This time a real catastrophy. Downloaded a registry checker, all 4mb, from Meta Products (who have not even answered call for help).

At ShutDown and at StartUp I'm presented with blue screen as follows:
Microsoft Registry Checker (MSN non longer supports)
c:\windowa\system.dat
Restore Desktop (check mark OK)
Restoring Devices Listed IN ASP (check mark OK)
RESTORING FILES/FOLDERS (no check mark OK)

After about ten minutes the horizontal progress bar stops at 86%. Then box appears found an error cannot repair. Try reducing number of files , otherwise REINSTALL (a course of action I will do anything to avoid!)

Point is I cannot get out of this screen. No cursor; no boxes of any kind. Must shutsoen, whereupon same thing restarts. At SAFE MODE I deleted anything about Registry with installation date 23AUG05. That is how I am now online. BUT THE SCREEN STILL APPEARS GOING IN OR OUT. Sometimes the error box doesn't appear and I'm in. Sometimes not, and I know not why.

You can see this is a real emergency in dire need of some expertise.

Failing resolution, and even if successfully resolved, please advise exact path at SafeMode that permits restoration (W98SE) to a given date -- in my case 22AUG05.

I dare not shutdown day or night fearing inability to get back. Please help!

Cordially, RO

This time a real catastrophy. Downloaded a registry checker, all 4mb, from Meta Products (who have not even answered call for help).

At ShutDown and at StartUp I'm presented with blue screen as follows:
Microsoft Registry Checker (MSN non longer supports)
c:\windowa\system.dat
Restore Desktop (check mark OK)
Restoring Devices Listed IN ASP (check mark OK)
RESTORING FILES/FOLDERS (no check mark OK)

After about ten minutes the horizontal progress bar stops at 86%. Then box appears found an error cannot repair. Try reducing number of files , otherwise REINSTALL (a course of action I will do anything to avoid!)

Point is I cannot get out of this screen. No cursor; no boxes of any kind. Must shutsoen, whereupon same thing restarts. At SAFE MODE I deleted anything about Registry with installation date 23AUG05. That is how I am now online. BUT THE SCREEN STILL APPEARS GOING IN OR OUT. Sometimes the error box doesn't appear and I'm in. Sometimes not, and I know not why.

Regardless of cause/cure, right now all I want to do is to (permantly) DELETE/REMOVE THAT ENTIRE DAMN SCREEN. I haven't seen it or needed it in several years usage of this Toshiba Portege 7200CTe laptop.

You can see this is a real emergency in dire need of some expertise.

Failing resolution, and even if successfully resolved, please advise exact path at SafeMode that permits restoration (W98SE) to a given date -- in my case 09AUG05.

I dare not shutdown day or night fearing inability to get back. Please help!

Cordially, RO

Restart with your bootdisk. From the A:\> (a prompt), change directory to the windows\commmand prompt (Type cd c:\windows\command - if your windows is installed to another directory, change to that directory windows\comand).

From C:\Windows\Command>, type "Scanreg/restore" without the quotes. You will see a list of five restore points. Pick the one you are POSITIVE is BEFORE you installed that program.

Assuming that you did not delete any system files, this should work. If it does not work, post back.

What is the name of the registry checker? It sounds like something one would want to think about carefully before using. I am especially curious because I went to the MetaProducts products list (http://www.metaproducts.com/mp/mpProducts_List.asp) and couldn't see anything that sounded like it.