[Fineus]

Ok, for some strange reason I've got a major problem with my computer... it won't even get as far as windows - here's what happens.

Initial startup is ok - as far as the windows 98 splash screen. Following this it takes about five minutes to load the next screen, which says the following:

Error initializing device VKD

Windows error: Please restart your computer.

Press any key to continue.

Now I've no idea what device VKD is, or what it's broken - the system was fine this morning, I went into college and on arrival home it's coming up with this message at each attempt to start up. Safe mode has no effect and changing the BIOS settings back to their safety defaults also doesn't seem to do anything.

This is really important, if anyone has any idea of what can fix it short of a disk wipe I'd love to know - perhaps re-installing windows 98 over the original install but I've never done that before so I'd like someone to say it'd be a good idea before I actually go ahead and screw things up anymore than they already are. Nothing on the internet sheds any light on this - so this is my only chance short of formatting the drive and loosing a shed load of data.

So.. ahh.. help!

Edit: And just incase anyone was wondering I'm using my dads computer now...

[Stealth]

try this:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q263318&


EDIT:

While initializing device vkd error
Added 6/22/01

If you get the error:

While initializing device vkd -- Windows Protection Error -- You need to restart your computer

while booting your computer, try replacing the keyboard

EDIT 2:  yeah, various sources say replace your keyboard

http://www.aumha.org/kbewpe.php

[Warlock]

Re-install win

VXD is a virtual device driver ,... Keyboards and such have them....One time I got this error I happened to have ghosted a spare install of Win98 onto a different HD so I just booted with that and deleted then replaced ALL my vxd files on the main drive.

I've also gotten this a few times that merely pulling the power for 5 minutes did the trick. (as in unpluggin not just shutting down)

But worst case ... you'll just have to reinstall your OS and it'll be find. You might get away with a scandisk repair from the boot disk.

[Warlock]

Originally posted by Stealth
While initializing device vkd -- Windows Protection Error -- You need to restart your computer while booting your computer, try replacing the keyboard

This will work if the error IS the keyboard itself going bad vs the VXD files being corrupted.

[Stealth]

Originally posted by Warlock
Re-install win

that's CRAP... never just install windows or format or anything... rather LOOK for help!  look at my previous post Thunder

[Stealth]

Originally posted by Warlock



This will work if the error IS the keyboard itself going bad vs the VXD files being corrupted.

we're not talking VXD, we're talking VKD


A windows protection fault means that a program (in this case the Virtual Keyboard device driver i.e. VKD) tried to read or write a part of the system memory that is off limits. This mechanism is supposed to protect the system from crashing.

Unfortunately a low level device crash like what you're having is bad news and involves reinstalling Windows

[an0n]

What've you got plugged into yer PCI's?

[Warlock]

Originally posted by Stealth


we're not talking VXD, we're talking VKD


A windows protection fault means that a program (in this case the Virtual Keyboard device driver i.e. VKD) tried to read or write a part of the system memory that is off limits. This mechanism is supposed to protect the system from crashing.

Unfortunately a low level device crash like what you're having is bad news and involves reinstalling Windows

Christ relax ,... I've had this happen before and this was how I fixed it.

And umm ... vKd is A vXd file. Hence why I typed it.

[Fineus]

Unfortunately the solutions they've offered isn't working, although I agree that you seem to have found the right error... disconnecting then reconnecting the keyboard does nothing, using a different keyboard also does nothing.

And for what it's worth both keyboards work as I was able to choose between normal and safe mode at the option screen....

[an0n]

Try putting the keyboard on another machine, finding the driver files it makes/downloads/gets/has for that keyboard. Copy them to a disk. Boot into DOS. Copy the driver into /windows and /windows/system (and maybe system32).

[Warlock]

Then I'm betting it's most likely the vkd file itself has been corrupted.

Have you tried booting with a boot disk or the win-whichever-version CD and running scandisk ?

[Warlock]

it'll be in the :windows\system32\drivers folder.

Prolly listed as hidvkd.sys,... I'm not 100% but I think the vkd file is standard to Win not to each keyboard.

[Stealth]

:: screw it ::

[Stealth]

:: screw it ::

[Nico]

man, you really need to cool down. VKD stands for keyboard as you say, X stands for non specified if you want, it's a generic name to design various extensions of the same kind, same as mpeg groups mp3, mp4, etc etc.

[an0n]

Right! That's it Stealth: No Disneyland for you.
Warlock: No Strip-club for you...........unless I can tag along. Hehe

[Stealth]

yeah, but warlock's being a fag

[an0n]

Originally posted by Stealth
yeah, but warlock's being a fag

Eh? Are you stoned? Far as I can tell he's mostly ignored you.

[Warlock]

*sigh* Stealth ... ease off the coffee buddy.

One ... If you "read" what I've said ... I stated it happened several times to me and EACH time was a DIFFERENT method to fix it.

First time: I swapped IDE cables between my primary and secondary HDs and booted from a clean backup install of Win98 ...copy and pasted the ENTIRE vXd (ANY file with a V _INSERT LETTER_ D in it) into the original windows set up folder and it was up and running

Second time : I just unplugged the system and 5 minutes later it worked fine

Third Time : I ran scandisk from my bootdisk ....which performs a registry and system filke check ....then it repaired the corruptted file.

Fourth Time I just hit the reset button and walked off because i was tired and in a crap mood and the next morning Windows was completely loaded and my screensaver running.

But I didn't think Thunder needed a step by step walk through since he's smart enough to understand what I had said.


Anon : Bro I don't do strip clubs anymore ..... why pay to look but not touch and play  ?

So let's road trip to Nevada instead!

[an0n]

Originally posted by Warlock
Anon : Bro I don't do strip clubs anymore ..... why pay to look but not touch and play  ?

So let's road trip to Nevada instead!

Fine. State-line brothel it is then.