Hello, I really hope someone can help! I have a p3, 1ghz, 256 ram Gateway PC, that my brother thought would run better with XP installed. He didn't buy it and tried to stop some activation thing, anyway, He killed my PC! I tried to re-install winME (it works fine for me!) with the restore CD, but when i choose the option to let the CD reinstall WinME automatically - i agree to the terms etc, and click next and the screen goes blank and stays that way! There is another option to install ME manually; 1st it asks you to run Fdisk, so i typed 'fdisk'(lucky guess) and then started choosing options before I realized I didn't know what the heck I was doing! Does someone know of a step by step procedure to manually reinstall ME (from the CD) and how to use FDisk? and whatever comes after. I really find the screen 'scary' and don't want to kill my PC! My brother *thank god* DID back up all my files! SO PLEASE HELP!! Thank you!

Check this site: http://www.burzurq.com/forum/format_reinstall.html

First off, read this bit about restore CD's and lets hope you don't have one of these.... http://www.computing.net/windowsme/wwwboard/forum/21386.html Response Number 11 If you have a full OS disc, the next pit-fall might be.... XP may have changed your file system to NTFS but Windows ME requires FAT 32. I don't know what the difference is, but you would need a start up floppy disk and to use fdisk. http://fdisk.radified.com/ You would also need a full Windows Millennium Operating system disc and a valid serial number. OEM serials don't work with full OS disc's, you would have to install Windows with any number that worked then change the serial key in the registry (to be legal). It's not really something that can easily be explained over the Internet. But I managed it reading fdisk.radified.com and since then I must have re-installed Windows around 20 times or more (on various PC's). If you had a (large) piece of chocolate cake for me, I would re-install Windows for you {:-)

Thanks michael2, unfortunately, I can't bake (or at least I assume I can't, though I've never tried!) or I would send you a piece! I just have to hope it is a full disc not an OEM(?), there is an option to reinstall from the CD manually so I'm thinking that would suggest that it is a full version. Maybe I could talk my parents into buying me a new PC (can't afford one on a students income). Thanks for the advice everyone! I found a site Putergeek.com which had a step by step guide. Would Fdisk convert the drive to Fat32 from NTFS? Well, A girls got to learn sometime! Thank you again

The first link given to you is a good guide to formatting and reinstalling. Be careful you have all your drivers to hand (original CDs for PC, modem, sound card, video card, printer, scanner, etc.) If you haven't got some of them, download them from the internet at the site of the manufacturer of the component. Then, when you are finished reinstalling, have a look at the home page link on this response and set up ME accordingly so it runs well for you.

monica_uk, check your E-mail.

Sorry michael2, I didn't receive your mail!