Issue with SMARTDRV.EXE or RMM.PDR
The following steps can resolve any of the following errors: "Windows protection error," "IOS error," "While initializing device IOS: Windows protection error. You must restart your computer.," "While initializing IOS: Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer.," "Windows initializing device IOS: Windows protection error. IOS failed to initialize, please restart," or "Windows initializing device IOS: Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer" in Windows 95.
Temporarily rename the SMARTDRV.EXE and the RMM.PDR by following the following steps.
- Boot the computer to an MS-DOS prompt.
- Once at the DOS prompt, type:
C: <press Enter>
cd\windows <press Enter>
ren smartdrv.exe smartdrv.ch <press Enter>
- Once smartdrv.exe is temporarily renamed, reboot the computer to determine if the issue is still present.
If the issue persists, rename the RMM.PDR by following the following steps.
- Boot the computer to an MS-DOS prompt.
- Once at the DOS prompt, type:
C: <press Enter>
cd\windows\system\iosubsys <press enter>
attrib rmm.pdr -r -s -h <press enter>
ren rmm.pdr rmm.ch <press enter>
- Once rmm.pdr is temporarily renamed, reboot the computer to determine if the issue is still present.
We had this on a few legacy machines, one was faulty RAM, the other ones were solved by using the above guide (Courtesy of
https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000359.htm )