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installing windows XP
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Posted by: rabidgecko
Ok, my friend brought me his laptop and asked me to try and fix it. I found out the problem easy enough, he deleted some very critical system files (don't ask me how or why, I have no idea). So that windows doesn't start up, nothing, not even safe mode (these were some very important files :P
THe true problem lies in the fact that he doesn't have a XP boot discand neither do I. I have a back up disc that I can boot my comp off of, but I have an HP and it wasnt compatible with his laptop. So, with no XP boot CD I tried to find a bittorrent file to download (dont worry this isnt about piracy, he does have his product key that I will use in the reinstall) anyway, I downloaded this file that I thought would have worked. It was in .daa format so I converted it to ISO, put it on a CD, and put it in the laptop. Now, i've never had to do a repair install of Windows XP, dont when you start up, dont you go to boot menu and select which ever drive the CD or DVD is in? Because that's what I did and it didn't work. I put in my Vista RC1 DVD and did the same thing, and I got the option to "Boot from any cd or dvd" or w.e it says. unfortunately his laptop isnt good enough to run Vista.
So, any ideas on what I am doing wrong? Because all I want to do is a clean install of Windows XP Home on his laptop.
Thanks a lot in advance
and the OS that is on his laptop is Windows XP Home SP2
Posted by: seabrightjw
You can't get in bios to do a system restore either?
Posted by: pdnielsen
Did you do the burn of the ISO file to the disk as a straight "data disc?" If you did then it is NOT a bootable disc. You have to burn ISO files as "burn an image" to the disc or something similar for it to work. The way they phrase it might vary according to whatever burning software you are using. The way I've put it is from Nero.
Also, the fact that Windows XP is downloaded from the net might make a big difference. Even if you have a legit product key, the product from the net might not work with it as a legal OS so you'll have additional problems. I know this because I bought an additional license as well as a legitimate copy of Windows. When I tried applying the license's product key to a version of Windows XP that I had downloaded months before (just to see if it would work) it accepted the number just find during installation, but then when I tried downloading updates to that copy of Windows it failed the Genuine Windows Validation. That same number worked perfectly with the copy of Windows I had shipped to me. Also the number that I was given after the download worked perfectly with it as a multi-user license even though it did not with the copy from the net.
Posted by: rabidgecko
Well I don't know about that data disc or boot disc stuff, I burned my Vista RC1 with the same software that i used for this Windows XP cd. Its Sonic Recordnow btw, it came with my HP and it does what I want it to. And I didn't make it a Data project, I make it a CD or DVD Image project, so I'm guessing thats the right option.
The fact that I didnt put the ISO on a dvd wouldnt make a difference would it?
I guess I might try to find another file to download or see if any of my friends have one that I could borrow.
Any other ideas?
Oh and I checked BIOS but there is nothing in their either
Posted by: bellisimo
I don't know if this is considered un-kosher but if your friend's computer already has Win XP Home installed in it and is just missing some files you might be able to just borrow a Win XP disc from somebody and use it to do a sfc /scannow to replace the missing files. I'm pretty sure it will do it from anyone's disc.
Please let me know if by posting this reply it's inappropriate and I won't do this kind of thing again. I just felt since you're just trying to help a friend is might not be inappropriate.
Apologies if I'm wrong.
Posted by: rabidgecko
naw its ok i figured out that i didnt actually convert the .daa file to .iso, i just saved the .daa under a .iso file, kinda like a .exe in a .zip or something. but it's ok since I managed to find a win xp cd and do a fresh install off that, he didnt mind since he didn't have anything important on his laptop
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