A computer problem no one here can fix!

[Guest]

This is how it all started. I installed 512 mb pc2700 ram onto my Dell
computer. Later I installed Halo for pc. All of the sudden all these blue
error screens came up (the ones you have to restart your computer). I kept
restarting whenever the blue screens came up.
One day I turned on my computer and right before the welcome screen I got
the blue screen saying "Registry_Error". I could not and still cannot use my
computer at all. I tried buying the Windows XP home edition disk to fix it.

I stupidly deleted the system and system32 folders (using repair console
from windows xp upgrade disk). Now, whenever I turn on the computer, right
before the "Windows xp home edition" screen it stops and has the blinking
underscore.

I tried using the windows xp (upgrade) by pressing F12 on startup then
selecting CD-rom. It loads to the point of where it sais that I can either
repair it or install it. I choose to install.... but when it gets to reading
the disk it sais that I cannot read or the disk is invalid. It will not go
any further.

I've tried putting the hard drive onto my other crappy computer with the
same operating system and putting files back and trying to restore the system
and system32 folder files. That didn't work.

I've tried the windows xp "transfer files and settings to your new
computer". It put one file 700MB on my hard drive.

Does anyone think they know how to fix this?

 

[JJ]

One problem that you may have is the XP upgrade disk needs a qualifying
previous Windows disk. What you need to do is a reformat and reinstall a
full Windows XP. JJ

 

[Comp Tech]

Hello;
You are going to have to do a complete install.
Remove external items like Printers, external hard drives, lan cables, etc.
Boot to the XP CD. Do Install.(make sure you have your hardware drivers for
the sound card, video and motherboard available.

 

[Martin]

Are you really really sure thats its the correct RAM you installed??

 

[Guest]

How can I do a complete install? It sais that it can't read my windows xp
home edition update disk. It sais that is it either invalid or that it cant
read it.

 

[Guest]

Yes, my other ram that is installed is a 256mb pc2700. The new one I bought
is a 512mb pc2700. If the ram was really different, it would not work.

 

[Comp Tech]

Well;
1st. You are going to have to buy, rent, steal, a VALID WINDOWS XP CD
(with COA) Then install it. How were you planing to upgrade your computer
without having a "Qualifying Product" ?
This is a definite case where the computer should have been taken to a
"Qualified" technician, or at least to a knowledgable person for repair.

Good Day

 

[Guest]

Hmmm, or I could buy a windows xp full version disk for a whoping $200, use
it, then return it the next day and get my money back. I bought an upgrade
disk so I'll use the product key for that. Let's just hope it works.

I already called a computer store and they said that if they were to fix it,
it would be $63 an hour! Why ask them when I can fix the problem myself?

I've fixed harder things than this before.

 

[Guest]

Yeah, that's what I'm going to do.... except I'm going to buy the full
version disk for $200. I will use it then return it to the store and get my
money back. $200 for a Windows XP is outrageous.

 

[Chuck]

Hmmm, or I could buy a windows xp full version disk for a whoping $200, use
it, then return it the next day and get my money back. I bought an upgrade
disk so I'll use the product key for that. Let's just hope it works.

I already called a computer store and they said that if they were to fix it,
it would be $63 an hour! Why ask them when I can fix the problem myself?

I've fixed harder things than this before.

Please let us know what store you "buy" Windows XP from, use it for an install,
then return the install material (including license?) for full credit.

I would really like to know, so I can avoid ever buying software there.

Windows XP is an activated product; after you activate a given serial
(associated with the COA), that serial is unusable ever again, on any other
computer. How will you feel if you buy it, install it, but can't activate it
cause it was already activated by the idiot who just installed it then returned
it before you.

I agree $200 for an operating system, particularly when they don't support it
(unless you buy a premium contract), sucks big. But you can't install it then
return the install material for a credit.

 

[jazz]

here is what you do,

place the old mainboard and parts back inot the dell computer. reload the
sytem restore stuff and get it updated download the latest service packs
from microsoft. sp1 might work but sp2 should definatley work. Then you
slipstream the orgininal cd to produce a fully working install cd that will
use the original dell numbers. If the dell came with arestore partition
instead of recovery cds and you have deleted that aprtition you can
slipstream a cd from someone elses dell running the same operating system.
Replace your upgraded parts and then do a repair install.

Another thing you can try is, taking the cd and drive to another computer.
copying the entire i386 folder to the drive then with it in the original
computer boot to a startup disk with ntfs support (you will probably need to
buy a ntfs driver for read write access.) that you make with a running
system. you should be able to start the instal process from there. This will
run from the disk and not have issues with reading from the cdrom. You might
even be able to specify the i386 directory and the startup from one of the
windows startup disks downloaded from thier site.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310994/EN-US/

 

[Mikey]

I doubt that will work. I've never heard of any store that will give a person
their money back for an opened box of software. They'll exchange the software
(for the exact same thing) if the CD is defective. But give you your money
back? I doubt it. If they did, then everyone would be buying software,
installing it on their computers and then returning it to get their money back.

 

[NoneOfBusiness]

This is how it all started. I installed 512 mb pc2700 ram onto my Dell
computer. Later I installed Halo for pc. All of the sudden all these blue
error screens came up (the ones you have to restart your computer). I kept
restarting whenever the blue screens came up.
One day I turned on my computer and right before the welcome screen I got
the blue screen saying "Registry_Error". I could not and still cannot use my
computer at all. I tried buying the Windows XP home edition disk to fix it.

I stupidly deleted the system and system32 folders (using repair console
from windows xp upgrade disk). Now, whenever I turn on the computer, right
before the "Windows xp home edition" screen it stops and has the blinking
underscore.

I tried using the windows xp (upgrade) by pressing F12 on startup then
selecting CD-rom. It loads to the point of where it sais that I can either
repair it or install it. I choose to install.... but when it gets to reading
the disk it sais that I cannot read or the disk is invalid. It will not go
any further.

I've tried putting the hard drive onto my other crappy computer with the
same operating system and putting files back and trying to restore the system
and system32 folder files. That didn't work.

I've tried the windows xp "transfer files and settings to your new
computer". It put one file 700MB on my hard drive.

Does anyone think they know how to fix this?

Have you considered that the memory you purchased was defective? It
happens quite a bit, at least it seems more so with DDR than regular
SDRAM.
You can check this by using Memtest86 http://www.memtest.org/

 

[Guest]

Monarch Computer Systems, on the net has win xp home w/ SP2 (2002) version
for 90 bucks.