System disk?? Please help!!

When I started my computer this morning I got to the desk
top, but I started to get error messages on some of the
programs trying to start like Zone Alarm After "okaying"
out of those errors the screen went black and the was
another error message The last one stated invalid system
disk, replace disk and press any key I don't know why
this is coming up or what to do. I appreciate help anyone
can give.

Take the floppy out.

Alias

"Steve" wrote

When I started my computer this morning I got to the desk
top, but I started to get error messages on some of the
programs trying to start like Zone Alarm After "okaying"
out of those errors the screen went black and the was
another error message The last one stated invalid system
disk, replace disk and press any key I don't know why
this is coming up or what to do. I appreciate help anyone
can give.

I had hoped it was that easy, there was one in. There is
a file caused user.dat would deleting that cause this
problem?

-----Original Message-----
Take the floppy out.

Alias

"Steve" wrote

When I started my computer this morning I got to the
desk
top, but I started to get error messages on some of the
programs trying to start like Zone Alarm
After "okaying"
out of those errors the screen went black and the was
another error message The last one stated invalid
system
disk, replace disk and press any key I don't know why
this is coming up or what to do. I appreciate help
anyone
can give.


.

Sorry that should have read there WASN"T one in the floppy
drive.

-----Original Message-----
I had hoped it was that easy, there was one in. There is
a file caused user.dat would deleting that cause this
problem?

-----Original Message-----
Take the floppy out.

Alias

"Steve" wrote

When I started my computer this morning I got to the
desk
top, but I started to get error messages on some of the
programs trying to start like Zone Alarm
After "okaying"
out of those errors the screen went black and the was
another error message The last one stated invalid
system
disk, replace disk and press any key I don't know why
this is coming up or what to do. I appreciate help
anyone
can give.


.

.

Deleting user.dat will have caused major problems as this file is one of the
three files that comprise the Win Me registry. To restore this file you can
use the scanreg command from a DOS prompt as follows. However the absence of
user.dat shouldn't I think have prevented you booting your system.

Boot to DOS using a floppy and then at the A:\ prompt type
SCANREG /RESTORE
and from the five backups copies offered, choose the one immediately prior to
your having deleted user.dat.

If for some reason scanreg /restore doesn't work perhaps due to using a non
Win Me floppy then enter
C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\SCANREG /RESTORE
at the A:\ prompt.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP




wrote:

I had hoped it was that easy, there was one in. There is
a file caused user.dat would deleting that cause this
problem?

Mike, when you say "boot to dos using a floppy" what do
you mean? Are you say one with WinME on it? I was also
wondering if working safe mode is helpful or wouldn't I be
able to get there? Sorry I'm at work right now so I can't
try this help till tonight.
Steve


-----Original Message-----
Deleting user.dat will have caused major problems as this
file is one of the
three files that comprise the Win Me registry. To
restore this file you can
use the scanreg command from a DOS prompt as follows.
However the absence of
user.dat shouldn't I think have prevented you booting
your system.

Boot to DOS using a floppy and then at the A:\ prompt
type
SCANREG /RESTORE
and from the five backups copies offered, choose the one
immediately prior to
your having deleted user.dat.

If for some reason scanreg /restore doesn't work perhaps
due to using a non
Win Me floppy then enter
C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\SCANREG /RESTORE
at the A:\ prompt.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP





wrote:

I had hoped it was that easy, there was one in. There
is
a file caused user.dat would deleting that cause this
problem?


.

Steve,

Mike, when you say "boot to dos using a floppy" what do
you mean?

By using a boot floppy. Place a boot floppy in the floppy drive and reboot
which should bring you to the A:\ DOS prompt. If however you can get in to
Safe Mode, or any other mode, then you can run SCANREG /RESTORE from a
command prompt such as Start | Run. It seems I .mistakenly thought you could
not get Windows to start, nevertheless for preference I would still boot to
DOS from a floppy and use the command from there.

If you don't have a boot floppy you can create a boot floppy (EBD) or start up
disk as follows:
Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs | Startup Disk and follow the prompts. If
you get asked for the location of a "missing" file point the wizard towards
your Win Me cab files which should be in either the windows\options\cabs or
windows\options\install folder. Alternatively point to the Win9x folder on
the Win Me CD. Specifically look for BASE2.CAB.

If you are still unable to create a boot floppy you can download the image of
a Win ME OEM boot disk from www.bootdisk.com. Download to your desktop, double
click to run and follow the prompts to transfer the image to a floppy.
--?
Mike Maltby MS-MVP




wrote:

Mike, when you say "boot to dos using a floppy" what do
you mean? Are you say one with WinME on it? I was also
wondering if working safe mode is helpful or wouldn't I be
able to get there? Sorry I'm at work right now so I can't
try this help till tonight.

Mike (and everyone who respond) thanks for your help. I=20
will work on this information tonight and see what I can=20
get done. Thanks much!

Steve



-----Original Message-----
Steve,

Mike, when you say "boot to dos using a floppy" what do
you mean?

By using a boot floppy. Place a boot floppy in the floppy=20
drive and reboot
which should bring you to the A:\ DOS prompt. If however=20
you can get in to
Safe Mode, or any other mode, then you can run=20
SCANREG /RESTORE from a
command prompt such as Start | Run. It seems=20
I .mistakenly thought you could
not get Windows to start, nevertheless for preference I=20
would still boot to
DOS from a floppy and use the command from there.

If you don't have a boot floppy you can create a boot=20
floppy (EBD) or start up
disk as follows:
Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs | Startup Disk and=20
follow the prompts. If
you get asked for the location of a "missing" file point=20
the wizard towards
your Win Me cab files which should be in either the=20
windows\options\cabs or
windows\options\install folder. Alternatively point to=20
the Win9x folder on
the Win Me CD. Specifically look for BASE2.CAB.

If you are still unable to create a boot floppy you can=20
download the image of
a Win ME OEM boot disk from www.bootdisk.com. Download to=20
your desktop, double
click to run and follow the prompts to transfer the image=20
to a floppy.
--=81
Mike Maltby MS-MVP



=20

wrote:

Mike, when you say "boot to dos using a floppy" what do
you mean? Are you say one with WinME on it? I was also
wondering if working safe mode is helpful or wouldn't I=20
be
able to get there? Sorry I'm at work right now so I=20
can't
try this help till tonight.


.