Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsme.general (
More info?)
While I can't possibly know about the intricacies of your mangement's logic,
I can't (easily) understand why they can't find $375.00 to move you into the
20th century, and to obtain XP Home:
Eg.,
Dell Dimension 2400
Entry Level PC Dimension 2400
XP Home, 80GB Hard Drive & 3 year Service Dimension 3000
Essential Technology on a Budget Dimension 3000
XP Home, 80GB Hard Drive,
15 Month McAfee Security, &
3 year Service
$349.00
Offer Details
After $50 OFF Instantly!
After $40 Mail-in Rebate!
Rebate Details
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/low_price_dimen?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
And I suspect I could find a dozen equal or better offers in 6 hours, only
using the Internet.
The jump up in robustness and security alone from XP, not mentioning the new
hardware, is an overwhelming argument, IMO.
It would seem the amount of money is not the real issue for management here.
A bake sale and a Saturday car wash ought to raise this piddlely amount of
money.
Heck, I'll contribute $20! That's five per cent.
--
Jack E. Martinelli 2002-05 MS MVP for Shell/User / DTS
Help us help you:
http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx
Your cooperation is very appreciated.
------
"Sleepless in New Jersey" <SleeplessinNewJersey@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote in message news:2EC60743-20C4-4B35-AEB5-A38D7B4D086D@microsoft.com...
> Nobody here wants to spend money on this relic. We just
> want to get it running again for a while. Our present
> workload is low by design. It is used for Internet
> email, news and browsing. I don't allow downloads. We
> can live with its limitations for a while longer.
>
> In the last 10 months,our management has applied to the
> hospital for a new PC several times. Unfortunately we
> have been turned down each time. We applied again on
> Friday. This time we requested a replacement, new or
> surplus. However, I don't have much hope. The director of
> our program is contacting veterans groups for donations.
> I heard she was having some success. As for me, I learned of
> another vets program here that expects to replace its
> gear with state-of-the-art stuff by the end of March.
> Their five or six existing PC's are considerably better
> than the two we have. I have requested two of their
> surplus PC's from my counterpart in their program.
> There is the possibility of using patient funds earned
> through the operation of our snacks store. To keep the
> potential cost down I have been searching the Internet
> for refurbished PC's. One way or another we will get
> something. Meanwhile we have had a setback, temporary I
> hope.
>
> I thought I was so close. On Friday I got the help of a
> local technical support guy. We installed the CD-ROM
> drive in the case. We needed to find out if it was
> working. Our corrupted ME can't boot normally and my
> support guy said the CD isn't accessable in Safe Mode.
> We tried to boot from the Windows 98 CD, but it wasn't a
> boot disk. We tried to boot from an ME start-up floppy.
> That's when we found out that the floppy drive had
> died. He said he would bring a replacement on Monday or
> Tuesday. The plan is to boot from that floppy and, if
> the boot succeeds, reformat the hard drive. That will
> get rid of everything.
>
> We should have an ME CD on Monday or Tuesday. We'll
> stay with ME and follow your directions. If this succeeds
> I somehow will have to find a version of AOL we can run.
>
> Many thanks for all the help and attention you have given me.
>
> "Jack E Martinelli" wrote:
>
> > If funds permit, and you really wish to continue using this older
machine
> > rather than buy or build a new one, then I recommend installing at least
128
> > MB of additional physical memory, and replacing the current HD with a
new,
> > larger, faster one. Wait for the WinME upgrade CD to arrive and use it
> > only. During its installation, it will ask for proof of a qualifying
> > Windows installation. Put any of the Win98 disks in the CD drive and
select
> > it to qualify. The WinME installation will resume and ask for its disk,
to
> > continue the installation.
> >
> > Be sure to select to use a large disk during the partition/formatting
> > process, or do so before hand using fdisk from a boot floppy. Remember
that
> > you want to be able to use a possible 2 GB swap file, in addition to the
OS
> > files, and any apps and personal files.
> > Keep the initial OS partition at or under 8 GB to ensure that 4 KB
clusters
> > are used to maximize memory performance.
> > A third-party partition manager will afford complete control of all of
this:
> >
http://www.aumha.org/a/parts.htm
> >
> >
> > This "clean" installation will avoid leaving all kinds of Win98 orphaned
> > files on the HD and similar entries in the registry.
> >
http://www.aumha.org/a/clean.htm
> >
> >
> > Your older CD drive will be just fine for such OS and app installations.
> >
> > This recommendation resolves any potential AOL 9.0 problems, also.
Older
> > versions are easily found.
