forgot to mention F8 safe mode boot doesnt work

my computer is a dell dimension

http://www.computing.net/windowsme/wwwboard/forum/19774.html

If you have a boot disk you can use it to get to an a:/ prompt. If you don't, go to the linked site and download one.

http://www.bootdisk.com/

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=283069#appliesto

If this doesn't work try system restore.

Russ2426, could you post a rundown of what you have done so far from the posted possible solutions?

i used the boot disc to bring up the A:/> prompt then typed
c:
cd windows
ren wininit.ini wininit.old

then rebooted. It said i was in a selective startup, so I went to msconfig and put it on normal boot, and rebooted, it wouldnt go past the ME screen again, but i was able to start up in safe mode, and put it back on selective startup. So my question is this, Does it matter that i am on selective startup? and if selective startup isnt where i want to be, How do i get my computer to be able to be at normal boot again?

Russ2426,

Selective startup is what becomes the norm when you pare down programs from the msconfig-startup tab. 

When the window warning you you are in selective startup pops up again, check " don't show me this....o.k." and it shouldn't reappear again until you go back into msconfig.

As a result of trimming down your programs at startup your free resources will increase ( which is a good thing).

Check this site for more info: http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm

Good luck.