I am trying to fix a computer running Windows ME, and when it boots up it
goes to the ME start up screen, then automatically goes to black screen and
says "Windows did not load properly last time", so it needs to start in Safe
Mode. Selecting Safe Mode has it go to a blue screen saying a "Protection
Error. You Need To Restart" and nothing else will happen. When I attempt to
do Step-By-Step start up, the last thing that prompts me is "mouse.vxd",
which I say "Y" to, then nothing. The system does not freeze up, it just
won't load or prompt anything beyond that. Of course, "Normal" start up does
not work at all, the screen just stays black with a flashing cursor. I don't
know what to do to try and get into the operating system. I have the OS
install CD and the boot disk, but can't get the machine to see either of
them.

I asked the owner if she installed or uninstalled any programs (conflict,
perhaps?), and she said no, just checks her AOL email daily, nothing else. I
understand I need to restore the registry to it's last good known configuration, but don't know how to make the machine "see" the floppy drive before it goes to error.
Any suggestions/steps to take would be greatly appreciated!!

Thank you so much!!!

Check the computer's BIOS Setup Utility. It should have a list of boot options, listed normally as "Boot Device Priority" or "Boot Order"

Make sure that FDD, Floppy, or Removeable Devices are listed BEFORE the Hard Drive or HDD

This should allow you to boot to a floppy disk before attempting to boot into Windows.

Make sure you have the bootable floppy in when the computer is turned on.

hello
after doing the bios advice .
try this link.
m.e wont start
http://computing.net/windowsme/wwwboard/forum/30687.html

I once had virtually the same problem. I turned out to be memory. In my case it was because it was overheating due to the clock speed being set too high. In your case it could be damaged. If you have more than one set of memory modules, try taking one lot out then vice-versa. Better yet, if you can get hold of some spare memory to try.