Windows ME - won't boot, not even in safe mode

Factual Questions
1

I’m hoping someone can help me.

I’ve got a computer running Windows ME that won’t boot - not even in safe mode.

It begins the boot process and hangs on the Windows ME splash screen - and won’t go any farther. If I try to boot in safe mode the same thing happens.

Any ideas?

2

Do you have a WindowsMe startup disk? It is a floppy disk with a basic operating system and diagnostic programs that can repair your WindowsMe registry. If so, start your computer with the startup disk in the floppy drive, then at the *c:* prompt, type scanreg /restore and hit return. This will let you select from recent registry save points that can be restored. With any luck, one of them will allow your compute to boot again. Here is more information on scanreg

3

No, unfortunately I don’t have a startup disk.

It’s my parents’ computer and I’m trying to help them out.

4

You can get the startup disk image here www.bootdisk.com.

Do this first though -

1:Unplug the machine from the wall or power strip
2: Take the top off the machine (while turned off).
3: Unplug then reseat all the drive ribbon data cables at both ends where they are plugged into the Motherboard and into the drive.
4: Unplug then reseat all the power leads to the drives.
5: Wiggle all the PCI cards gently, and make sure they are firmly seated in their slots.
6: If you can reach it remove and reinsert the DIMM memory modules.
7: Restart the machine

See if that solves your problem before messing with the registry.

5

Thanks.

I checked to make sure everything was plugged in/seated securely. I downloaded a boot disk and ran that, did scandisk and then restored from the most recent restore point - still no luck.

It’s still just hanging on the ME screen and the disk is grinding. Any other ideas?

6

I let it run until I got this error message:

‘Windows could not upgrade the file %1 from %2
%1: %2’

7

Wait - nevermind - it booted! Thanks for your help!

8

RE [Error Message: Windows Could Not Upgrade the File %1 from %2 %1: %2](Error Message: Windows Could Not Upgrade the File %1 from %2 %1: %2)

Boot into DOS with the floppy and rename this file per the instructions.

The DOS command “REN” command will rename file

Using rename under DOS

I’m not sure what directory in wininit.ini is in. I begin by looking in
c:\windows or
c:\windows\system or
c:
The person in the link below thinks MS’s advice is poor and incomplete re this problem and offers (supposedly) a more complete solution.

Wininit.ini load 1% 2%