Okay, I'm not sure where to begin, and though I'll try to make this as succinct as possible, I'm sure I'll give too much info & leave out some that's necessary, since I'm not all that "computer savvy." So please bear with me...!!

First Problem: The computer in question is a refurbished Dell Dimension 4300 desktop with WinME. I can't remember the exact processor speed, but I believe it's somewhere in the 800MHz range. Some time ago, my dad was poking around in the box while installing a CD-RW drive and must have mixed something up because ever since, every time the computer starts up, it displays the initial "Dell" screen, and then provides a message displaying:

Secondary hard disk drive 0 not found
Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility

Though an inconvenience, when you'd hit F1, everything would run normally. Since it isn't the computer I normally use, I didn't bother fixing it, but now, if anyone can guide me through the steps on how to do so, I'd very much appreciate it.

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Second (MUCH more serious problem): This same computer is one my brother uses to play games on. He downloads tons of unneccessary stuff, and has an annoying affinity for putting EVERYTHING on the desktop. After finding the desktop quite literally filled from top to bottom with shortcut icons, I finally decided to try and clean some of his junk up. I deleted numerous files and uninstalled (properly, I believe) several programs (I'm almost positive I didn't delete anything crucial to the system). Then, (and HERE is where things started to go very wrong--->>>) I tried to defragment. The defrag would work for a minute, but then kept restarting over and over and over. Finally, after putting up with an hour of this, a message popped up saying there were disk errors and to run ScanDisk. I tried to do this, but to no avail. ScanDisk behaved exactly the same-- restarting again and again -- until a message popped up saying ScanDisk had had to restart 10 times because some other program (didn't specify which) was trying to write to the disk. Exasperated, I asked my boyfriend (who is SUPPOSEDLY a computer expert) and he said to open taskmanager and end all processes except SYSTEM and EXPLORER, then try again. I did as he said, but it didn't help. As a last attempt at finding the problem, I tried to run Norton AntiVirus (not updated in quite some time) which eventually froze about 3/4 of the way through. THEN, when I tried to restart the computer, it appeared to start up normally until the blank blue (NOT the one that usually displays errors, but the one right before Active Desktop finishes loading) came up, and then...NOTHING. I had a mouse pointer, but absolutely nothing else on the screen. After several restarts and attempts to go into Safe Mode, I finally got a grey screen with "Safe Mode" displayed in the corners, but everything else blank with nothing to click on. ?It's been suggested that I try to run ScanDisk in MS-DOS mode, but even when I CAN manage to get a menu via F8, it only offers Normal, Logged, Safe Mode, and Step-by-Step Confirmation.
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Other problems:
1. Hard drive almost constantly makes ticking noise.
2. (Before problem #2, all desktop icons were hidden by a HotSync icon---really weird, I thought)

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SO, FINALLY (and I think I definitely failed at the "succinct" part):

1. If anyone has ANY suggestions/info on what might have caused ANY of the above, even if only PART of the answer, I would appreciate it so very much.

2. Is there anything more I can try to get it to start up? (keep in mind possible problems caused by the first problem I described, since all drives may not be in their proper place).

3. What information can be salvaged, if any?

4. If I have to completely reformat, would you suggest installing either Windows 98 or Windows XP since we have had problems with WinME from the beginning?

5. Will I need to replace any hardware?, e.g. hard drive



Thank you so much, and sorry so long-- I'm just trying to make everything clear.

Hi! And welcome to the forum! Ok this is some of the stuff you can do.

-You can go into safe mode after you click F8 and try to see if you can run Scandisk from there! If you cant go into safe mode, try to see if you can use System Restore.
-Reinstall Windows, I recommend you to install Windows XP since its WAY better than Windows ME, believe me, I used to have ME before! Upgrading to Windows XP was the best thing Ive ever done!
-About your CD-RW, are you sure you installed the drivers right?
-Ummmm well anyways, all I say you should do is install Windows XP, a clean install!
-Also I dont have the link but try to use HijackThis and save the log file and put it right here. Also run a spyware virus scan. Use Ad-Aware.
-Can you update you Norton Antivirus? If you can, do it as soon as possible. And then restart your computer and run a virus scan as soon as you computer starts. Dont open any programs before you start to scan! Actually, try to close them so you wont have a lot of stuff using your RAM memory.


Well I hope some of this stuff helps!

Hi there Alexandra.

For the first prob i would need some more info ,

how many hard disks do you have,
how many cd/dvd roms do you have,
how are they connected i.e. on ide 1 or ide 2,
and how are the jumpers set too i.e. master or slave or cable select?

And for the second pc , it sounds like youre harddisk is dying , did it already made that clicking sound before?
You can try to connect it to a different pc to see if you can copy any files of it or run a data recovery program on it.

I would recommend WinXP if you re-install.

And yes , you maybe have to get a new HD im afraid.

Here's What You Need to Use Windows XP Home Edition

? PC with 300 megahertz (MHz) or higher processor clock speed recommended; 233-MHz minimum required;* Intel Pentium/Celeron family, AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended

? 128 megabytes (MB) of RAM or higher recommended (64 MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features)

? 1.5 gigabyte (GB) of available hard disk space.*

? Super VGA (800 ? 600) or higher resolution video adapter and monitor

? CD-ROM or DVD drive

? Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device



Additional Items or Services Required to Use Certain Windows XP Features
? For Internet access:

? Some Internet functionality may require Internet access, a Microsoft. NET Passport account, and payment of a separate fee to a service provider; local and/or long-distance telephone toll charges may apply

? 14.4 Kbps or higher-speed modem


? For networking:

? Network adapter appropriate for the type of local-area, wide-area, wireless, or home network you wish to connect to, and access to an appropriate network infrastructure; access to third-party networks may require additional charges


? For instant messaging, voice and video conferencing, and application sharing, both parties need:

? Microsoft .NET Passport account and Internet access


? For voice and video conferencing, both parties also need:

? 33.6 Kbps or higher-speed modem, or a network connection

? Microphone and sound card with speakers or headset


? For video conferencing, both parties also need:

? Video conferencing camera

? Windows XP


? For application sharing, both parties also need:

? 33.6 Kbps or higher-speed modem, or a network connection

? Windows XP


? For remote assistance:

? Both parties must be running Windows XP and be connected by a network


? For sound:

? Sound card and speakers or headphones


? For DVD video playback:

? DVD drive and DVD decoder card or DVD decoder software

? 8 MB of video RAM


? For Windows Movie Maker:

? Video capture feature requires appropriate digital or analog video capture device

? 400-MHz or higher processor for digital video camera capture



* Actual requirements will vary based on your system configuration and the applications and features you choose to install. Additional available hard-disk space may be required if you are installing over a network.