i have a arcmate 100 fanuc robot that was stuck in boot menu i did a cold start but now the programs are gone is there a way to retrieve them no disc that i am aware of thanks for any help

If you did an "init start" and don't have backups, than I'm afraid you lost your programs.

What model controller?

What steps did you take to do a Cold Start?

Was it running beforehand, what's it's history? The more background information you can provide the better. At this point we're just grasping at straws.

How long have you had it?

How did you aquire it?

Did it work for you in the past or ever?

There's lots of people here willing to help, you just need to share your information.

Like pdl says, the more information given, the easier to attract and get help. Something you will quickly learn as you gain experience.

Additional questions to pdl's:

Did you only do the Cold Start from the boot monitor (BMON) menu?

Did you also do an Init Start at the boot monitor?

Do you have any backups related to the robot?

If it sat for 3 years then most likely all the batteries are dead. To recover you will need to restore a backup. If you don't have one then there is no way to recover them. If you don't have backups or software then you no longer have a robot, you now have a large brick.

After changing the batteries (with power on) and properly remastering/calibrating the robot, does the robot jog?

If only the programs are gone, you may be lucky some programs if someone made copies to the flash ROM. Check by going to File menu, F5 [Util], and change device to FR. If data and variables are missing and there is no corruption of the software, then like HawkME says, restoring a backup if you have one is your best bet.

You have to go to Menu-->File-->F5[Util]-->Set Device-->Change to FR

Go to line # 8 "all TP programs" and press F3 load.

If the programs were missing as stated in the title of this thread, then it shouldn't ask to 'Overwrite', 'Skip', 'Cancel'. I would hit 'Cancel' so you don't overwrite anything with an older version.

Do a directory of the FR and post a screen shot.

Are you missing a particular program or all programs?

Post a screen shot of the 'Select' menu too.