.DLL problem

[markb465]

Hi,

I have a major problem occuring at the moment. When I load up windows ME and I get to the log in screen it says that the file IMAGEHLP.DLL has an error. As a result I haven't been able to download and install, run any msn software, or even run webmessenger. I can't view my email either. My roommate thought it was something I downloaded and deleted just about everything that he could. So now I am stuck with no wordpad, etc etc. My MS Dos works fine but seems to lock up every once in awhile. If anyone could help me restore my computer that would be most helpful. Unfortunatly this computer was made for me and I have no windows backup disks or boot disks. And on a side not I would just like to know how to enter safe mode when I boot up.

Thank you

[Strider]

Hi Markb465,
First, are all the deleted files still in the recycle bin? If so, restore them and search the net for IMAGEHLP.DLL.
Otherwise, it looks to me like you need to do a repair install of Windows. See if whoever built it for you had sense enough to stash Windows somewhere on the hard drive. It might be in C:\Windows\Options\Install or C:\Windows\CABS, or maybe the easiest way to find it is search your computer for *.CAB. If you find a directory with about 20 of them, that'll be it.
If you've fouind Windows on your hard drive or if you can locate your install CD, first back up all your data files that are stored in default directories: My Documents, My Pictures, etc. 'cause they might get wiped out by a reinstall. Then launch setup from wherever Windows resides. It'll look like it's reinstalling Windows, but it will leave all your apps intact.
Good luck!

[markb465]

Well I found the files perfectly but when I go to run setup my computer freezes. But it's more of a stalling freeze. I can still click my desktop and surf the internet etc etc but the window remains on the bottom of my screen and is frozen there. What should I do now?

[Strider]

I'm not ignoring you, but I haven't got an answer :(
Is there any way at all that you can get your original ME install CD from whoever built the system for you? I'm thinking something got corrupted with the copy of Windows on your hard drive, and you'll have to resort to the CD to get it work.

[markb465]

It's alright I just keep checking in periodically. Tommorow I get some money so I'm just going to buy some floppy disks and save my windows that way. If anyone has any dos commands I should enter as I use the disk please tell me before I try. I'm going to re install ME from DOS and then buy a copy of Windows 98 Second Edition. Unless I could run something better. My Specs are

537 mhz, pentium III, 256 megs of ram, and a 10 gig harddrive. I have nothing I want to save at the moment but instructions would be helpful as I haven't done this before.

[Strider]

Do you have a CD burner? Saving to floppies is gonna be tedious.
98SE is probably your best choice, although you could conceivably run XP. I'm guessing you can find a 98SE CD pretty cheap.
If you don't have anything to back up, I suggest first making a ME boot floppy, because it has CD-ROM drivers on it. Then format your C: drive from the boot floppy, and install 98SE clean. You'll have to reinstall all your apps, games etc.
If there are some files you want to save, like documents, savegame files, pictures, mailboxes, address books, etc., copy them from Windows if you can. If you can't, be sure you know the path to every file you want to save. Boot into DOS and at the prompt (example A:>) type "copy [path][filename] A:" (without the quotes) if you're copying them to floppy. Realize the long file names get truncated in DOS to 6 characters, a tilde (~), and a digit, usually 1. Thus, C:\My Pictures\longfilename.jpg becomes C:\mypict~1\longfi~1.jpg
Post back if you have more questions.

[markb465]

Ok so I would be sticking my floppy into the A drive and saving my entire Windows folder to it. Then I would format my C: drive by typing in the dos command. From what I remember it's something like C:\format then I press Y for yes. Then I would just install 98SE and since I have nothing to save I would just run things normally and re install w/e it is I would want.

Is this correct? Because I would like to run ME for another couple weeks so by using my bootdisk I should be able to re install ME right?

[Landon]

Your Windows folder will NOT fit on a flopppy, you might be able to get some of the contents of My Documents to fit on a floppy if you are really choosy about what you actually want to save.