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Windows Forum / Windows Me / System Tools / June 2006Startup problems
Last night after a family member was "cleaning up" some files in c:/windows, our computer won't boot. We aren't sure what files may have been moved into the recycle bin by accident. But ever since then, on startup, it gets stuck in a solid blue screen which will occasionally run scandisk, but then gets stuck on a blue screen (not the "blue screen of death") after scandisk finishes. Tried to start up in safe mode. I get a grey screen that says "safe mode" and a cursor that will move, but nothing else. Starting in "step by step" confirmation yields the blue screen no matter what I confirm. This is a dell dimension 4100 running ME. Any suggestions? pk. pk, it depends on just which files were, and which files were not, put into the recycle bin. Some may have been 'lost forever' However, you could start by trying the following :- "How to Start the System Restore Tool from a Command Prompt" http://support.microsoft.com/kb/279736/en-us If that isn't successful, then you are clutching at straws and should try :- "How to Manually Restore the Windows 98/Me Registry" http://support.microsoft.com/kb/221512/en-us If that fails, then you have little choice but to completely re-install. But come back for further instructions and someone should be able to help you further. Good luck Mart > Last night after a family member was "cleaning up" some files in > c:/windows, our computer won't boot. We aren't sure what files may [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > pk. This sounds like a bad case of registry corruption, as much as anything else..... I'd suggest trying a System Restore, from a floppy (assisted) boot - look here for instructions http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=279736 Noel > Last night after a family member was "cleaning up" some files in > c:/windows, our computer won't boot. We aren't sure what files may [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > pk. Thanks to both of you for suggestions. In an unhappy move, we cannot find a startup disk. Would this have been supplied when the computer was purchased or made by someone when it was purchased? Could be we're looking at a re-install... pk. pk, you can download a WinMe bootdisk making utility (Windows Me OEM) from http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm - (But be sure to read the instructions on how to actually create the bootdisk.) Don't just copy the download to a floppy disk, you need to run the downloaded file on your computer (any computer, with an A:drive) for it to actually create the Startup (floppy) disk. Boot with your (newly created) Windows Startup (floppy) Disk already inserted in the A: drive and continue with the instructions from the KB article(s) Don't forget to remove the floppy disk BEFORE you try to reboot the machine. Good luck Mart > Thanks to both of you for suggestions. In an unhappy move, we cannot > find a startup disk. Would this have been supplied when the computer [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > pk. (what Mart said!) :)  SignatureNoel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows) Nil Carborundum Illegitemi http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm http://tinyurl.com/6oztj Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's > pk, you can download a WinMe bootdisk making utility (Windows Me OEM) from > http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm - (But be sure to read the [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] >> >> pk. Thanks, folks! Any comment on a place called "Ultimate Boot CD". Only asking in case our floppy drive won't work with the disk suggested below (it's been known to be flaky) pk. > pk, you can download a WinMe bootdisk making utility (Windows Me OEM) from > http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm - (But be sure to read the instructions [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Mart The Ultimate Boot CD is great - but it needs a working Windows XP installation to be able to create it, and it will NOT perform the same as a Win ME boot disk , if you need to (e.g.) use the SYS command you can download an image file of a Win ME boot disk from here - http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm (at the bottom of the page - 'Non-Windows Based Image Files...') extract the files, and burn the image using the extractor If your existing floppy is having a problem - try downloading another one from the same page - again save to HD, and the run that download to create a new floppy (use the OEM disk, it's the same as the standard MS one) SignatureNoel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows) Nil Carborundum Illegitemi http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm http://tinyurl.com/6oztj Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's > Thanks, folks! Any comment on a place called "Ultimate Boot CD". Only > asking in case our floppy drive won't work with the disk suggested [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >> >> Mart (what Noel said!) :)) But then again, if your floppy drive is 'flaky', a brand new drive costs only peanuts and is quite simple(ish) to swap. http://www.auldfart.co.uk/howto/flop.html Mart > The Ultimate Boot CD is great - but it needs a working Windows XP > installation to be able to create it, and it will NOT perform the same as [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] >>> >>> Mart PROBLEM SOLVED! Thank you all for your help in resolving this. We are, in fact, back in business. I created a startup floppy disk from the website you suggested. Worked just fine. But system restore didn't launch. Hmmm.. Poked around until we found out where exactly recycled files go and how they are named. Figured out the two files that were deleted by mistake were User.dat and classes.dat. Got a DOS prompt going in a minimal boot and copied and renamed the files so they were back in c:\windows as they were supposed to be (one problem there: the files in the recycle bin were hidden and the DOS copy didn't want to copy hidden files. figured out how to make them "unhidden") Restarted with fingers crossed and all is well. I can't thank all of you enough for your help in sorting out this problem. It's good to be up and running at home again... pk. Well done pk! FWIW - Having created your new Startup Floppy Disk, if then you had followed the second KB article which I pointed to ("How to Manually Restore the Windows 98/Me Registry") http://support.microsoft.com/kb/221512/en-us in my first reply, you would have immediately resolved your problem as it would have restored the two files in question (User.dat and classes.dat.) amongst several others, without all the hassle. But good to know that you're efforts got you back in business and thanks for the feedback. Good luck. Mart > PROBLEM SOLVED! > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > pk. Ooops. on reflection, that KB article only describes how to do it from Safe Mode (which you couldn't achieve) and not from the Startup Floppy Disk. However, for future information, you can restore the Registry using the Startup floppy as follows :- Boot using the Windows Startup (floppy) Disk and choose options 2) or 3) At the A:\> prompt, type "scanreg /restore" (no quotes and note the space between the g and /) then press Enter. Follow the screen prompts and when asked, select the last 'good' date prior to your problems, continuing with the instructions. Don't forget to remove the floppy disk BEFORE you tell the machine to reboot. Mart > Well done pk! > [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] >> >> pk. Glad to hear it! Just a word about your solution though..... it's a very dangerous one! there were two 'better' options available to you at that point after booting with the floppy disk. 1) As Mart said - using the System Restore from a Command Prompt method 2) and if 1 failed, using the command SCANREG /RESTORE which would retrieve the other backups of the registry (those two files you restore were two legs of the tripod that is the registry in Win ME), also ensuring that they were a) from the same backup) and b) sane!. Manually restoring files from the SR archive runs the risk that you'll get the user.dat from a different backup set to the classes.dat, with all sorts of potential issues resulting. Whatever, you seem to be up and running again with no loss of data, so Well Done! SignatureNoel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows) Nil Carborundum Illegitemi http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm http://tinyurl.com/6oztj Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's > PROBLEM SOLVED! > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > pk. Wow. I'm glad we didn't run into any trouble. I didn't realize that what was in the recycle bin was potentially harmful. Concerns that we'll have any further problems to worry about, anyone? What issues might come up if the user.dat and classes.dat were from different backups? I mean, it's only been a day with no problems, but all we've done is some internet access, MS word - nothing really big yet. Thanks for the info on how to do it safely if (let's hope not) this situation ever comes up again. pk. > Glad to hear it! > Just a word about your solution though..... it's a very dangerous one! > there were two 'better' options available to you at that point after booting > with the floppy disk. > Manually restoring files from the SR archive runs the risk that you'll get > the user.dat from a different backup set to the classes.dat, with all sorts > of potential issues resulting. Ah -you didn't specify that you recovered the files from the recycle bin - I misread it that you recovered them from the System Restore archive.... getting them back from the recycle bin should be OK (there should only be one version in there). That said, it always surprises me that the system allows one to delete either the classes.dat, or user.dat - although thinking about it logically, you have to do that many times a session, as they are continually written to. However, they are marked as Hidden, System files, so it does take a fair amount of specific tinkering to do so, particularly as they are also marked as 'read-only'. One has to wonder what you thought you were doing by deleting them in the first place?? SignatureNoel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows) Nil Carborundum Illegitemi http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm http://tinyurl.com/6oztj Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's > > Wow. I'm glad we didn't run into any trouble. I didn't realize that [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] >> sorts >> of potential issues resulting. I was also surprised that files of such importance were allowed to be thrown in the recycle bin. As I said earlier, this was accidental. In deleting a bunch of mistakenly downloaded files, the family member tossed the baby out with the bathwater and deleted these files. Claims that there was no warning or anything. And that the files were visible (it was a drag and drop to the recycle bin). I don't think the kid is lying to me, either - I can usually tell. But I'm happy to hear that there should be no further problems. Thanks again for all your expertise, folks! pk. > That said, it always surprises me that the system allows one to delete > either the classes.dat, or user.dat - although thinking about it logically, [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > One has to wonder what you thought you were doing by deleting them in the > first place?? |
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