Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not theD?

[Guest Arturo Seis]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D?

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D?

 

So I'm Arturo Seis???

 

Not sure how that happened!

 

Anyhow, I should add, that there are two batches that govern which mode Win

Me is in. MFD.BAT and WINME.BAT. They depend on the presence or absence of

mfd_mode.dat in the Windows dir.

 

If you run 'MFD' and mfd_mode.dat is *not* present, it copies the modified

command.com (x2), io.sys, regenv32.exe (the three files the hack modifies),

autoexec.bat, config.sys and msdos.sys over, then reboots the system,

whereupon it restarts with the Real Mode boot menu and all that entails.

 

If you run 'MFD' and mfd_mode.dat *is* present, all that happens is

autoexec.bat and config.sys in the root are copied over the archive copies

in %windir%\command, so that any edits may be easily saved to the copies

they are remade from the next time Real Mode is cycled off and back on

again.

 

If you run 'WINME' and mfd_mode.dat is not present, the batch exits without

doing anything. If you run 'WINME' and mfd_mode.dat *is* present, the

original files mentioned above - except for config.sys, which is by default

empty in Me, therefore an empty file called config.sys is created - are

copied back over the modified versions and again the system is rebooted.

 

Both batches work fully whether in Windows or Real Mode. The reboot command

used depends on whether a command to delete the swapfile completes or fails

(in Windows it will be in use and fail, so C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL32.EXE

SHELL32.DLL,SHExitWindowsEx 2 is used).

 

While it is known that Microsoft wanted to wind down knowledge of the

existence of MS-DOS as they planned to phase it out, it is true what they

said about boot time taking longer when loading Windows via Real Mode DOS,

and with this hack it is still preferable to use Me in the default mode

except when access to Real Mode is specifically required. One doesn't really

have a need to boot to DOS on a whim, so having the menu there at every boot

is quite unnecessary.

 

Shane

 

 

 

"Arturo Seis" <sixpencedearturo@googlemail.com> wrote in message

news:%23YkDcd2MJHA.1156@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> If anyone else is interested, this is the zip I propose to send Gumby -

> although now that I've uploaded it he might as well just download it from

> here:

>

> http://website.lineone.net/~shanebeatson/files/winmedos.zip

>

> It is about 8MB. It contains a brief ReadMe but I should state here that

> anyone who wanted to download this (for reference purposes) should scan

the

> zip with their up-to-date antivirus software before unzipping it.

>

> Unzipped to Windows Millennium's C: drive will unhide Real Mode DOS,

> although being set up for British English keyboards, users of other

layouts

> would be required to edit autoexec.bat and config.sys first, instructions

> for which are contained in those files and alluded to in ReadMe.txt, while

> MS-DOS 6.22's Country.txt is included for further reference. Users of U.S.

> or Canadian English keyboard layouts already have half the work done for

> them.

>

> Shane

>

>

>

>

>

> "Gumby" <gumbygum@gmail.com> wrote in message

> news:9e164ba2-78bd-4055-ace2-83d44450b481@f40g2000pri.googlegroups.com...

> > Really overwhelmed by all the helpful suggestions. Shane sent me an

> > email that, if I understood it correctly, might have a way to put

> > WinMeDos on my laptop HD by copying it over from an XP desktop. And

> > that this might enable me to get a DOS prompt when I boot the laptop.

> > If I could get a DOS prompt, then I could run setup from the ME

> > install CD that I previously copied to the D partition. That would be

> > the easiest and cheapest of all options to get this machine running

> > again.

> >

> > You know, I must correct something I wrote earlier. Actually, the

> > fellow who previously installed Win ME on my laptop HD from another

> > computer did not put the HD into another laptop, but installed ME from

> > a laptop HD connector on an XP desktop. I wonder how he was able to do

> > that? Was it that the laptop HD was connected in such a way as to be a

> > slave to his desktop's C drive? I don't really know what "slave" drive

> > means, but that occurred to me as a possibility.

> >

> > He did in fact install only the first stage of the install, the

> > "copying files" stage, then disconnected the laptop HD and put it in

> > my laptop, where it proceeded to detect my hardware upon restarting.

> >

> > Bart, thanks for the suggestion but my laptop's CD drive does not

> > work, in addition to the nonfunctional floppy drive.

>

>

>

[Guest Gumby]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, notthe D?

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, notthe D?

 

Mart No Spam,

 

No, it wasn't a "crash" like dropping the laptop on the floor. Those

hardware items have all slowly broken over the years. I used "crash"

rather loosely. What actually happened, I think, is that a tear

developed in the laptop's internal HD connector ribbon, severing

several of the conductive thingies. This happened due to my habit of

removing the HD from the laptop every day when I went out, in order to

keep it from being stolen, as it was the only piece of hardware in my

dilapidated laptop that anyone would want to steal, had lots of

personal info on it (this was a concern before I learned recently to

encrypt) and for several years I've lived in hotels in various Third

World countries where hotel rooms are not safe places to leave

valuables. My laptop's been "open" for several years...i.e., the top

cover is removed and the HD would be simple to steal.

 

One day, after about 20 attempts to boot my computer which resulted in

"no operating system found" errors, it suddenly booted. But then after

an hour or so I got a blue screen. I think what happened is those torn

conductive thingies must have touched briefly, long enough for me to

start the computer, and then came apart again. Anyway, after that, I

could not boot it, and Windows apparently went bonkers as there were

all sorts of crazy files in my HD's Windows folder with bizarre names.

I fixed these with Scandisk on an XP computer. Then I found someone

who claimed he could actually fix the ribbon connector. He soldered

it, and I think it works now, but still the system will not boot, it

says that it can't find various essential files...so Windows was

fatally damaged by the incident, I suspect.

