(In case this did not transmit properly when first posted, I am repeating this query):
Upon start-up of our home PC, we continue to receive a message stating :"IF SHLP.SYS missing or corrupted". We have tried the four options provided, but none works. We are left with the message "System halted" and are unable to proceed further. Any ideas as to how to correct this and access our files?
Many thanks!
(We have a Dell computer with Windows ME. I'm at the office and don't have model # handy. )

Hi,

Firstly I apologise you have had no reply. The techs here are mega busy these days and unfortunately a few questions do slip through. Thank you for your PM and I will take it on personally now to try to help you.

Let me see what I can find out for you and I will post back.

Hi

OK theres not much info I can find on what may be causing this....

Can you get into Windows in Safe Mode? Press F8 as just before the PC begins to boot, then can you try a system restore?

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsME/u...temrestore.asp

I have not been able to operate in Safe Mode, but I have not tried the method you described above. I will give that a try tonight when I return home and see what happens.
I am very grateful that you have taken the time to personally answer me, and hope that I will have good news to report back to you.
Again, many thanks!

also, did you get a windowsME disk that you can boot from? or a recovery disk?
NOTE: to boot from cd you need 2 change your bios settings to boot from cd,
I have never used a win E computer, i will try andfind instructions for you

Tried the F8 approach, but still unable to start up. I could not locate in my files a windows ME start-up disk; I wonder if that can be purchased? I found instructions for creating such a disk, but it requires access to a working windows ME system, which I obviously don't have. Thanks for the suggestions!

Hey, what happens when you press F8 Then? DO you get the option to start in Safe Mode?

Yes, the option appears among three others in a menu, but cliking on it does no good - I end up at the blue screen with the "System halted" message. On two of the many attempts I made, I actually got to the Windows opening screen, but it dissolved into blurry horizontal lines that remained until I shut it off.

Have you got the Windows ME CD?

I can't find it in my files, unfortunately.