Different Bios

  • Thread starter Thread starter B.W.
  • Start date Start date
B

B.W.

I am trying to clean up my PC and want to re-install Windows XP Home. The
reinstallation disc is an OEM from Dell. When I attempt to follow the
instructions I am told your Windows version is later than whats on the disc
and I can get no further than this. The option to contuinue anyway is
greyed out.

Could the reason for this be that in the past I have changed the BIOS,
(Flashed, I think it was called) After reading an article about doing this
it seemed like a good idea at the time. If this is the cause is there a way
around this problem.

Another question, some time in the past a Technician installed a Network
card and somehow tweaked the resouces to help it run. As I am totally non
tech I don't know what he did, and he is no longer around to ask, would I be
able to un tweak whatever he did and help speed up the performance for just
normal running, as I no longer require to use the network card anyway.
Would I have a problem in this area with reinstalling Windows because I have
no idea what the settings are for the Network card.

Any advice appreciated, but in laywomans terms please.

TIA

B.W.
 
|>I am trying to clean up my PC and want to re-install Windows XP Home. The
|>reinstallation disc is an OEM from Dell. When I attempt to follow the
|>instructions I am told your Windows version is later than whats on the disc
|>and I can get no further than this. The option to contuinue anyway is
|>greyed out.

You've most likely installed SP2 since installing the CD, if so you
need to slipstream your OS,
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp
 
Another question, some time in the past a Technician installed a Network
card and somehow tweaked the resouces to help it run. As I am totally non
tech I don't know what he did, and he is no longer around to ask, would I be
able to un tweak whatever he did and help speed up the performance for just
normal running, as I no longer require to use the network card anyway.
Would I have a problem in this area with reinstalling Windows because I have
no idea what the settings are for the Network card.

Any advice appreciated, but in laywomans terms please.

TIA

B.W.
Click to expand...
TCP Optimizer
http://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php
 
Thanks for the help. I will try and follow all the instructions but I don't
really understand the information below.

'Once the CD is created, you should test it on a non-critical system or in a
virtual machine such as those used by Microsoft Virtual PC and VMWare
Workstation.'

I would just have to test it out on the machine iteself. Would I not be
able to do that?

B.W.
 
|>Thanks for the help. I will try and follow all the instructions but I don't
|>really understand the information below.
|>
|>'Once the CD is created, you should test it on a non-critical system or in a
|>virtual machine such as those used by Microsoft Virtual PC and VMWare
|>Workstation.'
|>
|> I would just have to test it out on the machine iteself. Would I not be
|>able to do that?

They just want to make sure you or they didn't screw up the operation
by testing it first - the link has been up for a long time so any
problems in the info would of been fix'd; which means if you feel you
did everything right there should be no problem.

If you doing a Clean install - that would be your test :)

|>|>>I am trying to clean up my PC and want to re-install Windows XP Home. The
|>>reinstallation disc is an OEM from Dell. When I attempt to follow the
|>>instructions I am told your Windows version is later than whats on the disc
|>>and I can get no further than this. The option to contuinue anyway is
|>>greyed out.
|>>
|>> Could the reason for this be that in the past I have changed the BIOS,
|>> (Flashed, I think it was called) After reading an article about doing
|>> this it seemed like a good idea at the time. If this is the cause is
|>> there a way around this problem.
|>>
|>> Another question, some time in the past a Technician installed a Network
|>> card and somehow tweaked the resouces to help it run. As I am totally non
|>> tech I don't know what he did, and he is no longer around to ask, would I
|>> be able to un tweak whatever he did and help speed up the performance for
|>> just normal running, as I no longer require to use the network card
|>> anyway. Would I have a problem in this area with reinstalling Windows
|>> because I have no idea what the settings are for the Network card.
|>>
|>> Any advice appreciated, but in laywomans terms please.
|>>
|>> TIA
|>>
|>> B.W.
|>>
|>
 
B.W. said:
I am trying to clean up my PC and want to re-install Windows XP Home. The
reinstallation disc is an OEM from Dell. When I attempt to follow the
instructions I am told your Windows version is later than whats on the disc
and I can get no further than this. The option to contuinue anyway is
greyed out.
Click to expand...


This means that your installed OS is at a higher service pack level
than is the WinXP Pro CD you're using. You'll either need to uninstall
SP2 before attempting the upgrade, or try slipstreaming SP2 into the
upgrade.

For slip-streaming the service pack and subsequent updates to WinXP:

How to integrate software updates into your Windows installation source
files
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;828930

SlipStreaming WinXP
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm

Could the reason for this be that in the past I have changed the BIOS,
(Flashed, I think it was called) After reading an article about doing this
it seemed like a good idea at the time. If this is the cause is there a way
around this problem.
Click to expand...


The BIOS has nothing whatsoever to do with the version of WinXP being
detected.

Another question, some time in the past a Technician installed a Network
card and somehow tweaked the resouces to help it run. As I am totally non
tech I don't know what he did, and he is no longer around to ask, would I be
able to un tweak whatever he did and help speed up the performance for just
normal running, as I no longer require to use the network card anyway.
Would I have a problem in this area with reinstalling Windows because I have
no idea what the settings are for the Network card.
Click to expand...


No, you'll have no problems. I seriously doubt that the technician did
any serious "tweaking" (a term real technicians rarely use, by the way)
beyond installing and properly configuring the device NIC's drivers.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin
 
I am up to Step 2 in Slipstreaming and have run into a snag already. I have
a MS CD SP2 disc so am trying to use that. When you say copy this file to
that location you mean the exe file only not the whole disc? The problem is
that I can't stop the disc from Autoplaying. I have tried holding down the
shift key and also going into the drive properties and changing auto play to
take no action but it still insists on running. Any other way around this?

Also looking at the next part of Step 2 after going into cmd, when typing do
I need a different line for each command? The only way I know how to do
that is by hitting the ENTER key and that doesn't seem to be what's
required!

Thanks for your help

B.W.
 
|>I am up to Step 2 in Slipstreaming and have run into a snag already. I have
|>a MS CD SP2 disc so am trying to use that. When you say copy this file to
|>that location you mean the exe file only not the whole disc? The problem is
|>that I can't stop the disc from Autoplaying. I have tried holding down the
|>shift key and also going into the drive properties and changing auto play to
|>take no action but it still insists on running. Any other way around this?

Cancel out of the autoplay or open taskmanager and stop the process.
Also I think only the right shift key stops the autorun.

but yes just the XPSP2.EXE file from the CD

|>Also looking at the next part of Step 2 after going into cmd, when typing do
|>I need a different line for each command? The only way I know how to do
|>that is by hitting the ENTER key and that doesn't seem to be what's
|>required!

I don't know if this will make it easier or harder for you but
assuming your CMD opens to the C: drive do this:

Start | Run <type in> CMD /K mkdir c:\sp2 & cd \ & cd sp2 <enter>

Now <type> COPY [CD drive]:\XPSP2.EXE [ENTER]
Then <type> xpsp2.exe -x:c:\sp2 [ENTER]

Or else just follow the web page.

That would take you to step 3 just follow the directions
 
I could not use the commands in DOS as suggested as my CMD doesn't open
straight in C: and I've forgotten how to change dir ???

Anyway I was able to open CD by right clicking on CD but I don't see any exe
files, (maybe it didn't really open).

Is Autorun.exe the same as xpsp2.exe ?

All that show up are, Content folder and the files autorun.exe and
AUTORUN.INF

I really don't want to let this beat me......

Thanks for everyones help, sorry to be continuing this thead for so long.

B.W.
 
|>I could not use the commands in DOS as suggested as my CMD doesn't open
|>straight in C: and I've forgotten how to change dir ???

it can open anywhere on C drive but the command only works on C (as
does the web page directions)


|>Anyway I was able to open CD by right clicking on CD but I don't see any exe
|>files, (maybe it didn't really open).
|>
|>Is Autorun.exe the same as xpsp2.exe ?
|>
|>All that show up are, Content folder and the files autorun.exe and
|>AUTORUN.INF

Open Windows explorer in the menu select Tools then Folder Options

Under View
select show hidden files and folders
Uncheck hide extensions
Uncheck hide protected operating system
(ignore any warning messages)

They should show up now

Don't know about right click and opening the CD but just double click
on the icon will open it up.
 
After changing the file view options all of which were already in use apart
from the Uncheck hide protected operating system which I then unchecked as
suggested and rebooted just in case I needed to.

But unfortunately that file is still not showing up. There's a folder
called fullfixes with exe files in it but not the ones in question.

Thanks for everybodys help but it does look like it has beaten me after all.

B.W.
 
|>After changing the file view options all of which were already in use apart
|>from the Uncheck hide protected operating system which I then unchecked as
|>suggested and rebooted just in case I needed to.
|>
|>But unfortunately that file is still not showing up. There's a folder
|>called fullfixes with exe files in it but not the ones in question.

You can download the file http://tinyurl.com/5bobl

|>Thanks for everybodys help but it does look like it has beaten me after all.
|>
|>B.W.
|>
|>
|>
|>|>>
|>> |>I could not use the commands in DOS as suggested as my CMD doesn't open
|>> |>straight in C: and I've forgotten how to change dir ???
|>>
|>> it can open anywhere on C drive but the command only works on C (as
|>> does the web page directions)
|>>
|>>
|>> |>Anyway I was able to open CD by right clicking on CD but I don't see any
|>> exe
|>> |>files, (maybe it didn't really open).
|>> |>
|>> |>Is Autorun.exe the same as xpsp2.exe ?
|>> |>
|>> |>All that show up are, Content folder and the files autorun.exe and
|>> |>AUTORUN.INF
|>>
|>> Open Windows explorer in the menu select Tools then Folder Options
|>>
|>> Under View
|>> select show hidden files and folders
|>> Uncheck hide extensions
|>> Uncheck hide protected operating system
|>> (ignore any warning messages)
|>>
|>> They should show up now
|>>
|>> Don't know about right click and opening the CD but just double click
|>> on the icon will open it up.
|>>
|>> --
|>> http://blueballfixed.ytmnd.com/
|>
 
|>Is there anywhere I can just download the xpsp2.exe then use my own disc.

Apparently not, you would use XPSP2.EXE and your XPCD

|>
|>|>>
|>> |>After changing the file view options all of which were already in use
|>> apart
|>> |>from the Uncheck hide protected operating system which I then unchecked
|>> as
|>> |>suggested and rebooted just in case I needed to.
|>> |>
|>> |>But unfortunately that file is still not showing up. There's a folder
|>> |>called fullfixes with exe files in it but not the ones in question.
|>>
|>> You can download the file http://tinyurl.com/5bobl
|>>
|>> |>Thanks for everybodys help but it does look like it has beaten me after
|>> all.
|>> |>
|>> |>B.W.
|>> |>
|>> |>
|>> |>
|>> |>|>> |>>
|>> |>> |>I could not use the commands in DOS as suggested as my CMD doesn't
|>> open
|>> |>> |>straight in C: and I've forgotten how to change dir ???
|>> |>>
|>> |>> it can open anywhere on C drive but the command only works on C (as
|>> |>> does the web page directions)
|>> |>>
|>> |>>
|>> |>> |>Anyway I was able to open CD by right clicking on CD but I don't see
|>> any
|>> |>> exe
|>> |>> |>files, (maybe it didn't really open).
|>> |>> |>
|>> |>> |>Is Autorun.exe the same as xpsp2.exe ?
|>> |>> |>
|>> |>> |>All that show up are, Content folder and the files autorun.exe and
|>> |>> |>AUTORUN.INF
|>> |>>
|>> |>> Open Windows explorer in the menu select Tools then Folder Options
|>> |>>
|>> |>> Under View
|>> |>> select show hidden files and folders
|>> |>> Uncheck hide extensions
|>> |>> Uncheck hide protected operating system
|>> |>> (ignore any warning messages)
|>> |>>
|>> |>> They should show up now
|>> |>>
|>> |>> Don't know about right click and opening the CD but just double click
|>> |>> on the icon will open it up.
|>> |>>
|>> |>> --
|>> |>> http://blueballfixed.ytmnd.com/
|>> |>
|>>
|>>
|>> --
|>> http://blueballfixed.ytmnd.com/
|>
 
It will be a big download for me on a slow broadband connection and we pay
for our monthly useage out here. So do you think however that if I did
download the whole thing from MS that I would then be able to see this
XPSP2.exe file?

B.W.
 
|>It will be a big download for me on a slow broadband connection and we pay
|>for our monthly useage out here. So do you think however that if I did
|>download the whole thing from MS that I would then be able to see this
|>XPSP2.exe file?

all you'd be downloading is the EXE file.

This could be a trade off
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx
shorter http://tinyurl.com/6g675

They (MS) used to mail this for free (how I got mine) now you need to
pay shipping - but it's an option.

|>|>>
|>> |>Is there anywhere I can just download the xpsp2.exe then use my own
|>> disc.
|>>
|>> Apparently not, you would use XPSP2.EXE and your XPCD
|>>
|>> |>
|>> |>|>> |>>
|>> |>> |>After changing the file view options all of which were already in
|>> use
|>> |>> apart
|>> |>> |>from the Uncheck hide protected operating system which I then
|>> unchecked
|>> |>> as
|>> |>> |>suggested and rebooted just in case I needed to.
|>> |>> |>
|>> |>> |>But unfortunately that file is still not showing up. There's a
|>> folder
|>> |>> |>called fullfixes with exe files in it but not the ones in question.
|>> |>>
|>> |>> You can download the file http://tinyurl.com/5bobl
|>> |>>
|>> |>> |>Thanks for everybodys help but it does look like it has beaten me
|>> after
|>> |>> all.
|>> |>> |>
|>> |>> |>B.W.
|>> |>> |>
|>> |>> |>
|>> |>> |>
|>> |>> |>|>> |>> |>>
|>> |>> |>> |>I could not use the commands in DOS as suggested as my CMD
|>> doesn't
|>> |>> open
|>> |>> |>> |>straight in C: and I've forgotten how to change dir ???
|>> |>> |>>
|>> |>> |>> it can open anywhere on C drive but the command only works on C
|>> (as
|>> |>> |>> does the web page directions)
|>> |>> |>>
|>> |>> |>>
|>> |>> |>> |>Anyway I was able to open CD by right clicking on CD but I don't
|>> see
|>> |>> any
|>> |>> |>> exe
|>> |>> |>> |>files, (maybe it didn't really open).
|>> |>> |>> |>
|>> |>> |>> |>Is Autorun.exe the same as xpsp2.exe ?
|>> |>> |>> |>
|>> |>> |>> |>All that show up are, Content folder and the files autorun.exe
|>> and
|>> |>> |>> |>AUTORUN.INF
|>> |>> |>>
|>> |>> |>> Open Windows explorer in the menu select Tools then Folder Options
|>> |>> |>>
|>> |>> |>> Under View
|>> |>> |>> select show hidden files and folders
|>> |>> |>> Uncheck hide extensions
|>> |>> |>> Uncheck hide protected operating system
|>> |>> |>> (ignore any warning messages)
|>> |>> |>>
|>> |>> |>> They should show up now
|>> |>> |>>
|>> |>> |>> Don't know about right click and opening the CD but just double
|>> click
|>> |>> |>> on the icon will open it up.
|>> |>> |>>
|>> |>> |>> --
|>> |>> |>> http://blueballfixed.ytmnd.com/
|>> |>> |>
|>> |>>
|>> |>>
|>> |>> --
|>> |>> http://blueballfixed.ytmnd.com/
|>> |>
|>>
|>>
|>> --
|>> http://blueballfixed.ytmnd.com/
|>
 
Thanks for all the help. I have now decided to go the other route and
uninstall SP2 and all the patches and reinstall XP2 and put SP2 back
on......I Hope ;-)

Many thanks for all the help it was worth a shot as it would have been nice
to have had the meshed disc for my other PC when the time comes for a
reinstall on it.

B.W.
 
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