 

So...that's the "crash" ... you see why I tried to simplify a rather

involved story... :o)

 

And it is a lot of work researching this, but it would be very helpful

to me if I had my computer for the last 2 months of the year. I

suppose it is a bit of a challenge as well.

 

And before someone asks, yes, if I can get the computer to work, I

will leave the HD in it and risk its theft, in order not to damage the

delicate HD ribbon connector. Now the HD has all my important stuff on

encrypted virtual drives, so its theft wouldn't be a great loss.

[Guest Gumby]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, notthe D?

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, notthe D?

 

On Oct 21, 5:02 am, "Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote:

> Not always necessary to open up a desktop.  I've got a cheap external box

> that can be connected using either usb or firewire that can take anything

> from a 5½" DVD writer, through a 3½" 1/3 height HD to a 2½" laptop drive.

 

Yes Mike, but I don't think you could install an OS to it through USB,

it needs to be the C drive in most cases (or the D, as you mentioned),

to allow OS installation, right? USB external boxes usually show up as

G, H, I, J, etc. drives in my experience.

 

I read somewhere that it's possible to rename the External Box as the

C drive, but I imagine that would make Windows go nuts.

[Guest Mike M]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D?

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D?

 

I'm sorry but you don't appear to have taken in what I said. Nowhere did

I say in my previous post anything about "installing", instead I simply

stated how to access a laptop drive using a desktop and an external usb

box and laptop IDE/full size IDE converter. In my case I did "install" an

OS but this was by first imaging the existing system from the old drive

and then restoring that image to the new drive. Nowhere did I say or

suggest that that was something you should consider.

> I read somewhere that it's possible to rename the External Box as the

> C drive, but I imagine that would make Windows go nuts.

 

Why do you want to do this? Not that it isn't a simple job with a modern

desktop but I can't think why you should want to do this. I've in a

number of posts made a suggestion as to how to clean install Win Me on

your laptop drive by copying the DOS boot files from the Win Me boot

floppy and the Win9x folder from the Win Me CD to the laptop drive using a

desktop and then restoring the drive to the laptop, booting to DOS and

then running setup. Shane has also made some suggestions.

 

May I make one final suggestion and that is that you now try some of the

various suggestions that have been made.

--

Mike Maltby

mike.maltby@gmail.com

 

 

Gumby <gumbygum@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Oct 21, 5:02am, "Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote:

>> Not always necessary to open up a desktop. I've got a cheap external

>> box that can be connected using either usb or firewire that can take

>> anything from a 5" DVD writer, through a 3" 1/3 height HD to a 2"

>> laptop drive.

>

> Yes Mike, but I don't think you could install an OS to it through USB,

> it needs to be the C drive in most cases (or the D, as you mentioned),

> to allow OS installation, right? USB external boxes usually show up as

> G, H, I, J, etc. drives in my experience.

>

> I read somewhere that it's possible to rename the External Box as the

> C drive, but I imagine that would make Windows go nuts.

[Guest Corday]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,

 

This thread is getting confusing. It seems the problem has been solved if the

responses had been tried.

--

I mastered Wordstar graphics!

 

 

"Arturo Seis" wrote:

> So I'm Arturo Seis???

>

> Not sure how that happened!

>

> Anyhow, I should add, that there are two batches that govern which mode Win

> Me is in. MFD.BAT and WINME.BAT. They depend on the presence or absence of

> mfd_mode.dat in the Windows dir.

>

> If you run 'MFD' and mfd_mode.dat is *not* present, it copies the modified

> command.com (x2), io.sys, regenv32.exe (the three files the hack modifies),

> autoexec.bat, config.sys and msdos.sys over, then reboots the system,

> whereupon it restarts with the Real Mode boot menu and all that entails.

>

> If you run 'MFD' and mfd_mode.dat *is* present, all that happens is

> autoexec.bat and config.sys in the root are copied over the archive copies

> in %windir%\command, so that any edits may be easily saved to the copies

> they are remade from the next time Real Mode is cycled off and back on

> again.

>

> If you run 'WINME' and mfd_mode.dat is not present, the batch exits without

> doing anything. If you run 'WINME' and mfd_mode.dat *is* present, the

> original files mentioned above - except for config.sys, which is by default

> empty in Me, therefore an empty file called config.sys is created - are

> copied back over the modified versions and again the system is rebooted.

>

> Both batches work fully whether in Windows or Real Mode. The reboot command

> used depends on whether a command to delete the swapfile completes or fails

> (in Windows it will be in use and fail, so C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL32.EXE

> SHELL32.DLL,SHExitWindowsEx 2 is used).

>

> While it is known that Microsoft wanted to wind down knowledge of the

> existence of MS-DOS as they planned to phase it out, it is true what they

> said about boot time taking longer when loading Windows via Real Mode DOS,

> and with this hack it is still preferable to use Me in the default mode

> except when access to Real Mode is specifically required. One doesn't really

> have a need to boot to DOS on a whim, so having the menu there at every boot

> is quite unnecessary.

>

> Shane

>

>

>

> "Arturo Seis" <sixpencedearturo@googlemail.com> wrote in message

> news:%23YkDcd2MJHA.1156@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> > If anyone else is interested, this is the zip I propose to send Gumby -

> > although now that I've uploaded it he might as well just download it from

> > here:

> >

> > http://website.lineone.net/~shanebeatson/files/winmedos.zip

> >

> > It is about 8MB. It contains a brief ReadMe but I should state here that

> > anyone who wanted to download this (for reference purposes) should scan

> the

> > zip with their up-to-date antivirus software before unzipping it.

> >

> > Unzipped to Windows Millennium's C: drive will unhide Real Mode DOS,

> > although being set up for British English keyboards, users of other

> layouts

> > would be required to edit autoexec.bat and config.sys first, instructions

> > for which are contained in those files and alluded to in ReadMe.txt, while

> > MS-DOS 6.22's Country.txt is included for further reference. Users of U.S.

> > or Canadian English keyboard layouts already have half the work done for

> > them.

> >

> > Shane

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > "Gumby" <gumbygum@gmail.com> wrote in message

> > news:9e164ba2-78bd-4055-ace2-83d44450b481@f40g2000pri.googlegroups.com...

> > > Really overwhelmed by all the helpful suggestions. Shane sent me an

> > > email that, if I understood it correctly, might have a way to put

> > > WinMeDos on my laptop HD by copying it over from an XP desktop. And

> > > that this might enable me to get a DOS prompt when I boot the laptop.

> > > If I could get a DOS prompt, then I could run setup from the ME

> > > install CD that I previously copied to the D partition. That would be

> > > the easiest and cheapest of all options to get this machine running

> > > again.

> > >

> > > You know, I must correct something I wrote earlier. Actually, the

> > > fellow who previously installed Win ME on my laptop HD from another

> > > computer did not put the HD into another laptop, but installed ME from

> > > a laptop HD connector on an XP desktop. I wonder how he was able to do

> > > that? Was it that the laptop HD was connected in such a way as to be a

> > > slave to his desktop's C drive? I don't really know what "slave" drive

> > > means, but that occurred to me as a possibility.

> > >

> > > He did in fact install only the first stage of the install, the

> > > "copying files" stage, then disconnected the laptop HD and put it in

> > > my laptop, where it proceeded to detect my hardware upon restarting.

> > >

> > > Bart, thanks for the suggestion but my laptop's CD drive does not

> > > work, in addition to the nonfunctional floppy drive.

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest MowGreen [MVP]]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,not the D?

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,not the D?

 

Arturo Seis wrote:

> So I'm Arturo Seis???

>

> Not sure how that happened!

>

> <snip>

> Shane

>

 

Anything is possible with OE ... even a personality transplant. <w>

 

MG

[Guest Mart]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D?

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D?

 

Perhaps a bit late in the day now, but - and I don't want to burst the

bubble - maybe another 'lateral solution' (yet another skin of the cat!)

would have been to simply obtain a 2.5 inch IDE to USB enclosure and put

your 'original laptop' HDD in it to make and add a portable drive to your XP

box. (Self-powered [uSB buspowered]) Secure too. And forget the laptop!

 

See a UK example - (do your own Google for a US version) - here :-

http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=603611&Product=Icy+Box+220U-WH+External+White+aluminium+case+2.5%22+PATA+HDD+Case+inc+display%2c+USB2.0%2c+buspowered

 

You could then access any/all your partitions and preserve their data or

delete any unwanted files (including your broken WinMe installation files).

Make life easy for yourself and could even save us all a lot of trouble too

<g>

 

Update (just before I press the Send button) - Seems Mike and others are

pointing you in this direction too.

 

Mart

 

 

"Gumby" <gumbygum@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:159cf26c-8fca-4d3c-ac82-cb3e8dd8d5b9@a29g2000pra.googlegroups.com...

> Mart No Spam,

>

> No, it wasn't a "crash" like dropping the laptop on the floor. Those

> hardware items have all slowly broken over the years. I used "crash"

> rather loosely. What actually happened, I think, is that a tear

> developed in the laptop's internal HD connector ribbon, severing

> several of the conductive thingies. This happened due to my habit of

> removing the HD from the laptop every day when I went out, in order to

> keep it from being stolen, as it was the only piece of hardware in my

> dilapidated laptop that anyone would want to steal, had lots of

> personal info on it (this was a concern before I learned recently to

> encrypt) and for several years I've lived in hotels in various Third

> World countries where hotel rooms are not safe places to leave

> valuables. My laptop's been "open" for several years...i.e., the top

> cover is removed and the HD would be simple to steal.

>

> One day, after about 20 attempts to boot my computer which resulted in

> "no operating system found" errors, it suddenly booted. But then after

> an hour or so I got a blue screen. I think what happened is those torn

> conductive thingies must have touched briefly, long enough for me to

> start the computer, and then came apart again. Anyway, after that, I

> could not boot it, and Windows apparently went bonkers as there were

> all sorts of crazy files in my HD's Windows folder with bizarre names.

> I fixed these with Scandisk on an XP computer. Then I found someone

> who claimed he could actually fix the ribbon connector. He soldered

> it, and I think it works now, but still the system will not boot, it

> says that it can't find various essential files...so Windows was

> fatally damaged by the incident, I suspect.

>

> So...that's the "crash" ... you see why I tried to simplify a rather

> involved story... :o)

>

> And it is a lot of work researching this, but it would be very helpful

> to me if I had my computer for the last 2 months of the year. I

> suppose it is a bit of a challenge as well.

>

> And before someone asks, yes, if I can get the computer to work, I

> will leave the HD in it and risk its theft, in order not to damage the

> delicate HD ribbon connector. Now the HD has all my important stuff on

> encrypted virtual drives, so its theft wouldn't be a great loss.

[Guest Mike M]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D?

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D?

