Boot failure

Zee,

Sounds more like the boot sequence is incorrectly set in the BIOS, or the
floppy drive/disk is faulty if it's trying to boot straight into WinMe. If
it's getting as far as the welcome screen, it's not seeing the boot floppy
disk.

However, that does not detract from the first diagnosis of the HDD beginning
to die.

Chas, as a matter of interest, has this (these?) problem(s) 'only just
occurred or is the PC 'new' to you? It's a little odd that two 'things'
should occur at the same time, without a little earlier warning.

Mart.



"oops!!" wrote in message
...

You should try

A registry repair:

Boot up with a start-up floppy disk and at the A:\ prompt type

C: (press enter)

Now type:

cd windows\command (press enter)

Your prompt should read C:\Windows\Command, correct?

Now type:

scanreg /fix (space between g and /)

Press enter, wait for the process to finish and reboot WITHOUT the disk.

If that doesn't work, try a registry resto

Boot up with a start-up floppy disk and at the A:\ prompt and repeat the
steps above and replace the scanreg command with:

scanreg /restore (space between g and /)

Press enter, select a date PRIOR to the problem, press enter, wait for the
process to finish and reboot WITHOUT the disk.

If you don't have a start-up disk, download one from www.bootdisk.com.

Any luck?

This MAY help you boot the PC but WILL NOT solve your hard disk problems.

Zee





"ChasHyde" wrote in message
...
I've obntained a boot floppy, but when I boot from it, the same thing
happens, i.e. I don't get any further than the welcome screen. Can anyone
help?

"Mart" wrote:

Chas asked :-

'Pri-Master Hard disk S.M.A.R.T. Status BAD Backup
& Replace' What does that mean?

Sadly, it means exactly what is says! Your main hard drive - your C:
drive -
is about to die - probably catastrophically!

Don't do anything else until you've worked out a strategy to salvage any
important (especially personal) data and saved it to other media (e.g.
CD
ROM etc.)

Constant re-booting will only make things worse.

Mart


"ChasHyde" wrote in message
...
Safe Mode hangs just the same, if I do a step by step confirmation,
the
system hangs when loading the windows drivers.
Also - there is an error during the boot process (wasn't there
before) -
'Pri-Master Hard disk S.M.A.R.T. Status BAD Backup & Replace' What
does
that
mean?

"Heirloom" wrote:

If the Safe Mode works, do a 'selective startup' and determine what
app
is
causing the issue. Have you added anything, (heavy on the
'anything')
to
your system lately??
Heirloom, old and keep a clean
machine

"Eric" wrote in message
...

"ChasHyde" wrote in message
news Hope someone can help. When booting my PC running Windows ME, the
welcome
screen appears - with the Windows ME logo, and then it just hangs,
anu
ideas
what to do?

Try booting into safe mode.

Ah! - just spotted Chas's earlier remark.

Also - there is an error during the boot process (wasn't there before)

OK, so you must try reset the BIOS as soon as possible (or troubleshoot you
A: drive/disk) to get your PC to first boot with the floppy (A before the
C: drive. But be careful not to write to your C: drive (as happens even if
you think you are only just booting-up into Normal or Safe mode).

You need to run scandisk in DOS (from your floppy disk) - but DO NOT let it
do a surface test. Just make a note of the errors etc. A surface test causes
it to write to the drive - possibly causing more damage.

Mart



"Mart" wrote in message
...
Zee,

Sounds more like the boot sequence is incorrectly set in the BIOS, or the
floppy drive/disk is faulty if it's trying to boot straight into WinMe.
If it's getting as far as the welcome screen, it's not seeing the boot
floppy disk.

However, that does not detract from the first diagnosis of the HDD
beginning to die.

Chas, as a matter of interest, has this (these?) problem(s) 'only just
occurred or is the PC 'new' to you? It's a little odd that two 'things'
should occur at the same time, without a little earlier warning.

Mart.



"oops!!" wrote in message
...

You should try

A registry repair:

Boot up with a start-up floppy disk and at the A:\ prompt type

C: (press enter)

Now type:

cd windows\command (press enter)

Your prompt should read C:\Windows\Command, correct?

Now type:

scanreg /fix (space between g and /)

Press enter, wait for the process to finish and reboot WITHOUT the disk.

If that doesn't work, try a registry resto

Boot up with a start-up floppy disk and at the A:\ prompt and repeat the
steps above and replace the scanreg command with:

scanreg /restore (space between g and /)

Press enter, select a date PRIOR to the problem, press enter, wait for
the process to finish and reboot WITHOUT the disk.

If you don't have a start-up disk, download one from www.bootdisk.com.

Any luck?

This MAY help you boot the PC but WILL NOT solve your hard disk problems.

Zee





"ChasHyde" wrote in message
...
I've obntained a boot floppy, but when I boot from it, the same thing
happens, i.e. I don't get any further than the welcome screen. Can
anyone
help?

"Mart" wrote:

Chas asked :-

'Pri-Master Hard disk S.M.A.R.T. Status BAD Backup
& Replace' What does that mean?

