My window's crashed need help

[bdickson2223]

My pc crashed and now i can't get to my startup menu. I tried to re-install my system disk the window's me edition and when it goes to copy files that were on the computer it says not enough space. It tells me to go to the control panel and remove some programs. I can't get to my control panels. Then I tried to erase all of my files using the startup disc and I can't. I don't have anything important on my computer that I don't care to get rid of. What can I do. Any Suggestions anybody???

[Murf]

Welcome to CTH

Try restoring your registry first to see if it then boots up to Windows.

Step-by-Step here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/221512/EN-US/

[bdickson2223]

The help you gave would've worked except my husband ran a program called killdisk and erased the hard drive, now I can get past the startup screen but where the startup page is there is a gray screen. No program files or startup menu, time, nothing, just a blank gray screen. If I start it in safe mode the startup screen has all of the above except I can't use my mouse then. Is there something I can do in safe mode that would get my pc working properly? We installed the system disc that came with the comp. should I try to re-install it again. Thanks:confused: I am running WinMe.:dizzy: :curse:

[Murf]

Well KILLDISK wiped the drive clean and it needs to be repartitioned and formatted before trying to install ME.

If you have a floppy, you will need a bootdisk, you can go here and download one:

Windows Me (http://filebox.vt.edu/r/rywilson/RCC/bootmec.exe) Custom, No Ramdrive

Download to desktop, then double click on the file and a window will come up, have a floppy disk in, it will then extract the boot files to the floppy disk.

Now boot the computer with this floppy, immediately go into SETUP (usually DEL key - or screen tells you what key to use), in there you need to set the first boot device to FLOPPY, then SAVE & EXIT.

Now the computer will boot from the floppy and you will end up at the A:> prompt.

At the A: prompt type the following:

format C: /s (hit<enter>)

This will format the drive and get it ready for the install. When done, reboot and now watch the screen as it will assign a cdrom drive letter, lets say it is R:

Your back at the A:> prompt. Now put the ME cd in and type the following (substituting R: with whatever drive letter was assigned to your cdrom)

R: (hit<enter>)
Setup (hit<enter>)

[bdickson2223]

Thankyou for all the help. I am working from a laptop so I did't have a floppy drive, but With your help I was able to find a similar program for cd format.....So far everything is doing what you said it would do. I am now re-installing ME and everything seems to be going ok for now. I really appreciate all of your help.:thrilled: I'll write back if I have any more problems.:happy:


Brandi

[bdickson2223]

I am still trying to install the ME disc, but when I get to product key I am entering the key on the bottom side of my pc, but it's saying that the key is invalid. Do you think that by erasing my hard drive it lost my key info or do you know what might have happened or what I can do? Thanks.:dizzy:

[Murf]

NO

ME may of been installed with another product key, then what is listed on the tag on the computer.

Is this a ME CD or a ME restore CD, what does it say on the CD itself

[bdickson2223]

It is a system re-installation disc. The problem is the product key worked before I used the bootdisk in the system. After he ran the killdisk it worked, but sice we ran the bootdisk it has't worked. I have bee on the phone all day with Dell and they told me that we might have to use a generic product key. If you have any other suggestions they would be helpful. Thanks for all of the help you have provided.:cool: