mossgiel, our good friend, Mart, is well known to be far more clairvoyant> than this humble servant. In your case, I hope you have recovered your> machine and are happy. Even if so, I'm unclear as to what your situation is> or what you did.> > Nevertheless, I concur with Mart that your unsuccessful attempt to use the> machine's first registry backups to restore is a lucky break for you. Had> it succeeded, all the programs installed after the first boot would now be a> mess. If such a registry replacement had been successful, your best option> would have been to attempt to run System Restore to revert to a far more> recent time, replacing this "first boot" registry, and some OS files.> -- > Jack E. Martinelli 2002-05 MS MVP for Shell/User / DTS> Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.or­g/goodpost.htm> In Memorium: Alex Nichol> http://www.microsof­t.com/windowsxp/expe­rtzone/meetexperts/n­ichol.mspx> Your cooperation is very appreciated.> ------> "Mart" <mart(NoSpam)@nospa­m.nospam> wrote in message> news:O$8pBqtXFHA.33­20@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.­gbl...> > Probably, the original setup registry could have given you even more> > problems - however, as you now imply that you are back in business then> good> > luck and come back to visit the WinMe groups again.> >> > Mart> >> >> > "mossgiel" <mossgiel@discussio­ns.microsoft.com> wrote in message> > news:7630C2DC-33C6-­41A2-81FD-FF61ECDE9F­4D@microsoft.com...>­ > > Hi Mart> > > Many thanks for your comments on this topic.> > > I did try to restore the registry on the PC by trying to restore it to> > > it's> > > original setup by replacing System.dat and classes.dat with the original> > > files that were created when Win ME was setup. Using "Attrib" and the> > > "REN"> > > commands appeared to work fine, but had problems copying the old files> > > into> > > the registry. I can only assume that I had got the "attrib" keys mixed> up> > > as> > > it wouldn't let me copy system.1st to System.dat!!> > >> > > I have since tried to replicate this fault on one of my othermachines,> (P3> > > 600 Mhz 256Mb of RAM) and surprise surprise the upgrade went without a> > > hitch> > > !!!!> > >> > > Once agin thanks for your useful pointers on this topic, arms me with> the> > > neccessary information on what to do if this should happen again.> > >> > > Once again thanks to Jack and Mart for their useful info> > >> > > "Mart" wrote:> > >> > >> Jack, one other *possible* (final?) option to restore the registry, at> > >> least - before mossgeil goes down the re-install route.> > >>> > >> As System Restore isn't working, mossgeil *might* get away with using> the> > >> scanreg /restore ploy, by trying to revert to the last 'good' registry> > >> prior> > >> to the problem happening, to see if that will bring things back again.> > >>> > >> Although it is possible do this in Normal and Safe Mode, under the> > >> circumstances, I would suggest he does it in Real Mode DOS, using his> > >> WinMe> > >> Startup (floppy) Disk.> > >>> > >> Boot, with your Windows Startup (floppy) Disk and choose option 4)> > >> Minimal> > >> Boot.> > >>> > >> At the A:\> prompt, type "scanreg /restore" (no quotes and note the> space> > >> between the g and /) then press Enter.> > >>> > >> Follow the screen prompts and when asked, select the LAST 'good' date> > >> BEFORE> > >> THE PROBLEM, continuing with the instructions.> > >>> > >> Don't forget to remove the floppy disk BEFORE you tell the machine to> > >> reboot.> > >>> > >> Hopefully, that *may* get things working again - if not, then continue> > >> with> > >> Jack's re-install suggestions.> > >>> > >> Mart> > >>> > >>> > >> "Jack E Martinelli" <jemartin_DELETE@NO­_SPAM_gis.net> wrote in message> > >> news:O8Kh%23NTXFHA.