Reinstalling Windows Me may help solve bootup error
By JOHN TORRO
Published June 6, 2005
Q. After I boot up (Windows Me), the first thing that appears is the Phoenix Technologies emblem, next the Me window, followed by a box with the header reading, Scandisk-Local Disk (C). In this box, the Local Disk (C) is already highlighted. When I press the Enter key or the cancel box or X to close the box, nothing works. To get out of this, I press ctl alt del. A warning box appears, "the system is either busy or has become unstable." I press any key to continue, and the screen goes black. At this point, I turn off the computer. I think I really messed up big time.
A. I'm assuming that regardless of which option you take, it never completes? I would suspect file/disk integrity problems. A reinstallation of Windows Me should help you get a solid starting point while keeping your current programs and data. Part of the installation is a Scandisk that should give you more information on the state of your disk.
List of past Internet searches can be hiddenQ. I think you may have covered this topic before, but would you repeat it for all us fools who don't want other users to see what we've searched for? When I use Yahoo or Google to search for a topic, the previous searches pop up in the scroll box. I have tried marking and unmarking every option in the Advanced tab in Internet Options. I keep no history and delete cookies, files and clear history, and the past searches are still there.
A. This is part of Internet Explorer's forms cache. To clear it: From Internet Explorer, click Tools, Internet Options, then the Content tab. Under Personal Information, click Auto Complete, then the Clear Forms button.
Explorer can be reinstalled as default browserQ. I read your article about the Firefox Web browser. I downloaded the software, and now I am totally lost. I can't get anywhere with it. Not even to contact them. Help. How can I go back to Internet Explorer?
A. That was not my story but rather a story compiled from staff and wire reports and subsequently published in Personal Tech. I never recommend changing the default browser away from Internet Explorer. A properly updated and configured Internet Explorer along with Windows XP Service Pack 2 is as safe or better than any other browser (I'm sure this will start some browser religious wars). A plain vanilla system is already complicated enough. Why add to the complexity (as you've found out). Now to solve your problem: I assume that after you made the changes that Internet Explorer is no longer your default browser. To change it back, run Internet Explorer (simply click Start, Run and type iexplore and click OK). From the Internet Explorer menu bar, click Tools, Internet Options. Click the Programs tab. Make sure the "Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser" option is checked. Click OK. Close all Explorer windows and restart the system. Once the system comes back up, restart Internet Explorer. When the "Would you like to make Internet Explorer your default browser?" prompt appears, click Yes to make Internet Explorer the default browser.
Windows Messenger can be disabled from Control PanelQ. I read your solution to disabling Windows Messenger with great interest, since I have that problem. A while back it failed during download installation and keeps saying I need to verify my name and password, but when I try I am unable to do so. I want to disable it, but after reading your solution, found that it was already set to not "Run this program when Windows starts." I try killing the process, but it comes back the next time I go online.
A. Try this: Click Start, Settings, Control Panel. Click Performance and Maintenance, Administrative Tools, and then double-click Services. Scroll down and highlight Messenger. Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties. Click the STOP button. Select Disable or Manual in the Startup Type and then click OK.