Windows MilleniumEd Boot up Issue,please help!!!!!

CountryWise

Got an issue with my PC,
A few weeks back i downloaded the new version of Media player and my computer obviously could not support it so i had to start in safe mode to get it to boot up.This worked the first time and i could log on in safe mode.

The next time however the computer failed to boot up properly, The computer started up and got to the wallpaper being displayed and the usual Windows music jingle but from there....nothing.The commputer just has the wallpaper displayed and nothing else, no start menu, programme icons, taskbar , right click etc etc.
Ctrl Alt Del will work but because its Millenium Edition it does not give the option to start a new task just shut down or restart.
Tried a boot up disk i got on EBAy but this does nothing to help it just brings me to the option to re-format the PC which i dont want to do because

1. I have not got the original discs to re-load Windows
2. I have 3 years of photos and music i have collected on my Pc that i dont want to wipe from it, i could get over the music being lost but not the photos as they are of my 21st

If anybody could please help me on this i would really appreciate it, is there any way i can get this boot up properly? anyway to uninstall the media player? or anyway to have this fixed without wiping the pC completely? or if there is any discs available that could help solve this problem,
Thanks in Advance

ShiverinEskimo

plug the hard drive into a another PC and boot through that PCs operating system (might be worth doing on a machine that isn't crucial in case that gets shagged too), retrieve the photos and music then format the hard drive and cast Windows Millennium back into the fiery depths from which it spawned - then reformat using XP with SP2 in your own machine again.

jor el

So now, you can't boot into safe mode either, is that correct? If so, I think your only hope is to re-install the OS. In fact, Windows 98 SE would be far better. If you can get into safe mode, there feck all you can do with ME as it's a pile of poo, but you could try uninstalling media player.

I have not got the original discs to re-load Windows

Do you have the original licence key though? If you do then get a copy of the ME disc from anywhere and use your licence key. That would be perfectly legal. If you don't have the licence key, then your OS not legal, even if you bought it pre-installed on the PC.

gline

bin ME and get XP , you'll be happy you did

CountryWise

What kind of options are available to me then?? If i decided to upgrade to Xp rather than trying to fix Millenium Ed windows firstly would my computer support it ,its 4 years old, and secondly how much is it likely to cost??

gline

CountryWise wrote:

What kind of options are available to me then?? If i decided to upgrade to Xp rather than trying to fix Millenium Ed windows firstly would my computer support it ,its 4 years old, and secondly how much is it likely to cost??

whats the specs of your pc??? I think XP costs about €100 to buy if u wana go down that route

CountryWise

thanks thats helpful id consider it expected it to be way more,Not sure about the spec to be honest id have to check it out when i get home as i am in work at the moment, if it was only €100 then that wouldnt be too bad and id definitely consider it!
I heard somwehere if i get a Windows disc there is an option to repair when it starts up is this true does anyone know?

gline

CountryWise wrote:

I heard somwehere if i get a Windows disc there is an option to repair when it starts up is this true does anyone know?

yeh but dont bother trying to do a repair install.. also dont try upgrade to win xp... just format and do a fresh install of xp if u get it

heres xp home http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=303203&cks=PRL

xp pro is here http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=303199&cks=PRL

halenger

Unless you're upgrading your PC at the same time (subject to certain restrictions) you can't legally use the OEM versions. So around 100 euro becomes a lot more - around 400. I see Komplett don't bother stocking them though and I'm sure they wouldn't ask questions were you to buy an OEM licence.

Anyway, it's a good idea to move away from ME alright. It's considered to be the worst version of Windows released. It still lives on one PC of mine but that is due to lack of actually using that PC.

You'd best post some general specs for people to get an idea if XP will work on it. It probably will but how fast it is is another question. Win2K is another very good option. I use it personally but Microsoft are phasing it out at this stage.

CountryWise

Thanks guys il try get some spec for the computer and post them up but thanks for your help so far!

smeggle

ShiverinEskimo wrote:

plug the hard drive into a another PC and boot through that PCs operating system (might be worth doing on a machine that isn't crucial in case that gets shagged too), retrieve the photos and music then format the hard drive and cast Windows Millennium back into the fiery depths from which it spawned - then reformat using XP with SP2 in your own machine again.

Agrees - but make sure you switch that drive (The one from your machine) to a 'Slave' drive first. Then proceed to kill that ebil nasty 'What shall we release because our nt flagship system is not ready'? I know says Bill - we'll drive all the engineers nuts with millenium.

I swear if I ever meet him I'll burn his ears of for that - it was just downright nasty! Orrid ebil little (rich) person....

So yeah (rant aside) after you've retrieved your data, upgrade to windows 2000, xphome or downgrade to 98 but not that orrid millenium thing.

If you upgrade os you may need extra ram.. depends on your machine specs. Possibly a P2 or P3 750-1gig cpu, 64-128megs of ram. If you have the latter figures then windows 2000 or xphome should install no problem. Remember you'll also need to update certain drivers as well in this event.

First priority though as far as I can see by your question is saving your data - Slave the drive on another machine, then back-up to dvd disc from there. You can do what you want at your liesure...