hi all! my friend is havng a problem on M.E. shes trying to defrag her pc...like me she has no disc as the windows program was already installed on her pc. all she gets is a "missing file" error......will it be a clean install of windows from the boot disc or can i send her my defrag file? if the latter can u tell me how?thanks linda

Sounds like a problem withh the link/shortcut to the defrag app. have you done a hard drive dearch for defrag.exe ? The following is a old post I copied some time ago on recreating the system tools folder ! Also many often recomend that those having probs with the defrag ,to try and defrag in safe mode, also make sure any anti virus app. is disabled ,a sceensaver off.
POST >I found this guide which looks like it's too long, but it works:
To fully recreate the System Tools folder could be quite involved and I
therefore suggest we do the easier part first and see how you get on.
1. Enter Windows Explorer and locate and place the cursor on the
*Accessories* folder ( C:\WINDOWS\START MENU\PROGRAMS\ACCESSORIES).
Select File, New, Folder and *New Folder* will appear in a box. In box
type "System Tools" without the quotes. You have now created the folder
in which you will be placing your shortcuts.
2. Within Windows Explorer go to and click on the Windows Folder. Next
select View, Details. Then in the right window click on Name to sort the
list so that Folders and Files list alphabetically in ascending order.
Next scroll down the right window past the sub-folders and find
*charmap.exe*. Place the cursor on the name and depress and hold down
the Ctrl key. Then find and single click in turn still holding down the
Ctrl key the following files:
clipbrd.exe
cleanmgr.exe
defrag.exe
cvt1.exe
drvspace.exe
tuneup.exe
netwatch.exe
rsrcmtr.exe
scandskw.exe
sysmon.exe
If you don't find any of these files move on to the next. Their absence
means they have not been installed and you may not need them anyway. If
you do want any particular one it can be installed later.
3. Still holding down the Ctrl key place the cursor on any selected file
and right click and click on *Create shortcut* from the drop down menu.
You may release the Ctrl key as you have now created the required
shortcuts. Now resort the list by clicking on Name again and scroll down
and locate the short cuts which will all begin with "Shortcut to". Place
the cursor on one and hold down the Ctrl key and select all the other
Shortcuts, then right click and click on Copy in the drop down menu.
4. Now go to the System Tools folder created in Step 1. Place the cursor
on the Folder name, select View, Details and then right click on System
Tools and click on Paste in the drop down menu. All the shortcuts will
appear in the folder and you now need to rename each one at a time. To
do this place the cursor on the name "Shortcut to etc", right click and
select Rename. The names to be entered are:
charmap.exe = Character Map
clipbrd.exe = Clipboard Viewer
cleanmgr.exe = Disk Cleanup
defrag.exe = Disk Defragmenter
cvt1.exe = Drive Converter
drvspace.exe = Drive Space
tuneup.exe = Maintenance Wizard
netwatch.exe = Net Watcher
rsrcmtr.exe = Resource Meter
scandskw.exe = Scan Disk
sysmon.exe = System Monitor
Based on my own set up once you have completed renaming you should have
all the System Tools accessible through your Start button except for any
from the list above which are not installed plus the following:
Backup
Compression Agent
Scheduled Tasks
System Information

Good Luck & post back with results .
Nick

...If Responce #1 doesnt work. You may consider reinstalling your software via the cab files present on your system. This will write ME over top of itself, replacing any missing or damaged files. Doing this does have it's risks since you do not have an installation disk should you have problems. (Installing via the cab files is a non-destructive install. Meaning it doesnt erase any other programs or files you have on your system).
...Also, after running the install. You'll have to go to Windows update and bring everthing back up to date. Sometimes getting IE6 SP1 to install/update after, can be a problem.
...Before you begin! You'll want to be sure you know and have written down your computer serial # and Windows product ID # before you begin. Serial # is located on the back and product ID # is usually located on a sticker placed somewhere on your machine. If you can not find the windows product ID. Download a program called Everest Home to get the information.
...To do a non-destructive install of Windows ME. Open in safe mode: Start: run: and copy/paste the following command:

c:windows\options\cabs\setup.exe

This may be overkill for the problem your having. I just though I would add this since you dont have an installation disk. You may find you need to keep these instructions for a later date.