can not find windows ME

[quicksilver65]

On a compaq Presario, when you try to boots, get the message,
Invalid system disk, remore and hit any button.

I put the hard drive in another computer as a slave,
can not find windows at all.

It has DIR00001 thru DIR00024, BOOTLOG.PRV
BOOTLOG.TXT,
then, FILE0001.CHK THRU FILE0745.CHK
the ones named files are Recovered File Fragments, I guess.

Any ideas on how to restore to operation?

[PC Solutions]

Looks like a scrambled hard drive to me.
Compaqs typically have a recovery partition.
If that is not scrambled you will be able to restore it to an out of the box state.
I believe the prompt is F10 on startup for system recovery. Try that and cross your fingers!
You have already lost all data and programs on your drive.
This is your only real choice!

[quicksilver65]

I opened some of the files up, and found music, pictures and programs.
I just can not find windows. DIR00003.CAB, has an install.exe in it.
Thought maybe I could so something with that.
I am going to try to copy over to the other hard drive and see if I can save some of the stuff.

I have heard Compaq has a restore in a partation. I found the partation,
but nothing that looked like an install to me. Maybe it is hidden.

Thanks for you response.

[quicksilver65]

If anyone else has this problem, if you can find, DIR00003\OPTIONS\INSTALL

It will reinstall windows. You will need the product key number.

There are a lot of things on it. Still have the DIR00001 thru 24 listed in C:\

The big thing she did not lose any pictures or music she wanted, alson with her banking stuff.

Thanks for all the response.