Registry/Configuration Error

I have a Dell Dimension 8100, Windows ME, which seems to have crashed or something.  When I start the system, it automatically goes to a black screen with a Windows start up menu, with 4 options, 1. normal, 2. logged, 3. safe and 4. step by step confirmation, but it will default to Safe mode if you don't select one.  I also get a message stating Windows has detected a registry/configuration error, use scanreg to correct this error.  I've tried each of the 4 different options to start up, but I always end up at a blank gray screen.  I can't get into the Start menu, or anything else.  I'm typing this on my work computer since I can't get to anything on my home computer.  From reading other messages on this board, I believe I'm supposed to "boot to the WinME startup disk", then follow the steps in the article titled "How to Manually Restore the Windows 98/ME Registry", to run scanreg and restore the registry.  Unfortunately, I'm pretty ignorant about computers. 

My question is, what is the WinME startup disk? I have the ME reinstallation disk, which came with my system from Dell, but I didn't see anything in the system disks I have that was called a startup disk.  Do you have to buy it somewhere?  The Dell phone support person told me I would have to hire a technician to back up any data on my computer, then reinstall my operating system, but I would really like to avoid that, if possible.