 

> would have been to simply obtain a 2.5 inch IDE to USB

> enclosure and put your 'original laptop' HDD in it to make

 

Something I've suggested at least twice although as a means of getting the

OS installation files on to the disk rather than as a permanent solution

since the reasons for getting the laptop working again hadn't been made

clear at that point. :-)

--

Mike Maltby

mike.maltby@gmail.com

 

 

Mart <mart(NoSpam)@nospam.nospam> wrote:

> Perhaps a bit late in the day now, but - and I don't want to burst the

> bubble - maybe another 'lateral solution' (yet another skin of the

> cat!) would have been to simply obtain a 2.5 inch IDE to USB

> enclosure and put your 'original laptop' HDD in it to make and add a

> portable drive to your XP box. (Self-powered [uSB buspowered]) Secure

> too. And forget the laptop!

> See a UK example - (do your own Google for a US version) - here :-

> http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=603611&Product=Icy+Box+220U-WH+External+White+aluminium+case+2.5%22+PATA+HDD+Case+inc+display%2c+USB2.0%2c+buspowered

>

> You could then access any/all your partitions and preserve their data

> or delete any unwanted files (including your broken WinMe

> installation files). Make life easy for yourself and could even save

> us all a lot of trouble too <g>

>

> Update (just before I press the Send button) - Seems Mike and others

> are pointing you in this direction too.

[Guest Mike M]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,

 

Corday <10Swinner@net.net> wrote:

> This thread is getting confusing. It seems the problem has been

> solved if the responses had been tried.

 

Indeed, and as far as I can tell to date, not one of the suggestions has

yet been tried.

--

Mike Maltby

mike.maltby@gmail.com

[Guest Arturo Seis]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,

 

Apart from the doubt as to whether *anything* has been tried, seeing some

questions that are being asked and the frankly unknown condition of the file

system, as opposed to the assumed condition, I would prefer to have the

means to perform a number of different tasks. But that aside, I'll continue

to post to this newsgroup the way I have for the last eight years, if it's

just the same to you. We made this group different to those of the other

Windows versions where the uptight, limited thinkers dominate. This thread

is only confusing if you find straying from the script disturbing. Lateral

thinking is what makes our world turn, not sticking to the straight and

narrow. Have you downloaded the zip? How do you know the responses solve the

problem? Do you cross your fingers when you read them?

 

Shane

 

 

"Corday" <10Swinner@net.net> wrote in message

news:F8C4ED4D-0EFE-4698-AB8B-93A68BF1A24F@microsoft.com...

> This thread is getting confusing. It seems the problem has been solved if

the

> responses had been tried.

> --

> I mastered Wordstar graphics!

>

>

> "Arturo Seis" wrote:

>

> > So I'm Arturo Seis???

> >

> > Not sure how that happened!

> >

> > Anyhow, I should add, that there are two batches that govern which mode

Win

> > Me is in. MFD.BAT and WINME.BAT. They depend on the presence or absence

of

> > mfd_mode.dat in the Windows dir.

> >

> > If you run 'MFD' and mfd_mode.dat is *not* present, it copies the

modified

> > command.com (x2), io.sys, regenv32.exe (the three files the hack

modifies),

> > autoexec.bat, config.sys and msdos.sys over, then reboots the system,

> > whereupon it restarts with the Real Mode boot menu and all that entails.

> >

> > If you run 'MFD' and mfd_mode.dat *is* present, all that happens is

> > autoexec.bat and config.sys in the root are copied over the archive

copies

> > in %windir%\command, so that any edits may be easily saved to the copies

> > they are remade from the next time Real Mode is cycled off and back on

> > again.

> >

> > If you run 'WINME' and mfd_mode.dat is not present, the batch exits

without

> > doing anything. If you run 'WINME' and mfd_mode.dat *is* present, the

> > original files mentioned above - except for config.sys, which is by

default

> > empty in Me, therefore an empty file called config.sys is created - are

> > copied back over the modified versions and again the system is rebooted.

> >

> > Both batches work fully whether in Windows or Real Mode. The reboot

command

> > used depends on whether a command to delete the swapfile completes or

fails

> > (in Windows it will be in use and fail, so C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL32.EXE

> > SHELL32.DLL,SHExitWindowsEx 2 is used).

> >

> > While it is known that Microsoft wanted to wind down knowledge of the

> > existence of MS-DOS as they planned to phase it out, it is true what

they

> > said about boot time taking longer when loading Windows via Real Mode

DOS,

> > and with this hack it is still preferable to use Me in the default mode

> > except when access to Real Mode is specifically required. One doesn't

really

> > have a need to boot to DOS on a whim, so having the menu there at every

boot

> > is quite unnecessary.

> >

> > Shane

> >

> >

> >

> > "Arturo Seis" <sixpencedearturo@googlemail.com> wrote in message

> > news:%23YkDcd2MJHA.1156@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> > > If anyone else is interested, this is the zip I propose to send

Gumby -

> > > although now that I've uploaded it he might as well just download it

from

> > > here:

> > >

> > > http://website.lineone.net/~shanebeatson/files/winmedos.zip

> > >

> > > It is about 8MB. It contains a brief ReadMe but I should state here

that

> > > anyone who wanted to download this (for reference purposes) should

scan

> > the

> > > zip with their up-to-date antivirus software before unzipping it.

> > >

> > > Unzipped to Windows Millennium's C: drive will unhide Real Mode DOS,

> > > although being set up for British English keyboards, users of other

> > layouts

> > > would be required to edit autoexec.bat and config.sys first,

instructions

> > > for which are contained in those files and alluded to in ReadMe.txt,

while

> > > MS-DOS 6.22's Country.txt is included for further reference. Users of

U.S.

> > > or Canadian English keyboard layouts already have half the work done

for

> > > them.

> > >

> > > Shane

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > "Gumby" <gumbygum@gmail.com> wrote in message

> > >

news:9e164ba2-78bd-4055-ace2-83d44450b481@f40g2000pri.googlegroups.com...

