I'm trying to help a friend. His babysitter used his computer, and now whenever it starts up Windows, it automatically locks up. Might be a virus - I've no idea. So I can only think of two things to do in DOS; 1) Check the C/Recycled folder for hidden viral files 2) Start in safe mode and see if I can move about that way. So my questions are; 1) what's do you type in after 'dir' to see 'hidden' files in RECYCLED in DOS? 2) How do you start Windows in Safe Mode from DOS? Thanks for the help. Sorry if I'm terrbily vague.

You can't start safe mode from dos. But when you boot, if you start tapping the F8 key before windows starts to load you'll get a menu from which you can choose to start in safe mode. If there are hidden files in the recycled directory, to view them in dos type, at the c:\recycled> prompt: dir/a:h and enter. Most likely the best thing to do would be to use the boot menu and choose 'command prompt only'. Then at the c:\> prompt type: scanreg/restore and enter. Choose a registry to restore with a date that precedes the problem. Any software you've installed after that date will need to be reinstalled since there will no longer be a reference to it in the registry.

I guess I should add that if you find anything in the recycle bin in safe mode that you want to restore you should do that first and see if it's all you need to do. You may not need the scanreg/restore.

You usually can get into safe mode by holding down the f8 key while booting up the machine. Different machines use different keys but that seems to be the most common. I think I would try scanreg /restore. Hold down the control key during startup. At the dos prompt type scanreg /restore. (Note space between scanreg and /) Should come up with 5 saved registrys. Choose one with a date before the problem started and restore it. Reboot and see if that solves the problem. If it does do a virus scan right away to make sure there's no virus.

I don't know why you are concerned with the Recycle Bin. Anything there will not do any damage.

You can start Windows in "Safe Mode" from the DOS prompt after booting from floppy. The command is : c:\Windows\WIN /D:M

henry Maybe the poster is thinking that someone has binned a critical file? Derek