I'm missing a file called IFSHLP.SYS, can't get into windows, even in safe mode. My friend say that my EZ2605, running ME should have come with a restore disk, that I can use to reinstall the OS, without any loss of data on my Hard drive. The Compaq site says that using their restore disk will wipe out my data, my friend says that HP gives you an option to just lay the ME over the old one, that he has done this on his kid's HP machine running ME, without losing his data. Will I get the option of saving my files on my hard drive? Is the restore disk provided by Compaq, or will I have to order it? I tried just downloading a bootdisk from bootdisk.com, but when I insterted it and restarted, the screen said that it was not a bootdisk.

The download that you get from bootdisk.com is the program that creates the bootdisk. What you need to do is go to a computer that has ME installed and run that program. It will then instruct you to put in a clean formated disk into the drive and then it will make the bootdisk. Then you can take that bootdisk into your machine and run it. HopeThisHelps, ~me~

I do not know about Compaq but Gateway fer sher lets you install over it so you do not lose program files. Though the first time I did this, it was not clear. The restore disk at one point should ask you if you want to "just replace missing or corrupt files" then it takes you throught the entire installation...I swaet it out bad that first time because the "layover install" looks just like the clean install...so i had to wait it out and see. I have had to re-install a handful of times and it has been fine...did not lose one file that I know of

Hi Greg, You should have made a Microsoft Start-up diskette in the Control Panel Add-Subtract programs panel. If not you can do this on another Me machine. Put it in the drive (computer off) and then start-up. Read the instructions carefully (better to print them off when you make the diskette) and type scanreg /restore at the DOS prompt. (C:\>) (Note space, g / ) if you can restore back all is well if not then type: C:\>C:\Windows\Options\Install\Setup and Me will restore itself, hopefully without losing any info. If the info is invaluable to you then go to a data-recovery service. Another boot disk is available from www.startdisk.com look for MEUBD.exe Iain.