> > > > Really overwhelmed by all the helpful suggestions. Shane sent me an

> > > > email that, if I understood it correctly, might have a way to put

> > > > WinMeDos on my laptop HD by copying it over from an XP desktop. And

> > > > that this might enable me to get a DOS prompt when I boot the

laptop.

> > > > If I could get a DOS prompt, then I could run setup from the ME

> > > > install CD that I previously copied to the D partition. That would

be

> > > > the easiest and cheapest of all options to get this machine running

> > > > again.

> > > >

> > > > You know, I must correct something I wrote earlier. Actually, the

> > > > fellow who previously installed Win ME on my laptop HD from another

> > > > computer did not put the HD into another laptop, but installed ME

from

> > > > a laptop HD connector on an XP desktop. I wonder how he was able to

do

> > > > that? Was it that the laptop HD was connected in such a way as to be

a

> > > > slave to his desktop's C drive? I don't really know what "slave"

drive

> > > > means, but that occurred to me as a possibility.

> > > >

> > > > He did in fact install only the first stage of the install, the

> > > > "copying files" stage, then disconnected the laptop HD and put it in

> > > > my laptop, where it proceeded to detect my hardware upon restarting.

> > > >

> > > > Bart, thanks for the suggestion but my laptop's CD drive does not

> > > > work, in addition to the nonfunctional floppy drive.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest Mart]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D?

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D?

 

> since the reasons for getting the laptop working again hadn't been made

> clear at that point. :-)

 

Quite so Mike, hence the 'lateral solution' - but I'd already written it

before I saw your other response and though I'd send it anyway :-))

 

Mart

 

 

"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message

news:OGAzdR8MJHA.2044@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>> would have been to simply obtain a 2.5 inch IDE to USB

>> enclosure and put your 'original laptop' HDD in it to make

>

> Something I've suggested at least twice although as a means of getting the

> OS installation files on to the disk rather than as a permanent solution

> since the reasons for getting the laptop working again hadn't been made

> clear at that point. :-)

> --

> Mike Maltby

> mike.maltby@gmail.com

>

>

> Mart <mart(NoSpam)@nospam.nospam> wrote:

>

>> Perhaps a bit late in the day now, but - and I don't want to burst the

>> bubble - maybe another 'lateral solution' (yet another skin of the

>> cat!) would have been to simply obtain a 2.5 inch IDE to USB

>> enclosure and put your 'original laptop' HDD in it to make and add a

>> portable drive to your XP box. (Self-powered [uSB buspowered]) Secure

>> too. And forget the laptop!

>> See a UK example - (do your own Google for a US version) - here :-

>> http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=603611&Product=Icy+Box+220U-WH+External+White+aluminium+case+2.5%22+PATA+HDD+Case+inc+display%2c+USB2.0%2c+buspowered

>>

>> You could then access any/all your partitions and preserve their data

>> or delete any unwanted files (including your broken WinMe

>> installation files). Make life easy for yourself and could even save

>> us all a lot of trouble too <g>

>>

>> Update (just before I press the Send button) - Seems Mike and others

>> are pointing you in this direction too.

>

[Guest Arturo Seis]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,

 

Mike, Gumby has downloaded the zip, and asked for some clarifications. I

have said that I can give him instructions on what to do with the files I've

supplied, but until the hdd is back in the laptop with said files on it, he

should ask here anyway, not ask me, as I have never taken an hdd out and

connected it up to a different computer by usb enclosure as is being

proposed. I have said for him to go ahead and unzip the files to the hdd,

but one question I await the answer to is whether the disk is still

bootable, let alone the Windows installation. Not much point copying DOS

files to it if it isn't bootable. As I have said to him, Win Me's Sys.com is

such a pita imo it's easier to run Setup (except that's what putting the DOS

files on there is meant to achieve!).

 

Possibly there is some dodge with Win Me's Sys.com I've overlooked all these

years.

 

When I have Sys-ed Win Me I am sure I have always done it from a floppy or

(floppy-emulating) cd-rom. Even if you can run Me's Sys.com from the D:

drive you have to have a lot of components in place, don't you? As for this

usb enclosure, can you Sys to that as though from a floppy? Would it be

better to put Win 98 ERD files on and Sys from those, then 'upgrade' - if

the Me setup allows upgrading?

 

I used to have a routine - possibly still on my Win Me Repair cd - that

formats the disk from the ramdrive, before running Setup. As you know I am

very fuzzy about all this ol' Me stuff these days; but I believe I have

initiated Setup using a Win 98 ERD before. So perhaps one could Sys the

drive with that then, when back in the laptop, run it from ramdrive, format

the disk and then initiate Setup from D: to a blank disk?

 

Shane

 

 

 

"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message

news:%23XnXMS8MJHA.456@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> Corday <10Swinner@net.net> wrote:

>

> > This thread is getting confusing. It seems the problem has been

> > solved if the responses had been tried.

>

> Indeed, and as far as I can tell to date, not one of the suggestions has

> yet been tried.

> --

> Mike Maltby

> mike.maltby@gmail.com

>

>

[Guest Mike M]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D?

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D?

 

Mart <mart(NoSpam)@nospam.nospam> wrote:

>> since the reasons for getting the laptop working again hadn't been

>> made clear at that point. :-)

>

> Quite so Mike, hence the 'lateral solution' - but I'd already written

> it before I saw your other response and though I'd send it anyway :-))

 

And I'm pleased that you did since it is a much cleaner and more elegant

solution.

--

Mike Maltby

mike.maltby@gmail.com

[Guest webster72n]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,

 

Arturo,

 

your tolerance amazes me and it is absolutely admirable.

