Solutions: Missing drivers troubling USB port

By JOHN TORRO
© St. Petersburg Times
published December 31, 2001

Q. I have a USB problem. I get this message: "Ntkern.vxd (device loader's) for this device could not load the device driver. Code #2." When I first set up the USB port it worked fine, then later it began giving me the error message. Also, I find the same error for my keyboard.

A. This is a known problem for systems where the following conditions are true:

An OEM, or original equipment manufacturer, version of Microsoft Windows 98 or 98 SE is installed on your computer.

The Hidclass.sys, Hidparse.sys or Hidusb.sys files are missing or improperly installed.

Microsoft recommends this solution:

Make sure that the Hidclass.sys, Hidparse.sys or Hidusb.sys files are in the Windows\System32\Drivers folder. If any are missing, extract a new copy of that file from the OEM Windows 98 CD-ROM, then install the file in the Windows\System32\Drivers folder. To do this:

1. Click Start, then click Run and type SFC.

2. Click Extract one file from installation disk.

3. In the "Specify the system file you would like to restore" box, type the name of the missing file, then click Start.

4. In the "Restore from" box, type the following line drive:\Win98 where drive is the drive letter of the CD-ROM drive.

5. In the "Save file in" box, type the following line, then click OK: C:\Windows\System32\Drivers

6. Click OK, then click OK again.

7. When you are prompted to restart your computer, click Yes.

Repeat these steps to reinstall each missing file.

A stuck RealJukebox

Q. I use Windows 98 SE. When I start up my computer, I get the following error message: "A Required file DLL.PNGU3263.DLL was not found." Can you tell me how I can get this file? Or if it isn't needed, how can I stop this error message from appearing when I start my computer?

A. This is a known problem involving the RealJukebox media player. If this file is missing or corrupted, RealJukebox cannot start. You can try uninstalling (through Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs), then reinstalling RealJukebox (go to its Web site to get the latest version). Or you can just remove RealJukebox from the Startup group. To do this:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.

2. Type Msconfig, then click OK.

3. In System Configuration utility, click to clear all check boxes related to the RealJukebox program from the various Startup tabs.

4. Click Apply, click OK, then click Yes to restart your computer.

Resetting the clock

Q. My clock is about a half-hour slow. I looked in Control Panel but found nothing about setting a clock.

A. The Control Panel applet that controls the clock settings is called Date/Time. To get there, double-click the clock in your task bar (usually the lower right of your display).

Hitting a hidden OK button

Q. I cannot set 256 colors on Windows 98 because the Properties display screen is below the monitor bottom edge and the OK button is not visible. Going to Advanced is no help because the lower section is still hidden. Is there any way to reduce the vertical size of the screen image?

A. If you're able to set the number of colors, but can't see the OK button (which should be the default button if you hit the Enter key), try tabbing four times, which should highlight the OK button, then hit the Enter key.

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