Sadly, it means exactly what is says! Your main hard drive - your C:
drive -
is about to die - probably catastrophically!

Don't do anything else until you've worked out a strategy to salvage
any
important (especially personal) data and saved it to other media (e.g.
CD
ROM etc.)

Constant re-booting will only make things worse.

Mart


"ChasHyde" wrote in message
...
Safe Mode hangs just the same, if I do a step by step confirmation,
the
system hangs when loading the windows drivers.
Also - there is an error during the boot process (wasn't there
before) -
'Pri-Master Hard disk S.M.A.R.T. Status BAD Backup & Replace' What
does
that
mean?

"Heirloom" wrote:

If the Safe Mode works, do a 'selective startup' and determine what
app
is
causing the issue. Have you added anything, (heavy on the
'anything')
to
your system lately??
Heirloom, old and keep a clean
machine

"Eric" wrote in message
...

"ChasHyde" wrote in message
news Hope someone can help. When booting my PC running Windows ME,
the
welcome
screen appears - with the Windows ME logo, and then it just
hangs, anu
ideas
what to do?

Try booting into safe mode.

Thanks, I've tried both those with no success, don't really know what to try
now . . .

"oops!!" wrote:


You should try

A registry repair:

Boot up with a start-up floppy disk and at the A:\ prompt type

C: (press enter)

Now type:

cd windows\command (press enter)

Your prompt should read C:\Windows\Command, correct?

Now type:

scanreg /fix (space between g and /)

Press enter, wait for the process to finish and reboot WITHOUT the disk.

If that doesn't work, try a registry resto

Boot up with a start-up floppy disk and at the A:\ prompt and repeat the
steps above and replace the scanreg command with:

scanreg /restore (space between g and /)

Press enter, select a date PRIOR to the problem, press enter, wait for the
process to finish and reboot WITHOUT the disk.

If you don't have a start-up disk, download one from www.bootdisk.com.

Any luck?

This MAY help you boot the PC but WILL NOT solve your hard disk problems.

Zee





"ChasHyde" wrote in message
...
I've obntained a boot floppy, but when I boot from it, the same thing
happens, i.e. I don't get any further than the welcome screen. Can anyone
help?

"Mart" wrote:

Chas asked :-

'Pri-Master Hard disk S.M.A.R.T. Status BAD Backup
& Replace' What does that mean?

Sadly, it means exactly what is says! Your main hard drive - your C:
drive -
is about to die - probably catastrophically!

Don't do anything else until you've worked out a strategy to salvage any
important (especially personal) data and saved it to other media (e.g. CD
ROM etc.)

Constant re-booting will only make things worse.

Mart


"ChasHyde" wrote in message
...
Safe Mode hangs just the same, if I do a step by step confirmation, the
system hangs when loading the windows drivers.
Also - there is an error during the boot process (wasn't there
before) -
'Pri-Master Hard disk S.M.A.R.T. Status BAD Backup & Replace' What
does
that
mean?

"Heirloom" wrote:

If the Safe Mode works, do a 'selective startup' and determine what
app
is
causing the issue. Have you added anything, (heavy on the
'anything')
to
your system lately??
Heirloom, old and keep a clean
machine

"Eric" wrote in message
...

"ChasHyde" wrote in message
news Hope someone can help. When booting my PC running Windows ME, the
welcome
screen appears - with the Windows ME logo, and then it just hangs,
anu
ideas
what to do?

Try booting into safe mode.

Norman Conquest wrote:
Hmm.. Shoot the messenger! That should help.


Well, yes. If it allows enough time to write all the data down. In longhand.
And draw any irreplaceable pictures.

Niceday


"Eric" wrote in message
...
Try disabling S.M.A.R.T.
There should be an option for that in the BIOS.
You will likely want to get a new hard drive.

"ChasHyde" wrote in message
...
Safe Mode hangs just the same, if I do a step by step confirmation,
the system hangs when loading the windows drivers.
Also - there is an error during the boot process (wasn't there
before) - 'Pri-Master Hard disk S.M.A.R.T. Status BAD Backup &
Replace' What does that
mean?

"Heirloom" wrote:

If the Safe Mode works, do a 'selective startup' and determine
what app is
causing the issue. Have you added anything, (heavy on the
'anything') to
your system lately??
Heirloom, old and keep a clean
machine

"Eric" wrote in message
...

"ChasHyde" wrote in message
news Hope someone can help. When booting my PC running Windows ME,
the welcome
screen appears - with the Windows ME logo, and then it just
hangs, anu
ideas
what to do?

Try booting into safe mode.

His Safe Mode is doing the same thing (prior post right after my first one).
The biggie here is the HD is rapidly going down the crapper, if it hasn't
already. Another drive, reload Windows and try to recover anything he can.
BTW, Chas, there are professional services that specialize in the retrieval
of data from dead drives, however, the process is quite expensive.....you
would have to have a lot of valuable data to make it worth your while.
Heirloom, old and nice to have a HD
backup, or two.


