Did a Norton scan a detected 2 files-at-risk. Went into Windows Explorer to delete them. Ended up deleting the System.ini file. Now when starting up Windows ME I get the all too familiar black screen and an 'Invalid system disk. Replace the disk, and then press any key' error. I have tried booting from the Gateway System Restoration Kit disk and from a Windows ME bootdisk that I got from Bootdisk.com. At this point I don't care if I have to reformat the laptop. I have painfully learned to not save anything of importance on the harddrive if using Windows ME. How do I reformat this damn laptop?? I am seriously tempted to go out and buy a Mac tonight.

Hi Phil, Fresh Start M2 If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.

Phil Try a registry restore. See http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;221512 Russ

"I have tried booting from the Gateway System Restoration Kit disk and from a Windows ME bootdisk that I got from Bootdisk.com" .. and? "Invalid system disk" does not necessarily indicate a trashed drive or installation - typically you would boot to DOS from an ME boot floppy and perform: sys c: The deleted system.ini file could be replaced by entering scanreg /restore Or, work up to doing a System Restore Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.

I tried the suggestions offered by Mechanix2Go and jboy with no luck. I have tried doing a boot from the Gateway Restoration Kit CD, from a boot floppy. and from the registry restore file that I copied to a thumb drive due to it's 2mb size. I can't even get into a Windows environment at this point to check/edit anything. The most interaction that I have is the ability to hit F2 or ESC when starting up. I went to the Microsoft web site and they want a minimum of $35.00 to help fix their product. This is really starting to piss me off!!!

You keep saying you "tried booting" from the floppy - what happens when you do? A floppy boot brings you to DOS (not Windows) in order to allow any repair attempts. Windows stores the registry backups on the hard drive already. Is the drive recognized in the BIOS? Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.

Some guys would rather have problems than solutions. Sounds like this is a case of that. M2 If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.