Taking the second point first, try running Scandisk in Safe Mode as 'other
background running processes' can often cause Scandisk to recycle in Normal
Mode.

To boot into Safe Mode :-
There is an 'Official' (documented) MS method for WinMe - as per a search
for 'safe mode' in Help and Support Centre will find - by holding down or
'stabbing at' the Ctrl or the F8 keys as the pc boots from cold.

A further couple of methods are by using the Shift key as above, or when
your machine is running in Normal Mode, run msconfig.exe and on the General
tab, select Advanced and check the 'Enable Startup Menu' box. (Not
forgetting to disable it when you've finished g)

Regarding the CD's being unable to be read issue - the CD-ROM *might* just
be failing and *probably* unrelated to the Scandisk issue. You need to
check-out the CD-ROM in Real Mode DOS.

To 'see' it in Real Mode DOS, Boot, using your WinMe Startup (floppy) Disk
in the A: drive.
Select option 2. Start computer with CD-ROM support.

Let the screen information scroll until you eventually see a line which
should report a drive letter for the CD-ROM - but note that it may not
necessarily the same letter as you would expect to see in Windows.

For example, you may see the CD-ROM becoming the E: so the screen should
show:
Drive E:= Driver MSCD001 UNIT 0
Your CD-ROM Is Drive E

When the boot disk finally settles down, you will be presented with an A:\
prompt.

Now put a (data) CD into the CD-ROM and at the A:\ prompt, type "E:"
(no quotes and note the colon after the letter E) Then Press Return.

Now, at the E:\ prompt, type "DIR /P" (no quotes and note the space) Then
press Return.

You should see a listing of the CD contents. - Try several CD's

Come back with your results. Give EXACT errors reports - if any.

Mart


"Hawkins" wrote in message
...
Neighbour complains that she can no longer load her Scrabble CD. I manage
to get it to start via the Run box but it will not start from its normal
shortcut and other CDs cannot be read.
I started to do some long overdue housekeeping and when I got Scandisk it
would start, recycle many times but would not progress to the end.
Is this a indicator that the hard drive is going south or should I do some
other checks to be certain ?

Richard