[krockey]

Please be patient in advance, I am not very computer literate but you folks have really helped me before. I have ME and the last several days I have not been able to open anything, the desktop screen appears but there is an hourglass that doesn't go away. I use AVG, adaware, spybot and spyware blaster. I run them about once a week. I have run them all in safe mode without finding anything except AVG showed the following under file--" partition table MBR reading error" and "Boot sector of disk reading error drive c. " I tried to do a scandisk and it says it has restarted 10 times because of programs running, even in safe mode without anything else on...
Any suggestions about what to do?
Thanks so much,
Kathy

 

[blues_harp28]

Hi what happens when you tap F 8 at bootup and choose,
Last Known Good Configuration?

 

[krockey]

When I do that it says" Microsoft windows millennium startup menu"
and the choices are:
Normal
Logged
Safe
Step by step confirmation
How do I find the last known good configuration?
Thanks,
Kathy

 

[blues_harp28]

Hi try safe mode..once there..click start>run>type.
msconfig..click on startup tab.
Untick all entries Except..
ScanRegistry.
SystemTray.
StateMgr.
Click ok>reboot.

 

[krockey]

Ok, did that, rebooted in safe mode, the compaq help and support screen shows, and the desktop is there in safe mode. Still don't see where to find last known good configuration? Also, maybe I should add I realize I was having problems shutting down, and was trying to run through the troubleshooting guide on Major Geeks, can't see how to update the spyware and antivirus when I am in safe mode and not connected to the internet, but when I am not in safe mode the screen is stuck.

 

[bandit429]

An mbr reading error with a compaq is not good. In addition to what Blues harp has suggested I would recommend you back up your files. That is not going to be an easy thing to do. You could slave your drive to another computer but then if its a MBR infecting virus it may infect the computer you slave it too. You can run an MBR repair, I ve seen it work and I ve seen it leave the hard drive useless. Also you have to worry about the F10 bios on the hard drive. If its an MBR virus how will that affect that part of the bios. And if its a bad area on the disk its serious as well. I would think researching compaqs F10 and MBR would be a good step to take. It could be they are totally seperate except that they are on the same hard drive.

I am not offering a solution at this point. I am pointing out how serious this problem could be. Get you prepared to go on. Now its not to say the solution is not easy Compaqs are a different animal and I forget how things boot in the order they do with compaqs. Its been a while.

Running scandisk from a bootdisk or a prompt in minumal boot would be something safe to consider.

 

[krockey]

Thanks, I did do a backup fairly recently.... when I run scandisk it tells me it has restarted 10 times because of programs running even in safe mode with nothing running, how do I do it with a boot disk or prompt in minimal boot?

 

[bandit429]

Great...I or someone else will get that here quickly...do you have a floppy drive and a clean floppy disk?

 

[krockey]

I do!

 

[bandit429]

Ok great....check back within 10 minutes....I usually post pretty quick. You can do that by refreshing this page or leaving and coming back.

 

[bandit429]

To make a bootdisk you will need a clean floppy disk.
Click the link below and download the Windows ME OEM bootdisk.
It will make a new icon on your desktop or wherever you downloaded too. Click the Icon and follow the instructions for making your disk. Choose "Windows ME OEM"
http://bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

Once you have made your disk pull the floppy out,,in one of the bottom corners...on one side there is a lock...Pull that lock outwards so the disk is locked and may not be written too. Then it will be safe to use. Insert the disk and power off and power on. See if it boots to the disk or if it boots just as it was before please. If it boots to the disk then great all you have to do is remove the disk and power off,,, then on to get back..if not please let us know.

 

[krockey]

Ok, did that twice with 2 different disks, get "non-system dick or disk error, replace and strike any key when ready"

 

[krockey]

oops, that's non-system DISK!

 

[bandit429]

Do not copy the file to the disk....click the windows me oem file and let the exe tell you when to insert the disk.
The file you downloaded.
It automatically puts all the files you need on the floppy for you. When thats done then it is a boot disk.

 

[krockey]

Ok, gotta go take my son to the airport, gone for a while, thanks so much for your help, will try that again when I get back.

 

[bandit429]

Ok since your computer detected that you had inserted an invalid disk it is trying to boot with the floppy.

I will fix a complete post on how to boot from the floppy and run the scandisk before I leave tonight.

 

[bandit429]

In the blue color are the instructions I type...in the black are the instructions for you to type.

Insert the floppy you ve made and let the computer boot. Select or type the number 4 for minumal boot. When everything stops type the following

cd C:\>

Thats cd then a space and then C:\> hit enter,
its all one small line.....when you see C: or C:\> Type

scandisk

hit enter and let scandisk run. Try to catch all the info scandisk offers. When its finished remove the floppy and restart your computer.

 

[krockey]

OK, I'm back (took a day off to take the kids skiing, Alaska has had an unbelieveable amount of snow so fr thsi year) and will follow your directions, thanks so much for the step by step.

 

[bandit429]

Ok if its not enough or if you don t understand something just ask. Also we would like to hear the result.
Your welcome I hope you enjoyed the trip.

Off to work..be back at midnight eastern time.

 

[krockey]

Ok, did that except I get a prompt
A:\>
Typed in the (cd C:\>) enter
and then (scandisk)
and it did scan drive A and found no problems, but I'm thinking I need to scan drive C?
How can I clear the A prompt?