> > --
> > Jack E. Martinelli 2002-05 MS MVP for Shell/User / DTS
> > Help us help you:
http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm
> >
> >
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx
> > Your cooperation is very appreciated.
> > ------
> > "Sleepless in New Jersey"
<SleeplessinNewJersey@discussions.microsoft.com>
> > wrote in message
news:6E49FF73-3B51-4121-88F0-7DE04D3FF712@microsoft.com...
> > > The HD is only 2GB in size. The PC has only 64MB of RAM. I have
cleaned
> > out
> > > the HD as best I could. There are no datafiles. The only programs
> > installed
> > > are ME and AOL 7.0 There is 711MB of free space. I don't think I
could
> > > install ME in that amount of space.
> > >
> > > However, I think I see light at the end of the tunnel. A counterpart
of
> > > mine at the hospital gave me a CD-ROM drive. The faceplate says it
was
> > > manufactured in 1995. It must be very sl oowww. Assuming it actually
> > works,
> > > on Friday I will install it. But wait, there's more.
> > >
> > > I also got an OEM Windows 98 installation CD together with the Product
> > Code.
> > > I am assured that it will install without requiring an earlier
version of
> > > Windows be installed. I am told that I will be asked if I want to
format
> > the
> > > hard drive. I want to clear out the hard disk, so I will tell it to
go
> > > ahead. Hopefully the PC will be running under Windows 98.
> > >
> > > I also got a Windows 98SE upgrade installation CD with the Product
Code.
> > > Once we are up and running, I will install this upgrade. I should
have
> > our
> > > ME upgrade installation CD with the Product Code by early next week.
I
> > will
> > > upgrade to ME.
> > >
> > > Hopefully, this bootstrap operation will get us back to where we were.
> > > Except for one thing....AOL. I have the CD for AOL 9.0 and
instructions
> > for
> > > contacting our existing account. However, I understand that 9.0 needs
> > 128MB
> > > of RAM or twice what we have. I hope to find an installed or
installable
> > > version of AOL in one of the above installations. If not, I will
somehow
> > > have to contact AOL from home (where I don't run AOL) and ask (beg?)
for
> > an
> > > older version we can run.
> > >
> > > Hopefully I wont be Sleepless in New Jersey for much longer.
> > >
> > > Thanks a lot for your help.
> > >
> > > Alfred Bowman
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "Noel Paton" wrote:
> > >
> > > > What size is the HD? - a CLEAN install is where you wipe the disk
> > > > beforehand, so maximising the available space.
> > > > If you can, install Belarc Advisor, and email me the results of a
scan -
> > my
> > > > email here is valid
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)
> > > >
> > > > Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
> > > >
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
> > > >
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj
> > > >
> > > > Please read
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to
> > NG's
> > > >
> > > > "Sleepless in New Jersey"
> > <SleeplessinNewJersey@discussions.microsoft.com>
> > > > wrote in message
> > news:77E94290-22FD-4043-9D5B-36300D8E2AF8@microsoft.com...
> > > > > Thanks a lot for your attention and help. I will contact Noel
Paton
> > > > > directly.
> > > > >
> > > > > I really would prefer to do a "clean" install, but I only have
500MB
> > > > > available on drive C. I tried to reinstall ME on our other PC. I
was
> > > > > hoping
> > > > > to do an "in-place" install but I never saw the option to do that.
So
> > I
> > > > > proceeded with a "clean" install. It did not go well. I had
cleared
> > out
> > > > > about 750MB on the hard drive. After about 40 minutes of
trundling, I
> > was
> > > > > told there wasn't enough room and I had to abort the
install.......and
> > > > > found
> > > > > I had a disaster on my hands. If this could happen with 750MB,
what
> > would
> > > > > with only 500 MB.
> > > > >
> > > > > Alfred Bowman
> > > > >
> > > > > "Jack E Martinelli" wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >> Noel Paton is now our leading expert on reinstalling WinME:
> > > > >> Re-installing ME
> > > > >>
http://winnoel.users.btopenworld.com/reinME.htm
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Be sure to read the details and caveats closely, several times,
and
> > > > >> follow
> > > > >> the instructions precisely.
> > > > >> Think carefully about the pros and cons of this "in-place"
> > reinstallation
> > > > >> vs. a "clean" installation.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Post to Noel with any problems or prior questions.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> CD readers are very cheap now. I think it best to install a good
> > one.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Be sure to run Disk Cleanup, followed by Defrag, before running
the
> > > > >> reinstallation. Get the C:\ in the best possible shape for the
new
> > OS.
> > > > >> And clear out all viruses, spyware, and other pests.
