HISTORY I was trying to partition a disk and load RedHat Linux on my Sony laptop. Prior to my laptop mishap, I had partitioned the drives per instructions on a Red Hat Linux CD. Then I erased some MS ME files, The next step was supposed to be to go to DOS prompt, then load Linux from the CD. The computer won't read the external CD/DVD rom and now will only bootuup in safe mode,but I can't access any ME files. I downloaded a boot file and burned it onto a CD, but this VAio has a PCMCIA CD/DVD drive that the system doesn't recognize. When I start up the machine, hit F2 and go into BIOS, only the hard drive has a + next to it. I can change the order to 1. Atapi CD drive, 2.removable devices, 3. HDD, but only HDD has a + next to it. Does that mean it's the only thing recognizable? When I F10 the machine will start up in normal, bootlog.txt mode, safe mode, then step by step confirmation. I get a SCANREG failure message and eventually a screen that says "safe mode" in all four corners, and a "cloudy day" screen saver, but that's it. The only other thing the machine responds to is control- alt-delete. I really think I hosed it. Any suggestions?

You can set the boot options to boot the CD first. Do you indeed have a bootable Linux OS CD in the drive? If so, you should be able to install that. Life is more painless for those who are brainless.

If you are try to load an OS from an external CDROM drive you will have difficulty with any O/S

when you deleted some win me files you probably nuked win me. dboy