At startup I get error in config.sys line 8 and line 12. I also cannot access any control panel items. I can open control panel yet nothing within it. Can't even change the desktop wallpaper by right-clicking and properties--nothing happens. I know this must be some kind of access setting--but it worked fine a couple months ago???and now nothing.

Well it would certainly help if you posted the contents of your c:\config.sys. We can't mind read over long distances. Make sure CONTROL.exe is in C:\WINDOWS, and check if your *.cpl files are in c:\windows\system for starters. You may have to extract some of these files if they have become corrupt. Post back with the info. It's a good day when you learn something

Can you recall doing anything just before this happened? DerekW

O.K...here goes. This is config sys line 8: DEVICE = C:\HXCD-ROM\CDROM.SYS /D:MSCD000 And this is config sys line 12: DEVICE = C:\HXCD-ROM\CDROM.SYS /D:MSCD000 I have 2 cd rom drives D:(LITEON CD-ROM LTN 486S)and E:(CD-RW CDR-7S52)(if that matters). CONTROL.EXE is in C:\WINDOWS mlcfg32 is in C:\Program Files\Common Files\SYSTEM\Mapi\1033\95--NOT c:\windows\system There are 2-ipicpl32 and Joy files-1 ea in c:\windows\system and 1 elsewhere. As far as recalling what happened before this happened...No, it was a tequila night..JK..Its been going on for awhile, just haven't had time to fix it. It starts up fine but the only way it will shut down is to cut the electricty or CRTL/ALT/DEL and then choose shutdown that way. My kids do a lot of online gaming, if that has any bearing. Thanks!

Those are just two lines that load dos cdrom drivers. That shouldn't be the cause of your problem. But just in case, if you can get to START--RUN then type in msconfig and click 'selective startup'. Uncheck config.sys and autoexec.bat. Then 'apply' 'OK' and reboot. The config.sys errors are probably due to either the HXCD-ROM directory being deleted or the CDROM.SYS file in it being deleted. When you reboot you won't get the config.sys errors but the others may still be there. But post back results first.

...and although you have two CD-ROMS installed, you only need to load the CDROM.SYS driver one time at boot. Rule #1 Good computers don't go down. Rule #2 There is no such thing as a good computer.