Help with XP Professional

[Ken]

Hello,

Having a problem with XP Professional. I built my PC
from scratch and used multi-license XP CD from my old
college to install the OS into my PC. Now, I am not a
student anymore so I can't get tech support...

Now, when I boot up my PC, XP process to launch and get
to the introduction page where you pick user to log in.
After log in to my name, I see my background but
the "Start" and toolbar (At bottom of the screen with
clock and etc) doesn't show up at all. I don't know what
is wrong. I receive no error warning message. The only
way I can use my PC is by go to Control+ALT+Delete and
then go to "New Task" to launch any program I desire to
use.

So can anyone please be kind and help this poor guy
out?

 

[Steve C. Ray]

Since you are no longer a student I don't think you qualify to use that
license. Why not purchase XP Pro and do a repair installation, using the new
Product Key? This way you will have a valid license and won't be facing
these types of problems in the future.

 

[Ken]

Steve,

I don't know why you think I don't qualify. Once it has
been installed by the tech support team, I am entitled to
that OS for as long as I can use it since I am on their
list and they have provided me a back-up CD, which I
still have in my possession. So I don't see why I need
to go and buy another XP Pro if I already have one in my
hand?????

I have tried to run the CD but I don't see repair
installation. Is there a way to do this that I am not
aware of? Thanks!

 

[Steve C. Ray]

Ken, try a repair install. Follow these instructions:

Boot the computer from the XP CD-ROM, (you may have to go into BIOS and set
your CD drive as the first boot device)

When the computer starts from the CD, the system checks your hardware

and then prompts you to select one of the following options:

To set up Windows XP now, press ENTER.

To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.

To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.


Press ENTER.


Press F8 to accept the Licensing Agreement.

A box lists your current Windows XP installation, and then the system

prompts you to select one of the following options:

To repair the selected Windows XP installation, press R.

To continue installing a fresh copy of Windows XP without repairing, press
ESC.

Press R to start the automatic repair process. After repairing Windows XP,

you will need re-download all updates, starting with SP1.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Having a problem with XP Professional. I built my PC
from scratch and used multi-license XP CD from my old
college to install the OS into my PC. Now, I am not a
student anymore so I can't get tech support...

Now, when I boot up my PC, XP process to launch and get
to the introduction page where you pick user to log in.

In that case you are not entitled to use that academic license -
certainly not on a different machine than before. Go buy a copy