ME startup issue

[Chris in U.K.]

Hi, this is my first visit for about a year! How time flies...

A freind bought a second-hand puter (AMD 450 proc, 256 RAM) with ME still on it. It POSTs OK, but as soon as Win starts to load, he gets this error message: Unable to update syatem configuration, cant update file %1 from %2.
I've done the usual by removing non-essential hardware and swapping-out RAM, but no help.
In safe mode we get the splash screen, but a 20-minute wait (with some audible disc activity) and still it won't start.. Needless to say, my friend has lost the discs, so I can't re-install ME or use any diag tools.
Given the limited processing speed, I'm tempted to do a full clean install of 98 and hope I can find generic drivers for soundcard, dial-up modem and net card (all unbranded). Can't remember, does 98 have USB drivers on the disc?

Any thoughts on any of the above gratefully received.

Thanks,

Chris

[GaryRouth]

Hi Chris

Just for a try, you could download a bootable WinMe floppy diskette from http://www.bootdisk.com [actually just starts the computer in DOS 7, I believe] - and then trying the repairs mentioned in the two articles below. However, for some of their repairs for the 1% to 2% error, they assume the computer can boot into Safe Mode. (So you'll be limited to the command-line repairs only - at first).

Since the computer is second-hand - look inside the case to see what hard drive is in there, and try running the manufacturer's hard drive diagnostics on it. Booting from the diagnostics bootable diskette will tell you two things: if the computer is at least sound enough to run in DOS, and if the hard drive is sound & worth saving. You could use MemTest86+ for the memory (if you haven't already) - http://www.memtest.org

If you decide to go with Win98se (a good match for the hardware, if it's sound), there is some USB support - much of it since updated (so a visit to Windows Update would yield more recent support -- to get USB 2.0 support for Win98se, you usually use the driver supplied by your PCI - USB expansion card).


MSKB article - restore folder issue
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283069/en-us

Tech Support Forum thread - restore folder issue
http://www.techsupportforum.com/arch...p/t-10296.html

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[Chris in U.K.]

Thanks for the advice and links, Gary. I'll report back!

Chris

[HAL9000]

Setup files should be in the C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS folder... he can boot with the diskette, then switch to that folder and run setup /f p which will restore system files.

[glc]

It's setup /p f - (note the space) - and M$ says that 98 and ME will ignore "f" - it's a 95-only thing.

/p - This switch causes Setup to pass string(s) directly to Detection Manager (or Sysdetmg.dll). Setup does not interpret the content of the string. The string can contain one or more detection options.

The /p switch is not used by itself.

f - This switch enables Clean Registry mode. It forces Detection to delete the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Enum\Root registry key before starting. This switch is ignored when Setup is run in the Windows 95 graphical user interface (GUI).

NOTE: This switch is always ignored in Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Me, even when Setup is run from MS-DOS.

The default is disabled.

Example: setup /p f

[Chris in U.K.]

Thanks for all the advice, fellas, Gary's fix worked like a charm!
It then took a further 4 hours putting things straight once I was into Windows, binning wierd software, defragging a drive that hadn't been defragged for 3 years (honest), emptying a recycle bin the size of an aircraft-carrier, and setting-up his cable modem etc.... but it's all good now!

Thanks again,

Chris.

[GaryRouth]

Nice work Chris - I think your friend might owe you a dinner and a movie.

In case you're curious to hear more details about the over-the-tops mentioned by Hal & glc, there's a thread in Tips & Tricks that talks about a couple of the different strategies http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=70846

& Hi Hal & glc!

. . . Gary

[HAL9000]

Whoops, thanks G... I wasn't watching when I was typing those switches... I knew what it was but ended up going a bit dyslexic