Loading XP over ME

[Ralph]

The password on my ME sytem have been corrupted and the
only option I see is to load XP home edition. My problem
is how to I backup all my files before I do the load if I
can't first logon to the system. Any help is welcomed.
Thanks

 

[purplehaz]

It is a bad idea to do an upgrade install over a problematic computer. The
probs may just get worse. If I was you I would boot to dos and backup
whatever you can that way or if you have a ME cd, just reinstall me on top
of its self, see if you can get it working again. If that doesn't work you
could try the upgrade install, but I'd be prepared to lose data. Unless you
can get a working install of windows going, whether it be on this drive or
another drive, you'll only be able to backup stuff from dos and probably
only to floppies. Upgrading is not a means to fix problems. Fix the me
install first, backup your stuff, then do the upgrade. If you can't fix me
then format the drive, lose all data, and install xp clean.

 

[Norm]

Buy and install another disk, they're cheap insurance, under $1 a gb. Make
the ME disk the slave and the new one the Master and install XP on it. Then
you can deal with the ME disk problem.

 

[Rob Schneider]

The password on my ME sytem have been corrupted and the
only option I see is to load XP home edition. My problem
is how to I backup all my files before I do the load if I
can't first logon to the system. Any help is welcomed.
Thanks

I don't remember how ME works, but isn't it just like Win 98 and 95
where the password is stored in a file c:\windows\idname.pwl where
'idname' is the account. Rename that that to something else, e.g.
idname.pwl.bak, and then see if you can get in on that account but it
won't require a password.

I do know that when presented with the ID login on ME, you can press
cancel and still get in and have access to all files.

This is my recollection. Hope it works for you. Try it.