Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

need help repairing damaged window me files

Apr 3, 2004 2:49PM PST

i have a gateway windows me i am trying to repair the damage on window me by putting in my gateway system restore kit disc WinMe
can anyone help me gateway couldnt i would appreciate it. i am not sure what is gone i think gateway said files and folders dont think it is hardware.
microsoft windows Me 4.90.300 Gateway GenuineIntel intel(r)Celeron(tm)processor 63.0MB RAM can anyone help coach me on what i am doing wrong just want to replace missing windows files only. i am so confused

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Re:need help repairing damaged window me files
Apr 3, 2004 9:44PM PST

Firstly, tell us what your problem is. Why do you want to "repair the damage on Windows Me" ? Please be clear about "window me files" at the subject title-do you mean the system files or your personal files-files which you have created ? It is DANGEROUS to use that 'restore kit disc Win Me', which sounds like the disc to be used to restore your computer to 'factory condition', that is, it will wipe out your precious files and reinstall Win Me - your loss if you have not backed them up.

- Collapse -
to repair files...
Apr 3, 2004 10:05PM PST

OK- if you are sure you want to replace damaged system files, you can reinstall Windows Me over itself:

First back up your personal files. Then go to Windows>Options>Cabs. Find the 'setup' file. Click on it and the process of Installing WinMe will start. Depending on your speed, it may take some 60 minutes...

- Collapse -
Worth noting. Installing "over the top" is not without errors.
Apr 3, 2004 11:21PM PST

Read http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6618-0.html?forumID=6&threadID=17536&messageID=192100 and what was written there applies to Windows ME as well.

An older version of IE/OE may get installed and IE/OE may outright cough new errors messages that someone may not be able to deal with. The usual fix is to install the newer IE/OE.

But all this is great discussion material EXCEPT for the fact we haven't read what's broken?

Bob

- Collapse -
Re:need help repairing damaged window me files. Here's how.
Apr 3, 2004 10:06PM PST

Gateway couldn't help because for Windows ME, Microsoft removed the System File Checker (SFC) tool. Right or wrong (I say wrong) Microsoft felt that System File Protection (SFP) and System Restore (SR) made SFC irrelevant.

That left the real world to find out this wasn't so. And without an easy method to replace missing windows files.

NOT to write you can't do this, but the procedure will strain most users. With all due respect, the document to extract original files from the CAB files from a DOS command line is at http://support.microsoft.com/?id=129605 Your skill of copying files in DOS, the use the EXTRACT command and finding those CAB files plus making boot diskettes (I suggest you try those at http://www.bootdisk.com) can make this an easy task.

Or you could tell more?

Bob