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General discussion

Please Help

Nov 19, 2003 4:14AM PST

I'm having some major problems with my computer and havn't been able toget online since. I'm writing from a friends PC.

So I was deleting a bunch of useless programs and it kept asking me if I was sure I wanted to delete a certain .dll. I distinctly remember hitting no, but for some reason it must havedeleted it anyway because when I restarted my computer, I was no longer able to view webpages on my computer. I could go into internet explorer and go to webpages. But they just come up as a white page. On top of that most of my programs will no longer open. Only a handful. Even the restore function wont work. Even in safe mode. I tried going into the my computer option and looking through my files but the same white screen inside the window appears. I want to know if anyone knows of a .dll that I could download to help this. Or, is there some kind a program that will search for .dlls I'm missing? Or, is there a way to go into my files and retrieve files that were deleted? If there is any way to fix this I would like to know, otherwise I'm going to have to go out and buy another box of windows software because I don't have the windows me disk. Thanks for any help,


Robert

Discussion is locked

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"I don't have the windows me disk"
Nov 19, 2003 4:34AM PST

That is the problem you need to solve first. The files are not available online (legally) because they are licensed items. Some can be found, but without your CD, repairs are not assured.

What OS CD do you have?

Bob

PS. Next time, take moment for that Subject title. It's a little vague.

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Re:
Nov 20, 2003 3:13AM PST

Sorry about the title. Thinking back I probably could have gotten more help if I'd been more specific.

As for my CD, the reason I don't have it is because my computer originally was an emachines computer. It came with the Windows Me operating system and an emachines cd that only works with that computer. Then, I built my own computer with everything except the hard drive. I'm not really good with computers so I didn't know the hard drive would have to be rebooted. I couldn't get it to work so I took it in to a shop and it came back with Windows Me installed again. But the only CD I have (Emachines) won't work on my computer. If I got the CD how would I go about finding the problem?

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Re:Re:
Nov 20, 2003 3:57AM PST

If someone at the computer shop installed Windows ME for you and did not supply you with the CD, my money says the installation is not legal.

Your best recourse may be to purchase a legal copy of Windows ME (or Windows XP Home Edition if your system is compatible with it), format your hard drive and install it fresh.

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Not looking good. Here's why.
Nov 20, 2003 4:50AM PST

First, about the title. In such forums, such generic "Help!" or such titles may not get opened by passers by. Think about using something that someone will see and think "I might help out since that seems like something I know about."

1. "If I got the CD how would I go about finding the problem?"

You might not be able to. Windows ME is the worst of the lot on the repair side. I often use an "install over the top" if the "logged boot" doesn't show anything.

If that doesn't work, I can resort to deleting C:\Windows and reinstalling the OS. At least the user's files are left intact. Programs and such need reinstalling, but that's the breaks.

2. The CD thing.

It revolves around that and your license. You may not like it, but you don't have a license to the OS after you change so much of the machine. I'll look the other way, but support is non-existant and no one will supply a replacement CD under these circumstances.

3. The "run an OS you have question."

I asked what OS you have. I'm unsure if you have an OS that will install on what you have. OEM CD's and licenses are specifically broken to only work on their hardware. Seems you need to work that issue first.

Bob

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Try this long shot-
Nov 20, 2003 11:34AM PST

Go to the Windows>system>Cabs folder and look for the setup file....you can do a reinstall of Windows from there. Be warned: Programs and files may be lost. Go to the folder via Windows Explorer, if unable to, go via My Computer. Try also safe mode.

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Re:Try this long shot-
Nov 21, 2003 5:24PM PST

Ok, I will try that one. By the way, thanks for the help everyone! I really appreciate it. I was wondering, I plan on getting a new hard drive after December. Would it be possible to run Windows XP on that, and still access my files on the old hard drive and run them in Windows XP? If that's the case I won't even bother with the reinstallation and whatnot. I have a basic knowledge of making a hard drive a slave and another a master, just wondering if a file from one hard drive can be run on another by a different OS? Thanks,

Rob

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"if a file from one hard drive can be run on another by a different OS?"
Nov 21, 2003 10:54PM PST

A file is likely to be ok. Programs for the most part do not run since many will need to be reinstalled. It's a long explanation as to "why", but in short, registry entries, dlls and more....

In closing, your backup of what you can't lose might be tested. People write in all the time that they moved a drive and the contents can't be seen. Works most of the time, not all of the time.

Your backups are what will save you.

Bob

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Of course, you will need to...
Nov 22, 2003 6:31AM PST

...have the appropriate programs reinstalled to read the files.