[ME] won't start, no desktop icons

[PrescottAZ]

ME will boot to Safe Mode, but no icons on desktop, no other choices, have no recovery CD, can access A, C and drives with bootable ME floppy which I made at bootdisk.com. Ran scandisk and scanreg - no errors. But in scanreg the restore choices I just made say "Not started."

Ctrl-Alt-Delete only shows one name - ALTI. Is this a virus?

Computer is a Compaq 5001R, am using ME OEM. I know I could back up info from the C and D Drives onto floppies, but would rather be able to restore ME.

Should I look for any signs of viruses, or infected files? OR???

PLEASE HELP!!!

[BIG JOHN]

Hi fellow Prescottonian, welcome to VDR, have you tried the built in system restore for win me? If not try this:
1. First Click on Start, click on Programs, click on Accessories, click on System Tools, and then click on System Restore.
2. It will show you the Welcome to System Restore message. Click on Restore my computer to an earlier time. Click Next
3. It will then display a calendar with today's date selected. On the right you will see a list of restore points that were created today, either manually or automatically. If you choose a different date, it will then display the list of restore points for that day. Choose the date and restore point that you want to restore to and Click Next.
4. It will give you a warning telling you to close or save all programs, and not to alter, open, or delete any files. Click Ok.
5. It then explains that the System Restore will not destroy or alter your documents in any way, however you will have to reinstall any programs that were installed after the restore date. Click Next.
6. It will then do the restore procedure automatically and restart your computer.
7. Upon returning to windows it will give you a confirmation screen stating that the restore was successful. Click Ok.
8. You have successfully restored the computer!

Good luck. BJ