Serious issues with my laptop

Ok, I have a winbook si2 running winME. I lent it out and got it back not working, so I dont know what led to this condition. It boots to the Me screen, then just sits there. I have tried everything i could think, but I need some help. I tried starting in safe mode to no avail. Then I tried reverting to a good copy of the registry, and that wont work. I thought it might be a virus, so I ran McCafee virus scan thru Dos and a weird thing happened. It says that it cannot access(or read, can't remember) the boot sector, but scans all the other files. So I bought an XP upgrade disk, which is hard to use because my dvd drive only works intermitttenly, and it says that it cannot find a previous windows version. I went to the manufacturers website and it says that I can reinstall windows with the windows cab files by executing the demand cd windows/options/cabs
and then install. When I run the command it says it is invalid. When I start from the command prompt and view the directory of the c: drive all my files seem to be there. So then I tried to do fdisk /mbr and that didnt work either. Anyone have any ideas? Any help would be great!

 

Hi and welcome to the BBS,

"Invalid command" I generally find happens when I have made small error like being in the wrong directory or making a typo.

When you get to C:\Windows\Options\Cabs do the DIR command and check all the files and folders come up.

DIR /P will let you see the files/folders one page at a time. Check for Setup.exe (maybe Install.exe, but I doubt it).

Also try the command
setup

Check that you haven't made any typing mistakes.

If it lists all the files and folders I don't see why it should not run setup.

Matt
Are you running from some type of boot floppy disk or going the MS DOS prompt in the startup options? I recommend you use a WIN 98 boot disk www.bootdisk.com, unless the instructions you mention specify another method.

 

Seveal ideas,

one - this is not an issue in this case but often laptops will refuse to boot at all. This is especially scary if it is a used laptop that you have just purchased ( for cash). Physically take out the battery for seveal minutes .
Put the battery back in and there you are . Previously the laptop would not even boot fromn the ac adaptor. Old IBM service trick that I am sure made them a lot of money.
as for your laptop since it boots it appears that it is not a hardware issue but a software one.
You have not stated if there is any essential data on the hard drive. Probably not as you loant out the laptop. If you install an operating system and have usb connections you can use an external cd or dvd for installs. Win 98 seems to be the earliest base system with good driver support for usb use . Once you have win 98 in you can any of a number of media for install support - the external usb cd/ dvd drives and even new larger flash drives for install.
You can then do an upgrade or whatever you want.
If that is not option if you can find an older parallel port "backpack " cd rom it will read the cd over the parallel port. Bit slow and a bit of a trial and error event to set up. Takes effort each time and playing around.
Lastly if you are really desperate and handy or know someone who is - have the hard drive physically taken out. It can then be put in a smaller portable hard drive or an adapter used to install a basic Windows system to get you started.

hope this helps

 

If that's the way you typed it, it wouldn't work. Those forward slashes (/) have to be be back slashes (\) . Try that and see if it works.