When I power on my computer, the screen with "safe mode" option comes up with "safe mode" highlighted. I enter safe mode and then my computer hangs. "control-alt-delete" shows no programs.
I then started computer with boot disc, to DOS. In system.ini changed shell to "progman.exe". After removing boot disc, and restarting my computer, Program Manager starts but with error message' (something about enironmental variables and autoexec.bat and config.sys.) Clicked "OK" and tried to "launch system restore". Computer processes for a few seconds and then nothing.
Back to booting from boot disc to DOS. Checked autoexec.bat and got:
SET CLASSPATH=C:\Program Files\PhotoDeluxe 2.0\AdobeConnectables
SET windir=C:\WINDOWS
SET winbootdir=C:\WINDOWS
SET COMSPEC=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM
SET PROMPT=$p$g
SET TEMP=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP
rem SET TMP=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP
SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND;c:\progra~1\common~1\gtk\2.0\bin

Tried "dir c:\config.sys" and got file not found.
Next: "ATTRIB c:\config.sys" and it came out as A and R. Tried to change R to -r got message "not resetting". "Edit c:\config.sys" showed me an empty file.
So I have a computer that won't start Windows ME and can't launch system restore, and an empty config file whose attributes I can't change.
I've loaded no new software since this problem developed. Only thing I did before this problem is upload and download a workunit to/from Folding@home, some websurfing and read my e-mail.
I've had problems with windows hanging at the desktop, but "cancel" at the login screen has allowed me access to Windows where I then restored the registry for my profile.
Any suggestions will be much appreciated.
Klaus

CONFIG.SYS = 0 is normal for Windows ME (don' think DOS or Windows 98 when working with Windows ME).

The AUTOEXEC.BAT file looks normal for Windows ME, except for that last line. Looks like the sort of thing some burner software might be adding. But is should not be a problem as AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS are not used during the boot of Window ME and are ignored. They only exist so old install programs can find them and modify them. Then they are restored to system defaults the next reboot, unless the application also know how to modify the Windows ME environment.

Have you tried booting from the Windows ME startup diskette and running SCANREG /restore and restoring a prior days "Started" system registry. This restores a prior (last five to chose from) Registry, SYSTEM.INI and WIN.INI file set. Often fixes problems when one of these has been corrupted or attacked by a virus (opened e-mail?).

Try running the WinDOS version of SCANDISK C: to check your drives FAT32 tables, directory structure and then run a full pass of the disk drive looking for disk errors.

The type of failure you have suggests a hardware failure. Memory or video graphics accelerator failure being most common, with UDMA mode disk/CD access being another common cause.

Try a standalone memory test like MemTest86_v3.2 for a few hours to see if it picks up a problem. Also make sure the CMOS setup for the system has not been changed by a low battery problem.

After I got home last night, I ran DOS scandisk, (about 3 hours long) and found 3 corrupt files. Then I ran scanreg (forgot the "restore"). It notified me that I needed to restore to a previous date. After the restore and computer booted up fine.
I'll have to check the e-mail. I use postini.com. They have stopped all viri from coming through so far.
Thanks for your help.