> > > > >> --
> > > > >> Jack E. Martinelli 2002-05 MS MVP for Shell/User / DTS
> > > > >> Help us help you:
http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx
> > > > >> Your cooperation is very appreciated.
> > > > >> ------
> > > > >> "Sleepless in New Jersey"
> > > > >> <SleeplessinNewJersey@discussions.microsoft.com>
> > > > >> wrote in message
> > > > >> news:251F08FF-FADE-4C07-83A4-C70001ADB3B4@microsoft.com...
> > > > >> > Yesterday I successfully installed WiZ. (Needed to unzip
> > CWShredder.)
> > > > >> > I
> > > > >> > installed and ran Stinger. No problems. I unzipped, installed
and
> > ran
> > > > >> > CWShredder. No problems. I tried to create boot disks through
Win
> > OEM
> > > > >> Alt1
> > > > >> > and Alt2. The programs weren't able to create the disks. I
tried
> > to
> > > > >> > make
> > > > >> a
> > > > >> > startup disk using ME (in Safe Mode). It couldn't find a
certain
> > file.
> > > > >> > I
> > > > >> > looked in a Windows subfolder and found it, but couldn't do
any
> > thing
> > > > >> about
> > > > >> > it. No startup disk. The final file was IE6.1 fix q816506. I
> > tried
> > > > >> > to
> > > > >> > install it but got an error window stating that IE 6 SP 1 was
> > required.
> > > > >> > I
> > > > >> > have the installation CD for this at home, but since the
problem
> > PC's
> > > > >> CD-ROM
> > > > >> > drive is broken I couldn't use it. This was a disappointment.
> > This
> > > > >> > file
> > > > >> was
> > > > >> > supposed to patch mshtml.dll. This file had figured in some of
the
> > > > >> start-up
> > > > >> > error messages that I had gotten.
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> > Unless there is something else I could try, it looks like this
> > thread
> > > > >> > has
> > > > >> > reached the end. We have some options. The simplest and
quickest
> > is
> > > > >> > to
> > > > >> buy
> > > > >> > a new CD-ROM drive. The powers-that-be here don't want to
spend
> > money
> > > > >> > on
> > > > >> > this PC because of its age. However, there are patient funds
and
> > my
> > > > >> > own
> > > > >> > money.
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> > However, there is one catch. In order for the new drive option
to
> > > > >> > work, I
> > > > >> > would have to be able to fix a corrupted operating system. I
have
> > an
> > > > >> > ME
> > > > >> > installation CD (Upgrade version). I have only about 500 MB of
> > space
> > > > >> > on
> > > > >> my
> > > > >> > hard drive. I don't think that is enough for a fresh
installation.
> > > > >> > One
> > > > >> > approach would be to selectively reinstall individual files. I
> > have
> > > > >> > two
> > > > >> > Microsoft papers: "How to Extract and Replace a Protected File
in
> > > > >> > Windows
> > > > >> ME
> > > > >> > " and "HOW TO: Extract Original Compressed Windows Files".
These
> > > > >> > methods
> > > > >> > seem to require me to know the names of the files to be loaded,
and
> > > > >> > this
> > > > >> > could be a problem for me.
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> > The only alternative would be to reinstall ME over the existing
> > > > >> > installation. This was possible with earlier versions of
Windows.
> > Is
> > > > >> > it
> > > > >> > possible with ME?
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> > "Sleepless in New Jersey" wrote:
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> > > Today and over the weekend I downloaded the following files
to
> > > > >> > > floppies:
> > > > >> > >
> > > > >> > > IE6.1 fix q816506
> > > > >> > > Stinger
> > > > >> > > Win ME OEM Alt1 bootme
> > > > >> > > Win ME OEM Alt2 bootme
> > > > >> > > (I suspect there is a duplication here.)
> > > > >> > > wiz502xN for Win ME
> > > > >> > > cwshredder zipped
> > > > >> > >
> > > > >> > > I tried to download Ad-Aware SE Personal and Spybot
> > > > >> > > Search & Destroy, but the were to large to fit on a
> > > > >> > > floppy.
> > > > >> > >
> > > > >> > > On Tuesday I will try to run them.
> > > > >> > >
> > > > >> > > It will be a moment of truth. Wish me well.
> > > > >> > >
> > > > >> > > "Sleepless in New Jersey" wrote:
> > > > >> > >
> > > > >> > > > This a continuation of my earlier post - Repairing ME.
