[Stoner]

Sorry, I missed that.

Well, there is always reinstalling the original OS as an option.

New is nicer though.
With her finances being a little tight, maybe a reinstall is worth considering?

[aarhus2004]

Hello all,

I have PM'd Elvandil to see if he can help.

If the system files are intact there maybe a DOS command which could trigger a re-install of WinME using those files.

Well its a thought. But if Marlene has the WinCD and a bootup floppy and the Reg Code - well she would have no problem. But has she those?

Ben.

[valley]

Originally Posted by Stoner

Well, there is always reinstalling the original OS as an option.

is that easy to do?

New is nicer though.
With her finances being a little tight, maybe a reinstall is worth considering?

I will ask her. If it involves having the original disks that came with the computer though...i'm pretty sure she only has the one recovery disk and the backup floppies.

If reinstalling the OS involves a disk that she can buy through microsoft, i'm sure would be willing to try it.

And yes, a new one would solve her problems if she could swing it. From what she says, she will buy one if she has to and make payments on it. Hate to see her have the extra expense but I know she does her business online as well as being here, with her online family so whatever it takes to get her back....she'll try anything!

[Stoner]

Also, if Marlene does a fresh install......if there is some important data on that computer, it needs to be copied off before a fresh install as it will be lost otherwise.

[valley]

Originally Posted by aarhus2004

Hello all,

I have PM'd Elvandil to see if he can help.

awesome!

But if Marlene has the WinCD and a bootup floppy and the Reg Code - well she would have no problem. But has she those?

Ben.

I'll ask her tomorrow. I cant imagine trying to find disks that have been put away for 6 years but who knows...she might have them AND know right where they are too!

[valley]

Originally Posted by Stoner

Also, if Marlene does a fresh install......if there is some important data on that computer, it needs to be copied off before a fresh install as it will be lost otherwise.

But there's no way to copy anything if she cant get into windows, is there? So far, none of the bootup options work and all she's accomplished is getting as far as the scanreg /fix would allow her to. Then it froze up and gave her that C prompt.

But like she said..whatever it takes to get the job done...she'll try anything.

[Elvandil]

Did she try scanreg /restore or scan reg /restore as you posted above?

Most ME installations, though not sure about OEM ones, have all the installation files in a folder. It is C:\Windows\Options or C:\Windows\Options\Cabs or C:\Windows\Install. I'm not sure which but I'll find out.

In any case, if you can navigate to one of those folders in DOS and find setup.exe, the installation can be started from there. If there is no format, the current files won't be lost, though programs may need re-installation.

Is she using an ME boot floppy? Isn't scanreg on that floppy? If so, you might try it from A: instead of C:.

PS. Run scandisk from that boot floppy, too.

[Elvandil]

It's C:\Windows\Options\Install\setup.exe

She can start setup from there. But do the scandisk first to be sure. Even the DOS scandisk is better than nothing.

[valley]

thanks elvandil..i'll pass along all of this info to her and will let you know if it works. She tells me that she is using the floppy...but i'm not exactly sure if its an ME boot floppy. She called it a "backup recovery or restore or something like that"...I was writing it all down and may not have understood her correctly. I'll clarify tomorrow.

Looks like we have lots to try tomorrow.

She will be so happy with all of the advice. At least if she has to buy a new one, she will do it knowing that she didnt go down without a fight, lol!

[Stoner]

Tell Marlene I said Hi and wish her luck

[valley]

will do, Jack.

[Elvandil]

Windows ME Boot Disk

[Guyzer]

With all the guru's we have here at TSG there has to be someone that could supply her a newer computer for real, real, real cheap if it's sitting in a corner doing nothing. eg: I had an older box with Win 98 on it that I just gave away to someone that needed it. It wasn't anything fancy but she's up and running again and if I sold it it would have been for peanuts. I got more of a warm feeling for doing what I did and to me that's priceless.

Val say hi to her from me would 'ya.

[aarhus2004]

Hello valley,

If Marlene already has a StartUp floppy disk (aka bootup disk) and if the WinME system files are on her computer where mine are on mine, which I think is likely, then this is what she can try. I have just tried it on my system and allowed it to proceed to what was the beginning of the file copy process in the set up. I also doubt the registration number will be asked for since no CD is involved - but its worth a try.

One StartUp floppy disk inserted in its drive.

Start the computer.

Choose Item 4 (Minimal Boot) when the list appears. Press Enter.

When the A prompt appears (lettercase doesn't matter)

A:\> type C: Press Enter

When the C prompt appears

C:\> type CD C:\windows\options\install (Note the space between cd and c) Press Enter.

The next prompt will look like this

C:\windows\options\install\ type setup so that the line looks like this

C:\windows\options\install\setup Press Enter.

ScanDisk follows as does the setup.

I hope it does the trick.

Ben.

[ekim68]

Originally Posted by Guyzer

With all the guru's we have here at TSG there has to be someone that could supply her a newer computer for real, real, real cheap if it's sitting in a corner doing nothing.

I agree, her system is old. So, I will donate $20.00 for another system for her...Anyone else?
And, how can we do this?