I am trying to get a friends computer going and it is hanging up on the windows splash screen. I have run the configuration by hitting the f8 key that shows each item as it loads. When it gets to the msmouse item it will go no further. It appears the mouse item is ok but it looks as if it is what follows. Could some tell me the next item in that list? Or better still how to solve the hang up problem?
Thanks in advance.

Whilst it is possible, I don't know of any set loading sequence. There are just too many hardware configurations possible.

You might be better off using the logged option. This creates a file in C:\ named bootlog.txt. You can view this file using the dos command edit (edit bootlog.txt) or the type command (type bootlog.txt |more). This will list each step of the boot process followed by a success or failure message.

The dos command scanreg (scanreg /restore) is pretty well a panacea of boot problems in windows 9x. It will replace the current registry files with an earlier version. The second newest will probably do the trick unless there are dates which are newer than the time this problem started.

If you dont want to bother finding the problem, there's always the repair mode if you boot from the original windows CD.

There is trouble booting from the win cd. This is a compaq presario computer and as you know it comes with it's own restore cd. It does have options for repair but dont seem to work so I guess I will have to use the format and reinstall items. Don't want to but guess that may be the best option.

Format will of-course loose everything.

As Rimfire mentioned it is certainly worth trying scanreg /restore from a DOS prompt first (chosing a registry date just before problem came along).

DerekW