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > > On monday I booted up in Safe Mode. I got an error message
> > from
> > > > >> Helpctr
> > > > >> > > > stating that it had caused an error in MSHTML.DLL. This
DLL
> > > > >> > > > appeared
> > > > >> more
> > > > >> > > > than once afterward. I closed the window without any
problem
> > and
> > > > >> completed
> > > > >> > > > the boot.
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > > I opened Device Manager and removed the Toshiba CD-ROM
drive.
> > > > >> > > > There
> > > > >> were no
> > > > >> > > > error-flagged devices. "Other" contained two unknown
devices.
> > I
> > > > >> removed
> > > > >> > > > them.
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > > I rebooted in Normal Mode. Eventually I got the usual
error
> > > > >> > > > message
> > > > >> > > > "Explorer has caused an error in MSHTML.DLL." I closed the
> > window,
> > > > >> and of
> > > > >> > > > course it came back again and again. I couldn't get past
it.
> > This
> > > > >> error
> > > > >> > > > stopped the boot.
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > > There was a second error window: Run time error.
"Component
> > > > >> MSCOMCTLOCX or
> > > > >> > > > one of its dependencies not correctly registered: a file is
> > missing
> > > > >> > > > or
> > > > >> > > > invalid" I was able to close this window without further
> > effect.
> > > > >> > > > Of
> > > > >> course
> > > > >> > > > the Explorer error message returned.
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > > I rebooted in Safe Mode and got that Helpctr error message.
I
> > > > >> > > > closed
> > > > >> it and
> > > > >> > > > did something I should have done two weeks ago. I tried to
run
> > > > >> > > > System
> > > > >> > > > Restore. Eventually I got an error message from System
> > Restore: "
> > > > >> Rstrui has
> > > > >> > > > caused an error in MSHTML.DLL. Helpctr will now close." I
> > > > >> > > > couldn't
> > > > >> get any
> > > > >> > > > further with System Restore. That was perhaps a pity
because
> > there
> > > > >> > > > is
> > > > >> a
> > > > >> > > > hidden Restore folder on drive C.
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > > I rebooted in Safe Mode. I had recently down loaded Spybot
> > Search
> > > > >> > > > &
> > > > >> Destroy
> > > > >> > > > and Ad-Aware SE Personal and installed them. I ran Spybot.
It
> > > > >> > > > found
> > > > >> some
> > > > >> > > > items. I had them removed. This did not complete. The
> > program
> > > > >> seemed to
> > > > >> > > > have hung. I closed it, which I now think I shouldn't have
> > done.
> > > > >> Right
> > > > >> > > > after this the Explorer problem began.
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > > I rebooted and ran Spybot and Ad-Aware. They both found
items.
> > > > >> Ad-Aware
> > > > >> > > > found over 300 items.
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > > I removed all of them and rebooted in Normal Mode. Nothing
had
> > > > >> changed.
> > > > >> > > > The error messages popped up and the boot was dead. I
rebooted
> > in
> > > > >> Safe Mode
> > > > >> > > > and got the error message from Helpctr. Thinking that
> > installation
> > > > >> > > > of
> > > > >> these
> > > > >> > > > programs and WiZ, also a recent download, may have caused
> > problems,
> > > > >> > > > I
> > > > >> went to
> > > > >> > > > Add/Remove Software and removed the anti-spyware programs.
I
> > had
> > > > >> > > > to
> > > > >> remove
> > > > >> > > > WiZ manually. Nothing changed and I began to regret
removing
> > these
> > > > >> three
> > > > >> > > > programs.
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > > I should note that the Sophos virus checker runs on
boot-up. I
> > has
> > > > >> never
> > > > >> > > > found anything. The subscription is out-of-date. Since we
> > can't
> > > > >> access the
> > > > >> > > > Internet, there is no way to update it online
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > > On thursday I plan to borrow a PC with a floppy drive. (I
> > don't
> > > > >> > > > have
> > > > >> a
> > > > >> > > > floppy drive at home.) It runs Windows XP Professional.
I
> > will
> > > > >> download
> > > > >> > > > Diskmaker, Stinger, the CWShredder files and Ad-Aware SE
> > Personal
> > > > >> > > > to
> > > > >> > > > diskettes and install and run them, hopefully on friday.
(I
> > hope
> > > > >> > > > that
> > > > >> each
> > > > >> > > > of them will fit on a single floppy.) I may download
Spybot
> > S&D.
> > > > >> > > > It
> > > > >> says it
> > > > >> > > > backs up the registry before scanning. Perhaps I should
have
> > paid
> > > > >> more
> > > > >> > > > attention to this when things went wrong. I will report
back.
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > > Thanks again for your help.
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > > Alfred Bowman
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >> > > >
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> >
> >
> >
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