I seem to have a problem with my system.ini file or something. I was looking at an older post ( http://www.computing.net/windowsme/wwwboard/forum/41547.html ) I ended up shutting down my computer many times in a row manually, and then I was stuck at a 16 bit low resolution with no mouse or sound. I managed to get a vmouse.vxd from a friend and reinstall my video drivers to fix the resolution. I still have no sound and my mouse wheel won't work anymore (I suppose from someone else's vmouse.vxd?) Anyways.. Maybe it's my system.ini file corrupted. Unfortunately, everything I've tried on this page hasn't worked. Registry checker found no errors. And I'm using an older system.ini that looks very plausible.. Here... [boot] oemfonts.fon=vgaoem.fon shell=Explorer.exe system.drv=system.drv drivers=mmsystem.dll power.drv user.exe=user.exe gdi.exe=gdi.exe sound.drv=mmsound.drv dibeng.drv=dibeng.dll comm.drv=comm.drv mouse.drv=mouse.drv keyboard.drv=keyboard.drv *DisplayFallback=0 fonts.fon=vgasys.fon fixedfon.fon=vgafix.fon 386Grabber=vgafull.3gr display.drv=pnpdrvr.drv [keyboard] keyboard.dll= oemansi.bin= subtype= type=4 [boot.description] system.drv=Standard PC keyboard.typ=Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard mouse.drv=Standard mouse aspect=100,96,96 display.drv=NVIDIA GeForce2 MX/MX 400 [386Enh] ebios=*ebios woafont=dosapp.fon mouse=*vmouse, msmouse.vxd device=*dynapage device=*vcd device=*vpd device=*int13 device=*enable keyboard=*vkd display=*vdd,*vflatd EMMExclude=C000-CFFF,C000-CFFF WPSLPT1=0 WPSLPT3=0 [NonWindowsApp] TTInitialSizes=4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 20 22 [power.drv] [drivers] wavemapper=*.drv MSACM.imaadpcm=*.acm MSACM.msadpcm=*.acm wave=mmsystem.dll midi=mmsystem.dll [iccvid.drv] [mciseq.drv] [mci] cdaudio=mcicda.drv sequencer=mciseq.drv waveaudio=mciwave.drv avivideo=mciavi.drv videodisc=mcipionr.drv vcr=mcivisca.drv MPEGVideo=mciqtz.drv MPEGVideo2=mciqtz.drv [vcache] MaxFileCache=524288 [Password Lists] default=C:\WINDOWS\default.PWL [drivers32] msacm.lhacm=lhacm.acm VIDC.VDOM=vdowave.drv msacm.msaudio1=msaud32.acm msacm.sl_anet=sl_anet.acm MSACM.imaadpcm=imaadp32.acm MSACM.msadpcm=msadp32.acm MSACM.msgsm610=msgsm32.acm MSACM.msg711=msg711.acm MSACM.trspch=tssoft32.acm vidc.CVID=iccvid.dll VIDC.IV31=ir32_32.dll VIDC.IV32=ir32_32.dll vidc.MSVC=msvidc32.dll VIDC.MRLE=msrle32.dll msacm.msg723=msg723.acm vidc.M263=msh263.drv vidc.M261=msh261.drv VIDC.IV50=ir50_32.dll msacm.iac2=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\IAC25_32.AX msacm.l3acm=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\L3CODECA.ACM msacm.msadpcm1=msadp32.acm Vids.draw=dvideo.dll VIDC.YUY2=msyuv.dll VIDC.UYVY=msyuv.dll VIDC.YVYU=msyuv.dll VIDC.IV41=ir41_32.dll VIDC.WMV3=wmv9vcm.dll VIDC.MPG4=mpg4c32.dll VIDC.MP42=mpg4c32.dll [TTFontDimenCache] 0 4=2 4 0 5=3 5 0 6=4 6 0 7=4 7 0 8=5 8 0 9=5 9 0 10=6 10 0 11=7 11 0 12=7 12 0 13=8 13 0 14=8 14 0 15=9 15 0 16=10 16 0 18=11 18 0 20=12 20 0 22=13 22 It says the sound driver is enabled but inactive due to an unknown problem. And.. Most of the options are grayed out. Please help me out. ): This really sucks.

To restore the registry to a properly functioning prior date, type scanregW /restore in Start/Run. There are 5 registry backups; edit scanreg.ini to change the default. Although it's not related to your problem, I question your [vcache] setting. Look here: http://www.putergeek.com/vcache/index.shtml

Sorry for the ignorance, what do I do after typing restore in Run?

Oh, wait, sorry. I didn't realize you wanted me to do a system restore. Well.. I tried it anyway from a checkpoint in December, and my computer rebooted and said that nothing has been changed. Shouldn't this be simpler? I didn't do much to cause it.

Someone Special, This is what Tiffany Too was saying. (I think, don't get angry Tiffany, if it isn't) Don't type the red *, it's to show where a space is needed, ok. Disconnect from the internet, close down all running programs. Those being the AV, ect. Also put away, and save anything you're working on, as the computer will have to restart, to accomplish this. Why did I type all this :-) it'll say. Now, if you've installed anything after the date you choose (the proper date, and a Started by it), it will have to be reinstalled. Go Start(button)... Run, and type; scanregw*/restore (Press Enter) Click [Yes] That's if you've closed everything down, as I've said before ;-) You will receive a popup containing... I think you can handle it from here. Just curious, have you tried to reinstall the sound drivers? Also, about the "vmouse.vxd". You have your own copy, it's in the "WIN_20.CAB". Just right-click it, and click Explore. In the right-hand side, you will find the "vmouse.vxd". You can either hold the left mouse button down on it, and move the pointer where you want it copied, and release the mouse button. Or right-click the "vmouse.vxd", and click Extract.... All kinds of ways ;-) What type, of mouse is it? If it's one that requires special drivers, reinstall them. "I didn't do much to cause it." "I ended up shutting down my computer many times in a row manually,..." Oh, I think that might be, a little of the cause. But, that's just an opinion. Good Luck, CrazyOne

Hehe, I know doing that to the computer is a little abusive. I forgot why on earth I did it. It was only 2 or 3 times, though. ..Anyways. I did a lot of playing around with my system.ini and reinstalling drivers and eventually my sound came back. I've manually restored everything now, so I think I'm good to go. Thanks for the help though, guys. (: I'll be really delicate with shutting down from now on.

i have the same problem with you... it seems you've sold the problem saying "..Anyways. I did a lot of playing around with my system.ini and reinstalling drivers and eventually my sound came back" did you restored your system.ini? please tell me more