To me you seem like a different person than the one from the 'distant past'.

I surely like what I see now and hope it's a postive sign of your 'status

quo'.

To not have you around would be a substantial loss.

We definitely need your 'input'.

Please, don't ever consider 'moving'.

Thanks for being here,

 

Harry.

 

 

"Arturo Seis" <sixpencedearturo@googlemail.com> wrote in message

news:u2N62b8MJHA.5232@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> Apart from the doubt as to whether *anything* has been tried, seeing some

> questions that are being asked and the frankly unknown condition of the

file

> system, as opposed to the assumed condition, I would prefer to have the

> means to perform a number of different tasks. But that aside, I'll

continue

> to post to this newsgroup the way I have for the last eight years, if it's

> just the same to you. We made this group different to those of the other

> Windows versions where the uptight, limited thinkers dominate. This thread

> is only confusing if you find straying from the script disturbing. Lateral

> thinking is what makes our world turn, not sticking to the straight and

> narrow. Have you downloaded the zip? How do you know the responses solve

the

> problem? Do you cross your fingers when you read them?

>

> Shane

>

>

> "Corday" <10Swinner@net.net> wrote in message

> news:F8C4ED4D-0EFE-4698-AB8B-93A68BF1A24F@microsoft.com...

> > This thread is getting confusing. It seems the problem has been solved

if

> the

> > responses had been tried.

> > --

> > I mastered Wordstar graphics!

> >

> >

> > "Arturo Seis" wrote:

> >

> > > So I'm Arturo Seis???

> > >

> > > Not sure how that happened!

> > >

> > > Anyhow, I should add, that there are two batches that govern which

mode

> Win

> > > Me is in. MFD.BAT and WINME.BAT. They depend on the presence or

absence

> of

> > > mfd_mode.dat in the Windows dir.

> > >

> > > If you run 'MFD' and mfd_mode.dat is *not* present, it copies the

> modified

> > > command.com (x2), io.sys, regenv32.exe (the three files the hack

> modifies),

> > > autoexec.bat, config.sys and msdos.sys over, then reboots the system,

> > > whereupon it restarts with the Real Mode boot menu and all that

entails.

> > >

> > > If you run 'MFD' and mfd_mode.dat *is* present, all that happens is

> > > autoexec.bat and config.sys in the root are copied over the archive

> copies

> > > in %windir%\command, so that any edits may be easily saved to the

copies

> > > they are remade from the next time Real Mode is cycled off and back on

> > > again.

> > >

> > > If you run 'WINME' and mfd_mode.dat is not present, the batch exits

> without

> > > doing anything. If you run 'WINME' and mfd_mode.dat *is* present, the

> > > original files mentioned above - except for config.sys, which is by

> default

> > > empty in Me, therefore an empty file called config.sys is created -

are

> > > copied back over the modified versions and again the system is

rebooted.

> > >

> > > Both batches work fully whether in Windows or Real Mode. The reboot

> command

> > > used depends on whether a command to delete the swapfile completes or

> fails

> > > (in Windows it will be in use and fail, so C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL32.EXE

> > > SHELL32.DLL,SHExitWindowsEx 2 is used).

> > >

> > > While it is known that Microsoft wanted to wind down knowledge of the

> > > existence of MS-DOS as they planned to phase it out, it is true what

> they

> > > said about boot time taking longer when loading Windows via Real Mode

> DOS,

> > > and with this hack it is still preferable to use Me in the default

mode

> > > except when access to Real Mode is specifically required. One doesn't

> really

> > > have a need to boot to DOS on a whim, so having the menu there at

every

> boot

> > > is quite unnecessary.

> > >

> > > Shane

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > "Arturo Seis" <sixpencedearturo@googlemail.com> wrote in message

> > > news:%23YkDcd2MJHA.1156@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> > > > If anyone else is interested, this is the zip I propose to send

> Gumby -

> > > > although now that I've uploaded it he might as well just download it

> from

> > > > here:

> > > >

> > > > http://website.lineone.net/~shanebeatson/files/winmedos.zip

> > > >

> > > > It is about 8MB. It contains a brief ReadMe but I should state here

> that

> > > > anyone who wanted to download this (for reference purposes) should

> scan

> > > the

> > > > zip with their up-to-date antivirus software before unzipping it.

> > > >

> > > > Unzipped to Windows Millennium's C: drive will unhide Real Mode DOS,

> > > > although being set up for British English keyboards, users of other

> > > layouts

> > > > would be required to edit autoexec.bat and config.sys first,

> instructions

> > > > for which are contained in those files and alluded to in ReadMe.txt,

> while

> > > > MS-DOS 6.22's Country.txt is included for further reference. Users

of

> U.S.

> > > > or Canadian English keyboard layouts already have half the work done

> for

> > > > them.

> > > >

> > > > Shane

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > "Gumby" <gumbygum@gmail.com> wrote in message

> > > >

> news:9e164ba2-78bd-4055-ace2-83d44450b481@f40g2000pri.googlegroups.com...

> > > > > Really overwhelmed by all the helpful suggestions. Shane sent me

an

> > > > > email that, if I understood it correctly, might have a way to put

> > > > > WinMeDos on my laptop HD by copying it over from an XP desktop.

And

> > > > > that this might enable me to get a DOS prompt when I boot the

> laptop.

> > > > > If I could get a DOS prompt, then I could run setup from the ME

> > > > > install CD that I previously copied to the D partition. That would

> be

> > > > > the easiest and cheapest of all options to get this machine

running

> > > > > again.

