Scandisk.

You already know the solution. Run in DOS. Alternatively boot to Safe
Mode and run Scandisk. The problem is that you have some other
application running that is modifying files on your hard disk thus causing
scandisk to start. This is often the result of having a single large
partition and running scandisk whilst connected to the net with firewall
and AV application and other application the crate logs running at the
same time.

System Restore.

First check that you don't have a wininit.ini file in your Windows folder.
If you do, rename this to wininit.old and retry System Restore. If this
works then you possibly have a program that creates a wininit.ini file
each time you boot your system. One known example is tgcmd.exe, another
is a program called "ACCESS DENIED". If you have tgcmd.exe I understand
that disabling it in MSConfig | Startup will have no adverse effect on
your system but enable you to use System Restore. Likewise ACCESS DENIED
needs to be "switched off" whilst using SR to either create or restore to
a previous checkpoint. McAfee's Spam Killer also seems to create a new
wininit.ini file each time the system is booted likewise CCleaner if in
"clean at boot" mode. See also MS KB 274092 - "Error Message: System
Restore Cannot Run Until You Restart the Computer"
(http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=274092).

If this isn't the reason for your problem then try running
SCANREG /FIX
from a command prompt such as Start | Run. Note that the system will
re-boot so don't have any applications open when doing this. I suggest
this because the same message is also displayed when the registry has been
corrupted in some way. scanreg /fix attempts to repair that damage.

As for the other part of my problem, how can I save my photos and
music files if I'm forced to get a new hard drive or new computer
without a burner?

By either:
Networking your PC with another and copying the files to the other
machine, or,
Borrowing and using an external storage device such as External hard
drive, USB thumbdrive, CD burner, etc.

If all else fails and the size of the files is not too great by copying
them to a web site (or using G-mail where storage is 2GB per account) and
then downloading to a new PC.

If however you upgrade your current system to XP rather than clean install
then your current data will still be available to you in XP.
--
Mike Maltby



Novice in Bank Land wrote:

Thanks for your reply. The scandisk will begin but it will keep
restarting and never finish. I have tried it in DOS and managed to
get it to work. The restore has no restore points and always ask me
to restart my computer everytime I try to establish a restore piont.

As for the other part of my problem, how can I save my photos and
music files if I'm forced to get a new hard drive or new computer
without a burner?