I recently deleted some wallpaper files. Now every time I bootup this message appears: ‘Cannot find a device file that may be needed to run Windows or a Windows application. The Windows Registry or SYSTEM.INI file refers to this device file, but the device file no longer exists. If you deleted this file on purpose, try uninstalling the application using its uninstall or setup program. If you still want to use the application associated with this device file, try reinstalling the application to replace the missing file. Press a key to continue. C:SYSTEMVMM32Hpzio100.vxd’. Everything seems to be running just fine apart from the above annoying message on bootup. I have reinstalled Windows 98 and tried to get the file back through the System File Checker but I can’t find anything like it. What do you advise?

As HPZIO100.VXD is a component of Hewlett Packard printer drivers, I assume that you have an HP printer. Although I am not sure how the file was deleted when deleting wallpaper, you should be able to fix this problem one of two ways. Either remove the reference to this file from the Windows Registry or reinstall your printer drivers. Before you go any further, make sure that your printer does in fact work properly. It may not, as this file has now gone missing. If it doesn’t, you will need to reinstall your printer drivers. However, even if your printer does work, I suggest that you try reinstalling your printer drivers instead of deleting the entry to the file in the registry. To do this, ensure that you have your original HP printer drivers CD or go to the HP website (www.hp.com.au) and download the appropriate driver. Once you have your drivers, go to the ‘Start’ menu > ‘Settings’ > ‘Printers’. Delete your currently installed HP printer. Now follow the instructions on either the CD or the instructions on the HP website or inside the drivers package you downloaded. However, if reinstalling your printer drivers does not help, then you will probably have to remove the entry to this file from the registry. However, do so at your own risk. The registry is quite a volatile part of Windows. You should not change anything else in the registry or it could cause major damage to your Windows installation. On that cautionary note, go to the ‘Start’ menu > ‘Run’ and type ‘regedit’ (without the quotes) and click OK. When the ‘Registry Editor’ appears, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesVXD. Expand VXD and delete the HPZIO100 entry. Do not delete anything else. Once you have done this, exit the Registry Editor and reboot Windows. The problem should, hopefully have been solved.