Ok, I am done trying to get this thing to work properly. Can I uninstall windows ME and then install 98se with the cd rom I have? I do not have an installation cd for ME as it came already installed on the comp. I have a rescue disk, but it is not doing anything to fix my problem. It seems I am stuck somewhere between safe mode and normal. Thank you for any info on this matter.

do a clean install be best option 2 save problems, cheers

Ok, thanks for the info, but bear with me, I am new at this-What do you mean by clean install?

If you don't care for anything on your hard drive(s), you can just quick format C from a Win98/ME emergency/bootup/startup floppy diskette, like this [example, where A: is the floppy drive letter and C: your HD/partition letter] = press Enter after each line below:

A:
FORMAT C: /Q

More about format.com command line paramters:
http://www.mdgx.com/secrets.htm#FORMAT

Otherwise backup 1st your important data, and then FORMAT your HD.

Then place your Windows 98SE setup CD in your CD/DVD drive and reboot.

Note that there are different versions of Windows 9x/ME setup CDs:
- retail full: installs on top of any older Windows OS, as either upgrade or new, or on new/empty HD
- retail upgrade: installs only on top of older WinOSes only as upgrade, but not on new/empty HD
- retail updates: installs only on top of *specific* older WinOS only as upgrade, but not on new/empty HD
- OEM full: installs only on new/empty HD without any other WinOS pre-installed
More details:
http://www.mdgx.com/win.htm

Also, make sure your BIOS is set to boot [also] from CD-ROM.
Otherwise enter BIOS setup [hit F1, F2, Del etc, depending on BIOS/CMOS manufacturer/model] and set your PC to boot from CD-ROM.

That's it.

Of course, u can use 3rd party tools similar to [or better than] FORMAT.COM [most are free(ware)]:
http://www.mdgx.com/secrets.htm#FDPT

Hope this helps.

Thank you so much for this detailed info, I will try it.

Here's what I normally do: