large

This issue can occur if the Win.com file is missing or damaged. Check the file to see if it is the correct size:

Create a new Win.com file by extracting the Win.cnf file from your Windows disks or CD-ROM to the Windows folder, and then renaming it to Win.com. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Extract the Win.cnf file from your Windows disks or CD-ROM to the Windows folder. For information about how to do so, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
   ARTICLE-ID: 129605  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/129605/EN-US/ )
   TITLE : How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files
   NOTE: The Win.cnf file is in the following locations:
   • Disk 3 of the original Windows 95 disks
   • Win95_03.cab of the original Windows 95 CD-ROM
   • Win98_28.cab of the original Windows 98 CD-ROM
   • Win98_25.cab of the original Windows 98 Second Edition CD-ROM
2. Rename the Win.cnf file in the Windows folder to Win.com. To do so, type the following line, and then press ENTER:
   
   ren c:\windows\win.cnf c:\windows\win.com
3. Restart your computer.

If the Win.com file is too small, you receive the first error message listed above. If the Win.com file is too large, you receive the second error message. If the Win.com file is missing, you receive the third error message.