Win ME won't boot

[jason Owen]

Help!  I accidentally deleted my registry file while trying to delete a virus.  I can't find my startup disc and when I boot in safe mode I get a blank gray screen with safe mode in each corner.  Am I not waiting long enough for the prompt?

I am running Windows ME and get the following error.

Registry file not found.  Registry services may be inoperative this session.  XMS cache problem.  Registry services may be inoperable this session.

If I can get a prompt can I restore with SCANREG/restore?

[Flame]

Am I not waiting long enough for the prompt?

That would depend on how long you are waiting... How long are you waiting? Also, if you can't find the startup disk, then let me ask you this... Do you have access to another computer? You can create a boot diskette online... (sigh) I hate Windows ME... (flame shakes head)  

[glb]Flame[/glb]

[pcdoc4christ]

Jason:

You may be able to beat this Argonaut with the Windows Me OEM boot disk from this site:

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

Hope that helps,
Doc

[Flame]

Argonaut

That's not an isult on me right? lol  (Just kidding)

[glb]Flame[/glb]

[jason owen]

I made the boot disk but now I get the error

NTLDR missing.  Press any key to retry.

Any words of wisdom.  I obviously know only enough to really be dangerous to my machine.

Thanks

[merlin_2]

Are you dual booting winme with winxp?  files errror is linked to win2k/winxp>>>>>>>>> the scanreg/restore type in the command prompt  should have sorted out winme........and folks that knock win9x......win95/98/winme should be aware without these o/s/s   win2k and winxp.......i feel sick now on the last o/s <fisher price>  pc users should be greatful of these o/s/s ......as files are still use by win9x systems...another con........

[jason owen]

No dual booting here.  I'm not that savy.  I can't get to a prompt at all to try scanreg/restore.  

[merlin_2]

What happens if you hold down the f8 key on boot.....options.... come up   to ........>>safe mode etc w the NTLDR missing  error>> are you trying to upgrade this pc to winxp......

[jason owen]

I'm not upgrading.  I deleted the registry files while trying to rid myself of greatsearch.biz hijacker.  When I try to boot to the hard drive I get the error that registry may be inoperable this session.  Then when I try to boot anyway it detects new hardware and asks for a driver which I can't seem to find.

If I select safe mode it goes to a blank gray screen with safe mode in each corner.  I let it sit this way all night last night and never made any progress.

I downloaded a boot disk from bootdisk.com and this is where the NTLDR error came into play.  The floppy was formatted on a machine running windows 2000 professional.  Could this be an issue?  I read on the MS knowledge base that 95/98/me would not format correctly for xp with the same problem.

thanks

[merlin_2]

do you have any disks.........besides the one formated on a win2k.....machine..........

[jason owen]

I made two more disks tonite from bootdisk.com.  I know that I used one on the win/me machine.  I'll try those when I get back home.  Obviously, I can't format the disks on that machine but its the best I can do.

[merlin_2]

are you running any anti-virus programs.....like mcfee/trend/norton...

[jason owen]

I will shamefully admit that the mcfee is expired, which may be partially to blame for my whole predictament in the first place.  

[merlin_2]

unplug winme from the net........now try safe mode......be patience.....options....should appear.......try cmd prompt again....do you have any other disks r/c.>>besides the .....download bootisks....have a look somewere ...is a boot floppy.....of winme........great system if it not upgraded.......??/#~if it aint broke......you know the rest of the saying....how true.

[jason owen]

I can't find my boot disk.  The only copy of Winme I have is on the restore disk that came with the machine and they auto format the hard drive.  The wife would kill me for sure as she has a couple months worth of work that is due in a week and a half.

I did read on techspot that a disk formatted on win2k will give the ntldr error when you try in winme.  I found an old disk that had only been used on my machine and downloaded the bootdisk onto it.  I will try tonite.  Hope it works as the gallows are up at home.  We'll find out in a half hour or so.

Thanks