How to reinstall/repair install ME

G'Day,
Old Buck is at a bit of a loss again! Have some friends with probs on their ME system. They had a functining dial-up connection until they tried to self-install ADSL the other day, which ended with the system not recognising their modem. In frustration (after 6 hours) they packed up the broadband kit sending it back and opting to stay with their dial-up.
1. They can not get their dial up back up and running....it's connecting but not finding the server (countless hours with phone tech advice have failed to rectify).
2. There are 'remanants' of a very messy McAfee Security Suite uninstall that they did 6mths ago. A few error mesages here and there.....and probably remnants of this failed broadband install?
3. Now they had very little personal data which I backed up for them yesterday.
4. I am tending to think that a fresh install of ME might be their best option....only......I am not very familiar with ME.

I need some clear and simple instructions on how to reinstall ME. I have googled a bit but the info seems to vary widely....
They have the ME product CD (not a restore disk). Is it possible to just reinstall straight over the top? Will it give a repair install option(there wasn't one in add/remove progs)? Does their HDD have to be wiped and reformatted?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Is there a simple step by step procedure that I could follow?
Many thanks,
DumbBuck.

 

I am pretty sure that there is a repair option when the ME disc is installed I never had to do a repair when I had Me. just remember that me is almost just 98se.

 

Hey Buck,

Sorry I couldn't offer you a step by step, but you'll find good info and plenty of screenshots here....Windows Networking.
Lots of detailed articles and straight-forward info.

Hey BigC, didn't see you on the boards and thought I could sneak one in....guess not!

GF

 

Have you tried running scandisk? System Restore? and a reg. cleaner?

Here's a installation/reinstallation FAQ:

http://www.probz.com/winme/

 

Thanks bigc.....I did put the Cd in and it started to loading something?....said it would take 60mins or so.....I stopped it because I wasn't sure if I would get that option...

Thanks GF, will have a look at that!

 

Thanks Dog, didn't think to try sys restore and too scared to try the reg cleaner! I was thinking a fresh install would clear all the leftover McAfee stuff too! If it just reinstalled over the top it would be great...
Thanks again,
Brad.

 

That is a pretty good link there GF

 

M$ KB Articles:

Roll back the clock with System Restore -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsme/using/computerhealth/articles/systemrestore.asp

System Restore Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) -
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/community/centers/management/sysrestore_faq.mspx

Description of ScanDisk for Windows (Scandskw.exe) in Windows 98/Me - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;186365

Try System Restore first ... if that doesn't work. Try using Scandisk and a Reg Cleaner ... before you try to repair/re-install ME.

HTH,

Steve

Ps. You're NOT dumb (and you just got a little smarter) ... just because you don't know or are unsure about something ... The Smart Person always asks. Even Experts like Pieter Arntz or LWM never stop learning ... No one does.

 

That is also some excellent info there dog.

curt

 

Thanks again Steve, I'd forgotten ME had sys restore too! I'll have a read.
Regards,
Brad.

Yes it is good...still there looking for the reinstall stuff. Nice and simple! Just how I like it!
This bit's the best;

....Yep, mustn't forget that!
Thanks again everyone!
Can always rely on the Wilders team!
Brad.

 

OT ... but I continue regardless

@ GF

That was a great link GF ... Never worry about who has/hasn't posted a reply ... If you've got something to add ... Muck in there my Friend Every bit of info is appreciated ... We miss you, when you're not mucking in.

It's like dinner @ Mom's with hundreds of brothers & sisters ... You got to fight to get a Word in edge wise.

 

Dog is correct, the more info you have available the better choices you are able to make. so keep it coming guys and gals==and dogs

bigc

 

I did mention that I appreciate all this.....didn't I?

 

One of the Bosses adds ... "... And Gals!!!"

 

Thanks all,
A sys restore got their Internet connection back! We'll probably still have to look at a fresh install of ME in the near future anyway..
Cheers,
http://freespace.virgin.net/denise.felkin/man-in-pink-dress.jpg
This pic is a link!.....Courtesy of three hours detention in Mr Dog's class.

 

A lot of information is good, to much or conflicting info is confusing, a little common sense in posting help replies will help to keep the overwhelming flood of info that sometimes is present in some threads from becoming counter productive. Once a problem is addressed with a solution that is what the person with the problem needed should be sufficient. Continuing post's with more info Doesn't really serve a purpose and is sometimes confusing to the less experienced computer user. Once the user has enough information to fix their problem. posting more info won't fix it better.

bigc

 

BB,

I was using WindowsME just a few months ago, I'm quite familiar with installing it. I wouldn't recommend installing over the previous install, it would always ruin my internet connection.

Clean Install
1. Make sure you have a WindowsME startup disk (you can make one in Add/Remove programs).
2. Restart the system with the boot floppy in.
3. Choose Start Computer With CD-ROM support.
4. Type "Format C:"
5. When done, change directory to the CD-ROM drive - ie. cd d:
6. Type Setup - hit "enter"

That's it.
This information is for when you do a clean install that you mentioned you will be doing... I'm not trying to add more info than you need

 

Thanks for that Ailric and thanks to everyone who posted advice for me!
Greatly appreciated as always!
Buck.