I have a neighbor who's Windows Me won't start in Normal or Safe mode. I ran scandisk and it ran with many errors. Is there anything I can do to help him save his data? How do I force Windows Me to reinstall over itself? I've tried but it keeps telling me I already have the OS installed.

Reinstalling ME over itself - without tears

I would start the PC with an Me boot floopy an try a scanreg/restore before I try a re-install. Even before this you should ID the hard drive, and see if there is a manufactures diagnostic available for download, scandisk ran with many errors could be a failing drive. larry

Hi everyone; I agree with larryf215 on every point especicially if you want to save your data. Boot into the BIOS to see if the hardrive is detected. Depending on your Dell model the way is different. Then use an ME boot floppy and type in scanreg/ restore Pick a date. Try finding a harddrive diagnostic tool from Dell. Try some of these steps from this link. http://computing.net/windowsme/wwwboard/forum/30687.html I also agree that it may be a failing hardrive. If so attempting to reinstall Windows would probably result in a loss of data. You could try slaving the hardrive to another computer to copy the data before it's too late. Good luck for now; RandyL

well, I did do a scandisk and it found multiple errors. Also, I can't do a scanreg /restore as it just quits afterwhile like it's corrupt. This person does have a WIN ME cd and when I rename the windows folder and try to re-install windows it tells me that it stills sees an OS and that I need the Windows ME Upgrade Edition CD. Any ideas why it would say that?

i know I can format, but I really believe the hard drive is failing. Also, I would like to get a couple of files off the pc. So, I guess taking the hard drive out and making a slave out of the drive is my next plan.

cougar, that would be your best bet. Go with Seconday IDE rather than Primary.. Life is more painless for those who are brainless.