windows ME splash screen

Ok this may or not be a simple fix but I dont know how to get by it. I have an old unit with windows ME loaded and what the problem is it will not get passed the splash screen. I tried reinstalling the os with no luck so what should be my next step? (oh the reinstall does go through the steps but it doesn't ask me to type in the key---I found that odd)

 

Thanks halo for the response, now this is where I'm at with this issue. I did the safe mode boot and it gave me an error {something about device VPICD-during initalizing need to restart}? Tried cntl-alt-del and it wouldn't respond, had to physically unplug the unit and then plugged it back in. When I done that it came up with (the HD is ATAPI Incompatible-press f-1 to restart) and when I do it comes up as choices safe mode, step by step confirm,and so on which isnt helping of course. So what should I do at this point?

 

Ok tried the BIOS change and I get a BSOD stating "Windows protection error. you need to restart your computer--system halted" and this was in safe mode boot by the way. I've tried the boot disc for 98-ME-95 and I aint gettin anywhere with those. It either cant find the disc,or when I get to the "A" prompt to type a command it just keeps comming up back to the "A" prompt. I've checked the connections on everything, tried to wipe hard drive, changed boot methods in BIOS, yanked the hard drive out and put it on a working computer as a slave and formatted (hoping for the best) reloaded the OS back to the hard drive and I still cant get anywhere with it. It did give me a message " An error has occurred. To continue: Press Enter to return to Windows, Or Press CTRL+ALT+DEL and so forth" Error: OD :0147 :00001B10. So I push Enter & it dont do nothing. What now you reckon should I just use this thing for target practice?

 

Ok I'll try and put this all to rest as I figured out (pretty much) whats up with this piece of crap. It took some reasearch but I obtained the MB manual and took it from there. First off the jumper settings were not where they should have been but that wasn't all, the memory was crap as well so I suspect that was the issue. As far as answering your questions (which is kinda redundant now) When I booted in normal mode it would just go through the motions like it was gonna start then it would shut down.As for finding the disc well its just that it wouldnt see the CD ROM or the disc that was in it whichever one I dont know. I wiped the HD by right click then format when I had it hooked up to the other computer. Yes it would see the drive in the BIOS when I reinstalled it. I reloaded the OS on the computer I had trouble with and at the A: prompt I tried FDISK so thats about it for now and so far the computer is working but I loaded 98se on it thinking there may be an issue with the ME disc. I'll be trying to reload ME as soon as I can find another disc to try or I may get bored and try the disc I have again so if I have anymore issues I'll post. Thanks for the assistance and have a Merry Christmas. Sorry bout the lengthy post I just tried to cover everything.