> > > > >

> > > > > You know, I must correct something I wrote earlier. Actually, the

> > > > > fellow who previously installed Win ME on my laptop HD from

another

> > > > > computer did not put the HD into another laptop, but installed ME

> from

> > > > > a laptop HD connector on an XP desktop. I wonder how he was able

to

> do

> > > > > that? Was it that the laptop HD was connected in such a way as to

be

> a

> > > > > slave to his desktop's C drive? I don't really know what "slave"

> drive

> > > > > means, but that occurred to me as a possibility.

> > > > >

> > > > > He did in fact install only the first stage of the install, the

> > > > > "copying files" stage, then disconnected the laptop HD and put it

in

> > > > > my laptop, where it proceeded to detect my hardware upon

restarting.

> > > > >

> > > > > Bart, thanks for the suggestion but my laptop's CD drive does not

> > > > > work, in addition to the nonfunctional floppy drive.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

>

>

[Guest Shane]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,not the D?

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,not the D?

 

MowGreen [MVP] wrote:

> Arturo Seis wrote:

>

>> So I'm Arturo Seis???

>>

>> Not sure how that happened!

>>

>> <snip>

>> Shane

>>

>

> Anything is possible with OE ... even a personality transplant. <w>

>

> MG

 

What if it gets rejected???

 

 

Arturo

[Guest Joan Archer]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D?

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D?

 

ROFL

 

--

Joan Archer

http://www.freewebs.com/crossstitcher

http://lachsoft.com/photogallery

 

"Shane" <shanebeatson@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:OK1GiCCNJHA.6044@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> MowGreen [MVP] wrote:

>> Arturo Seis wrote:

>>

>>> So I'm Arturo Seis???

>>>

>>> Not sure how that happened!

>>>

>>> <snip>

>>> Shane

>>>

>>

>> Anything is possible with OE ... even a personality transplant. <w>

>>

>> MG

>

> What if it gets rejected???

>

>

> Arturo

[Guest MowGreen [MVP]]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,not the D?

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,not the D?

 

Then we apply an update and reboot you. That would make you

Arturo Seis V.2. <g>

 

MG

 

 

Shane wrote:

> MowGreen [MVP] wrote:

>

>>Arturo Seis wrote:

>>

>>

>>>So I'm Arturo Seis???

>>>

>>>Not sure how that happened!

>>>

>>><snip>

>>>Shane

>>>

>>

>>Anything is possible with OE ... even a personality transplant. <w>

>>

>>MG

>

>

> What if it gets rejected???

>

>

> Arturo

[Guest Gumby]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, notthe D?

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, notthe D?

 

On Oct 22, 1:47 am, "Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote:

> I'm sorry but you don't appear to have taken in what I said.  Nowhere did

> I say in my previous post anything about "installing", instead I simply

> stated how to access a laptop drive using a desktop and an external usb

> box and laptop IDE/full size IDE converter.

 In my case I did "install" an

> OS but this was by first imaging the existing system from the old drive

> and then restoring that image to the new drive.  Nowhere did I say or

> suggest that that was something you should consider.

 

I didn't accuse you of saying I could install that way, Mike :o) If

you'll read my post carefully, I simply was commenting that, although

it's "not always necessary to open a desktop", because USB boxes give

you many options, it might be necessary to open it in order to install

an OS. I didn't mean to imply that YOU said that I could install an OS

without opening the desktop. Sorry to give that impression.

> > I read somewhere that it's possible to rename the External Box as the

> > C drive, but I imagine that would make Windows go nuts.

>

> Why do you want to do this? Not that it isn't a simple job with a modern

> desktop but I can't think why you should want to do this.

 

I don't want to do it, I was just babbling and theorizing :o)

 

 >I've in a

> number of posts made a suggestion as to how to clean install Win Me on

> your laptop drive by copying the DOS boot files from the Win Me boot

> floppy and the Win9x folder from the Win Me CD to the laptop drive using a

> desktop and then restoring the drive to the laptop, booting to DOS and

> then running setup.  Shane has also made some suggestions.

 

Yes, and I'm going to do them, one at a time, starting tomorrow. I'm

very grateful for all the help.

>

> May I make one final suggestion and that is that you now try some of the

> various suggestions that have  been made.

 

Yes, it shall be done soonly.

[Guest Gumby]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, notthe D?

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, notthe D?

 

On Oct 22, 4:10 am, "Mart" <mart(NoSpam)@nospam.nospam> wrote:

> Perhaps a bit late in the day now, but - and I don't want to burst the

> bubble - maybe another 'lateral solution' (yet another skin of the cat!)

> would have been to simply obtain a 2.5 inch IDE to USB enclosure and put

> your 'original laptop' HDD in it to make and add a portable drive to your XP

> box. (Self-powered [uSB buspowered]) Secure too. And forget the laptop!

 

Good idea, Mart, but the only problem is I don't own an XP desktop.

The laptop is my only computer. I put the HD in a USB box and plug it

into XP desktops at cybercafes. Before someone accuses me of

misleading, I challenge anyone to find where I said or implied that I

own an XP computer. :o)

[Guest Gumby]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,

 

On Oct 22, 4:32 am, "Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote:

> Corday <10Swin...@net.net> wrote:

> > This thread is getting confusing. It seems the problem has been

> > solved if the responses had been tried.

>

> Indeed, and as far as I can tell to date, not one of the suggestions has

> yet been tried.

 

That's because I'm very busy lately. They will be tried in order of

perceived likelihood of success and ease of implementation starting on

the morrow. :o)

[Guest Mike M]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,

 

Fair enough and I wish you the best of luck. I for one didn't realise

that you were posting from an internet café or similar and wrongly assumed

that you were posting from a second PC.