­2796@TK2MSFTNGP09.ph­x.gbl...> > >> > Thank you for your prompt followup.> > >> >> > >> > From your report, it appears that scandisk under DOS completed just> > >> > fine,> > >> > but the attempt to reboot to WinME Normal Mode failed at the early> > >> > hangup> > >> > you describe.> > >> > This suggests some file corruption of some registry or critical OS> > >> > files.> > >> > The usual fix would be to boot To Safe Mode and run SR to revert to a> > >> > known> > >> > good time. If Safe Mode will not load properly, then perhaps a use> of> > >> > the> > >> > command prompt tool might succeed.> > >> > MS KB Q279736 - "How to Start the System Restore Tool> > >> > From a Command Prompt"> > >> > http://support.micr­osoft.com/default.as­px?scid=kb;[LN];279736> > >> >> > >> > Failing that, you are probably left only with an "in-place"> > >> > reinstallation,> > >> > http://winnoel.user­s.btopenworld.com/re­inME.htm> > >> >> > >> > or a "clean" installation,> > >> > http://www.aumha.or­g/win4/a/clean.htm> > >> >> > >> > Or, better yet, the migration to XP SP2, since the hardware supports> > >> > it.> > >> > I don't doubt that your friend will be very happy.> > >> > -- > > >> > Jack E. Martinelli 2002-05 MS MVP for Shell/User / DTS> > >> > Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.or­g/goodpost.htm> > >> > In Memorium: Alex Nichol> > >> > http://www.microsof­t.com/windowsxp/expe­rtzone/meetexperts/n­ichol.mspx> > >> > Your cooperation is very appreciated.> > >> > ------> > >> > "mossgiel" <mossgiel@discussio­ns.microsoft.com> wrote in message> > >> > news:EDFE550E-7952-­4A9F-9973-E956BE1074­27@microsoft.com...>­ > >> >> Hi Jack> > >> >> Many thanks for your comments.> > >> >>> > >> >> Scandisk ran fine from the start disk, and revealed no errors in> > >> >> either> > >> > the> > >> >> file system or the hard drive. Once the scan was complete, the> machine> > >> > just> > >> >> hung again, with only the mouse pointer on the screen, no taskbar,> and> > >> > just a> > >> >> plain grey background as opposed the the WinME theme that had> > >> >> originally> > >> > been> > >> >> on the computer. Totally baffled by this one.> > >> >>> > >> >> The XP migration was done from DOS, and already included SP2 on the> > >> >> disk,> > >> > so> > >> >> that's one less download to worry about ­> > >> >>> > >> >> Once again many thanks for the pointers and tips> > >> >>> > >> >>> > >> >>> > >> >> "Jack E Martinelli" wrote:> > >> >>> > >> >> > If the WinME system was still running, I would have you check to> > >> >> > confirm> > >> >> > that Statemgr.exe was checked in msconfig/Startup, to load at> > >> >> > startup,> > >> > and> > >> >> > that a process viewer reported that stmgr.exe was executing after> > >> >> > boot.> > >> >> > Statemgr runs at boot to load stmgr, which is needed to run SR and> > >> >> > SFP.> > >> >> >> > >> >> > OTH, I am very happy that the migration to XP was succcessful and> > >> >> > so> > >> > easy.> > >> >> > Obviously, the hrdware supports XP, with which your friend will be> > >> >> > happy> > >> > and> > >> >> > far more secure. Be sure to upgrade to SP2, ASAP. Have the> friend> > >> > learn> > >> >> > about the many MS ng's supporting XP, where numerous experts stand> > >> >> > ready> > >> > to> > >> >> > aid.> > >> >> >> > >> >> > BTW, what ensued during the attempts to run scandisk from a> floppy,> > >> > under> > >> >> > DOS? This should have succeeded.> > >> >> >> > >> >> > -- > > >> >> > Jack E. Martinelli 2002-05 MS MVP for Shell/User / DTS> > >> >> > Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.or­g/goodpost.htm> > >> >> > In Memorium: Alex Nichol> > >> >> >> http://www.microsof­t.com/windowsxp/expe­rtzone/meetexperts/n­ichol.mspx> > >> >> > Your cooperation is very appreciated.> > >> >> > ------> > >> >> > "mossgiel" <mossgiel@discussio­ns.microsoft.com> wrote in message> > >> >> > news:83ED6556-1932-­474A-8824-7765F9735D­65@microsoft.com...>­ > >> >> > > Hi Jack> > >> >> > > Many thanks for replying to this issue> > >> >> > >> > >> >> > > Had tried running scandisk from the boot disk to no avail ­> > >> >> > >> > >> >> > > When trying safe mode I experienced the same problems IE No> > >> >> > > taskbar,> > >> > and> > >> >> > no> > >> >> > > evidence of any programmes running. As regards using system> > >> >> > > restore,> > >> > tried> > >> >> > to> > >> >> > > use that to restore to 3 seperate restore points, and on each> > >> > occassion,> > >> >> > > Windows told me that the system could not be restored. Totally> > >> >> > > baffled> > >> > by> > >> >> > > this one, it would appear that the download had been corrupted,> > >> >> > > but> > >> > prior> > >> >> > to> > >> >> > > re-booting the system did tell me that the update had been> > >> >> > > successful.> > >> >> > >> > >> >> > > On a more happier note, my friend decided to upgrade to> > >> >> > XP.................­> > >> >> > > and that upgrade has appeared to cure the problem> .................> > >> > albeit> > >> >> > a> > >> >> > > few hours reinstalling software !!!> > >> >> > >> > >> >> > > Many thanks for your help in this matter.> > >> >> > > As always any comments are gratefully received ­> > >> >> > >> > >> >> > >> > >> >> > >> > >> >> > > "Jack E Martinelli" wrote:> > >> >> > >> > >> >> > > > Begin by restarting with the WinME EBD, aka, boot disk, and> then> > >> >> > > > run> > >> >> > > > scandisk on the C: partition.> > >> >> > > > When it completes, attempt to reboot to Normal Mode.> > >> >> > > >> > >> >> > > > If you have no boot disk, obtain one using another computer> from> > >> >> > > >> > >> >> > > > www.bootdisk.com> > >> >> > > > http://www.startdis­k.com/> > >> >> > > >> > >> >> > > > Be sure to obtain the DL file for Windows Millennium, and run> it> > >> >> > > > to> > >> >> > create> > >> >> > > > the bootable floppy.> > >> >> > > >> > >> >> > > > If this fails, consider booting to Safe Mode and using the> > >> > Add-Remove> > >> >> > > > Programs wizard to uninstall the recent Win Update, if it is> > >> >> > > > listed> > >> > in> > >> >> > the> > >> >> > > > item list.> > >> >> > > >> > >> >> > > > You may begin considering the possible use of System Restore> to> > >> > revert> > >> >> > to a> > >> >> > > > prior state.> > >> >> > > > Be sure to ask more about this before proceeding.> > >> >> > > > -- > > >> >> > > > Jack E. Martinelli 2002-05 MS MVP for Shell/User / DTS> > >> >> > > > Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.or­g/goodpost.htm> > >> >> > > > In Memorium: Alex Nichol> > >> >> > > >> > >> > http://www.microsof­t.com/windowsxp/expe­rtzone/meetexperts/n­ichol.mspx> > >> >> > > > Your cooperation is very appreciated.> > >> >> > > > ------> > >> >> > > > "mossgiel" <mossgiel@discussio­ns.microsoft.com> wrote in> message> > >> >> > > > news:02BD8418-AEBD-­4FCA-8946-8E32C5B96C­06@microsoft.com...>­ > >> >> > > > > After upgrading a friends PC using Windows Update ( File was> > >> > Internet> > >> >> > > > > explorer service pack 1) the PC runs Scandisk and then> hangs.> > >> >> > > > > All> > >> >> > that's> > >> >> > > > > visible on the screen is the mouse arrow.> > >> >> > > > >> > >> >> > > > > Holding down Ctrl + Alt + Del, reveals that there are no> > >> > programmes> > >> >> > > > running.> > >> >> > > > >> > >> >> > > > > Had ran an AV Scan prior to carrying out the upgrade, using> > >> >> > > > > AVG> > >> >> > antivirus,> > >> >> > > > > and no viruses detected. Spyware scans had identified some