While trying to clean out my home computer in an attempt to make it run better, I somehow deleted a " win.ini" file. Now whenever I try and boot the computer up, I get "windows" on the screen, then immediately a DOS window pops up instructing me to do a scanreg /restore. Each time I attempt to carry this command out I get a "bad command" error. I've tried everything including trying to re-install winme and so far nothing has worked. Is there anyway that I can fix this without taking it to the shop.

My computer is an old Compaq Presario 5000 that is running Windows ME

Not sure what the condition of your computer is, but if you can, first boot up into "Safe" mode and then open up your "Recycle" bin to see if your Win.ini file is still there. If it is, then double click on it and select "Restore" and then reboot the machine.

I can't seem to be able to get this thing to do anything. The win.ini file trbl went away and now I get a "system ini can't be located" error. I tried using the emergency boot disk and even that doesn't work. It starts to look for the net and gives me a "fatal error" with the entire screen blinking a very bright red...

I seriously think its time to take this thing to the shop graemlins/sad.gif

I'm typing this post from my terminal at work

You may have the Dumaru virus. Check out this explaination:
http://www.pchell.com/virus/dumaru.shtml

You can try to find an "undelete" program on the internet and try to find your ini files. They usually run from dos. You might have to pay for it though.