--

Mike Maltby

mike.maltby@gmail.com

 

 

Gumby <gumbygum@gmail.com> wrote:

> That's because I'm very busy lately. They will be tried in order of

> perceived likelihood of success and ease of implementation starting on

> the morrow. :o)

[Guest Joan Archer]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D?

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D?

 

Oh no please not another one <g>

 

--

Joan Archer

http://www.freewebs.com/crossstitcher

http://lachsoft.com/photogallery

 

"MowGreen [MVP]" <mowgreen@nowandzen.com> wrote in message

news:#x6TzqENJHA.5388@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> Then we apply an update and reboot you. That would make you

> Arturo Seis V.2. <g>

>

> MG

>

>

> Shane wrote:

>

>> MowGreen [MVP] wrote:

>>

>>>Arturo Seis wrote:

>>>

>>>

>>>>So I'm Arturo Seis???

>>>>

>>>>Not sure how that happened!

>>>>

>>>><snip>

>>>>Shane

>>>>

>>>

>>>Anything is possible with OE ... even a personality transplant. <w>

>>>

>>>MG

>>

>>

>> What if it gets rejected???

>>

>>

>> Arturo

[Guest MowGreen [MVP]]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,not the D?

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition,not the D?

 

You've got something against clo[w]nes or bad puns ? <w>

 

MG

 

Joan Archer wrote:

> Oh no please not another one <g>

>

[Guest Mart]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D?

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D?

 

Challenge all you like, but in your second post you said :-

> .. If I tried to install it from an XP desktop,

> with the laptop HD connected to USB,

> I don't know if it would work.

 

That statement, in conjunction with the fact that you seem to be able to

post to and correspond with this News Group, make it pretty reasonable for

one to ASS-U-ME that you implied that you had an XP (or some other) machine

of your own available.

 

And, you've already got your own solution anyway!

> I put the HD in a USB box and plug it

> into XP desktops at cybercafes.

> The laptop is my only computer.

 

Perhaps you could have mentioned these facts in the first place. However, as

you only drip the important background details and do not appear to have

tried any of the suggestions yet - and as we are all going around in

circles - then I'm pulling from this thread until or unless you come back

with something more positive than "just babbling and theorizing". The

topic's pretty much exhausted anyway.

 

Good luck

 

Mart

 

 

"Gumby" <gumbygum@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:0358b4b2-35f8-4386-9669-246bd28ca06d@t65g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...

On Oct 22, 4:10 am, "Mart" <mart(NoSpam)@nospam.nospam> wrote:

> Perhaps a bit late in the day now, but - and I don't want to burst the

> bubble - maybe another 'lateral solution' (yet another skin of the cat!)

> would have been to simply obtain a 2.5 inch IDE to USB enclosure and put

> your 'original laptop' HDD in it to make and add a portable drive to your

> XP

> box. (Self-powered [uSB buspowered]) Secure too. And forget the laptop!

 

Good idea, Mart, but the only problem is I don't own an XP desktop.

The laptop is my only computer. I put the HD in a USB box and plug it

into XP desktops at cybercafes. Before someone accuses me of

misleading, I challenge anyone to find where I said or implied that I

own an XP computer. :o)

[Guest Shane]

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D?

 

Re: Can I get the ME install CD to only reformat the C partition, not the D?

 

Mart,

 

I don't want to go back through the entire thread to work out what was

justifiable or what was intuitive or whatever else whichmore and insoforth

as can be ascertained, but I have been operating all along on the basis that

Gumby did not have a desktop of his own. A cybercafe did not occur to me as

a possibility - but luckily I get off on learning something new every day,

so I'm quite pleased to have been wrong. I had supposed he'd be borrowing a

friend or acquaintance's computer time to do the deed.

 

Shane

 

 

"Mart" <mart(NoSpam)@nospam.nospam> wrote in message

news:%23LWQM7FNJHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> Challenge all you like, but in your second post you said :-

>

> > .. If I tried to install it from an XP desktop,

> > with the laptop HD connected to USB,

> > I don't know if it would work.

>

> That statement, in conjunction with the fact that you seem to be able to

> post to and correspond with this News Group, make it pretty reasonable for

> one to ASS-U-ME that you implied that you had an XP (or some other)

machine

> of your own available.

>

> And, you've already got your own solution anyway!

> > I put the HD in a USB box and plug it

> > into XP desktops at cybercafes.

>

> > The laptop is my only computer.

>

> Perhaps you could have mentioned these facts in the first place. However,

as

> you only drip the important background details and do not appear to have

> tried any of the suggestions yet - and as we are all going around in

> circles - then I'm pulling from this thread until or unless you come back

> with something more positive than "just babbling and theorizing". The

> topic's pretty much exhausted anyway.

>

> Good luck

>

> Mart

>

>

> "Gumby" <gumbygum@gmail.com> wrote in message

> news:0358b4b2-35f8-4386-9669-246bd28ca06d@t65g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...

> On Oct 22, 4:10 am, "Mart" <mart(NoSpam)@nospam.nospam> wrote:

> > Perhaps a bit late in the day now, but - and I don't want to burst the

> > bubble - maybe another 'lateral solution' (yet another skin of the cat!)

> > would have been to simply obtain a 2.5 inch IDE to USB enclosure and put

> > your 'original laptop' HDD in it to make and add a portable drive to

your

> > XP

> > box. (Self-powered [uSB buspowered]) Secure too. And forget the laptop!

>

> Good idea, Mart, but the only problem is I don't own an XP desktop.

> The laptop is my only computer. I put the HD in a USB box and plug it

> into XP desktops at cybercafes. Before someone accuses me of

> misleading, I challenge anyone to find where I said or implied that I

> own an XP computer. :o)

>

>