"oops!!" wrote in message
...

Try booting in Safe Mode and using System Restore to revert your system to
a previously working date, if the problem is recent.

Zee






"ChasHyde" wrote in message
news
Hope someone can help. When booting my PC running Windows ME, the
welcome
screen appears - with the Windows ME logo, and then it just hangs, anu
ideas
what to do?

I am unable to reload Windows, as my computer came with it pre-loaded, and I
have no disks at all (there may have been some at one time, but as the PC was
my son's . . . ) I have a product key sticker stuck to the case, but that's
all. I have been able to reset the BIOS sequence, and boot from a CD, so I
can do commands in DOS. Where can I get a Windows ME disk from, do I have to
buy another copy?

Panic . . . panic !!

"Heirloom" wrote:

His Safe Mode is doing the same thing (prior post right after my first one).
The biggie here is the HD is rapidly going down the crapper, if it hasn't
already. Another drive, reload Windows and try to recover anything he can.
BTW, Chas, there are professional services that specialize in the retrieval
of data from dead drives, however, the process is quite expensive.....you
would have to have a lot of valuable data to make it worth your while.
Heirloom, old and nice to have a HD
backup, or two.


"oops!!" wrote in message
...

Try booting in Safe Mode and using System Restore to revert your system to
a previously working date, if the problem is recent.

Zee






"ChasHyde" wrote in message
news
Hope someone can help. When booting my PC running Windows ME, the
welcome
screen appears - with the Windows ME logo, and then it just hangs, anu
ideas
what to do?

The problem you have is a failing Hard Disk that no software will recover.

If the data in that Hard Disk Drive is not important, you should look at
buying a new PC with up to date hardware and software.

Eventually slave that sick HDD in the new PC and recover whatever is
possible.

Reinstalling Windows will not solve your problem.

Zee


"ChasHyde" wrote in message
...
I am unable to reload Windows, as my computer came with it pre-loaded, and
I
have no disks at all (there may have been some at one time, but as the PC
was
my son's . . . ) I have a product key sticker stuck to the case, but
that's
all. I have been able to reset the BIOS sequence, and boot from a CD, so
I
can do commands in DOS. Where can I get a Windows ME disk from, do I have
to
buy another copy?

Panic . . . panic !!

"Heirloom" wrote:

His Safe Mode is doing the same thing (prior post right after my first
one).
The biggie here is the HD is rapidly going down the crapper, if it hasn't
already. Another drive, reload Windows and try to recover anything he
can.
BTW, Chas, there are professional services that specialize in the
retrieval
of data from dead drives, however, the process is quite expensive.....you
would have to have a lot of valuable data to make it worth your while.
Heirloom, old and nice to have a HD
backup, or two.


"oops!!" wrote in message
...

Try booting in Safe Mode and using System Restore to revert your system
to
a previously working date, if the problem is recent.

Zee






"ChasHyde" wrote in message
news Hope someone can help. When booting my PC running Windows ME, the
welcome
screen appears - with the Windows ME logo, and then it just hangs, anu
ideas
what to do?

Yeah, I was referring to installing a new HD and reloading Windows onto it,
but, without the disks, that would be difficult. As far as a boot disk,
you can download one from www.bootdisk.com ......make sure you get the one
for Me.
Of course, you will need to use someone else's computer for this, g. Or
if you know someone using Me, you could use their bootdisk, no probs.
Heirloom, old and still like the
HD backups


"oops!!" wrote in message
...

The problem you have is a failing Hard Disk that no software will recover.

If the data in that Hard Disk Drive is not important, you should look at
buying a new PC with up to date hardware and software.

Eventually slave that sick HDD in the new PC and recover whatever is
possible.

Reinstalling Windows will not solve your problem.

Zee


"ChasHyde" wrote in message
...
I am unable to reload Windows, as my computer came with it pre-loaded, and
I
have no disks at all (there may have been some at one time, but as the PC
was
my son's . . . ) I have a product key sticker stuck to the case, but
that's
all. I have been able to reset the BIOS sequence, and boot from a CD, so
I
can do commands in DOS. Where can I get a Windows ME disk from, do I have
to
buy another copy?

Panic . . . panic !!

"Heirloom" wrote:

His Safe Mode is doing the same thing (prior post right after my first
one).
The biggie here is the HD is rapidly going down the crapper, if it
hasn't
already. Another drive, reload Windows and try to recover anything he
can.
BTW, Chas, there are professional services that specialize in the
retrieval
of data from dead drives, however, the process is quite
expensive.....you
would have to have a lot of valuable data to make it worth your while.
Heirloom, old and nice to have a HD
backup, or two.


"oops!!" wrote in message
...

Try booting in Safe Mode and using System Restore to revert your
system to
a previously working date, if the problem is recent.

Zee






"ChasHyde" wrote in message
news Hope someone can help. When booting my PC running Windows ME, the
welcome
screen appears - with the Windows ME logo, and then it just hangs,
anu
ideas
what to do?