installing xp pro over xp media center

[lmn1220]

hi,
can i install xp pro over media center? if so how do i go about it?

we have some corrupted files, like no sys restore. computer had a virus or
worm and i believe its gone. tried using recovery disc that came with
computer and it doesnt work.

thanks

 

[Malke]

hi,
can i install xp pro over media center? if so how do i go about it?

we have some corrupted files, like no sys restore. computer had a virus or
worm and i believe its gone. tried using recovery disc that came with
computer and it doesnt work.

No. XP Media Center is a *super*set of XP Pro. IOW, Media Center is Pro with
media additions. I don't know why your recovery disk isn't working, but
you'd need to post back with how you're trying to do the recovery and what
came with the computer.

You need to boot with the recovery disk, not try to use it from within
Windows.

More details such as the make of your computer, what operating system you
are currently running (and why it doesn't match the recovery disk) will
help you give you a more focused answer.

Malke

 

[lmn1220]

hi malke,

its a compaq presario, os: xp media center sp3. the computer had 2 worms
used ms malicious tool remover did not take notice what worm. tool remover
removed it. ran scans with AVG. and tried contacting MS support but they
could not connect or do an online scan with norman_malware and a couple other
things. this happened about 3 weeks ago so i dont think it was the conficker
worm.

what happened was there is no sys restore we click it and it come up but
blank. i put in the recovery disk and booted up from the disk and it just
came to a point that it stopped.

also i was able to download norman malware but when i tried to accept it it
was grayed out. that's the problem too, certain sites cant click on links or
buttons.

 

[Malke]

hi malke,

its a compaq presario, os: xp media center sp3. the computer had 2 worms
used ms malicious tool remover did not take notice what worm. tool
remover
removed it. ran scans with AVG. and tried contacting MS support but they
could not connect or do an online scan with norman_malware and a couple
other
things. this happened about 3 weeks ago so i dont think it was the
conficker worm.

what happened was there is no sys restore we click it and it come up but
blank. i put in the recovery disk and booted up from the disk and it just
came to a point that it stopped.

also i was able to download norman malware but when i tried to accept it
it
was grayed out. that's the problem too, certain sites cant click on links
or buttons.

There is a big difference between Windows System Restore and HP/Compaq's
Recovery process. Windows System Restore will restore selected files to a
previous state.

Here is a list of files and folders System Restore monitors -
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/filesfolders.html

The HP/Compaq Recovery process will return your computer to factory
condition. All your data and programs you installed will be gone. Is this
what you really wanted? If yes AND YOUR DATA IS ALREADY BACKED UP TO
EXTERNAL MEDIA - Press F10 as the computer is starting up. This will get
you to the HP/Compaq Recovery process. Choose the Advanced option and do a
full destructive factory restore. Afterwards you will need to remove all
the preinstalled obsolete/unwanted/trial software and do all Windows
Updates, install any missing Service Packs, etc. Some HP/Compaq machines
have a different keypress to enter the Recovery process. Refer to your
computer manual or HP's tech support site for your specific model machine
if F10 isn't the correct key for your machine.

If you want to try and clean your machine first (because your computer is
still infected), go through these general malware removal steps
systematically -
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Include scanning with David Lipman's Multi_AV and follow instructions to do
all scans in Safe Mode. Please see the special Notes regarding using
Multi_AV in Vista.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Multi-AV - instructions
http://tinyurl.com/yoeru3 - download link and more instructions

When all else fails, get guided help. Choose one of the specialty forums
listed at the "Removing_Malware" link. Register and read its posting FAQ.
PLEASE DO NOT POST LOGS IN THE MS NEWSGROUPS.

If you can't do the work yourself (and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea), take the machine to a professional computer repair
shop (not your local equivalent of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). Please be
aware that not all local shops are skilled at removing malware and even if
they are, your computer may be so infested that Windows will need to be
clean-installed. If possible, have all your data backed up before you take
the machine into a shop.

Malke

 

[lmn1220]

i've tried f10 and system restore, recovery disk and nothing worked. the
problem is the computer will NOT let me use any online scanning. i cant go to
those sites the computer know or files are missing. it seems java maybe
corrupted because i cant click on certain things on sites.

 

[Malke]

i've tried f10 and system restore, recovery disk and nothing worked. the
problem is the computer will NOT let me use any online scanning. i cant go
to
those sites the computer know or files are missing. it seems java maybe
corrupted because i cant click on certain things on sites.

Sorry, but the above doesn't make any sense. If you have really tried to
return your computer to factory condition and the recovery process failed,
you have hardware issues. What error message did you get? What happened
when you tried?

If you destroyed the small recovery partition that allows the F10 recovery
process to work, then booting with the recovery disk you made when you
first got the computer should do the same thing. If you have correctly
booted from the recovery disk and the recovery process fails - with what
error message? what exactly happens? - then you have hardware issues,
either on the computer and/or the recovery disk has been damaged. Not
keeping the recovery disk set in CD sleeves can do this. A badly scratched
CD/DVD won't read correctly. In this case, contact HP tech support or if
the machine is out of warranty take it to a competent local computer
technician. I don't recommend using a BigComputerStore/GeekSquad type of
place.

As for not being able to use online scanning, I don't like any online
scanners to remove malware anyway. If you went to the link I gave you to
remove malware, you would have seen this. You can't do online scanning
because your computer is still infected. Either remove the malware as
already suggested, or restore your computer to factory condition (which
will only work if the hardware is healthy), or take your machine to a
professional for diagnosis/repair. It's your choice of course.

Malke

 

[lmn1220]

got an error: error 2:/winint/system32/restore.log missing.

that's the only error i recall. the odd thing is i can get on the internet
but like i stated earlier cant click on links, cant put passwords in, or
anything to get help.

im pretty computer literate and i cant figure this out.

i figure the virus is gone, hopefully, but it messed up some files obviously.

i can try again with the recovery disk or f10 and then i could report
exactly what happens.

so installing xp pro over xp media will not help huh?

thanks

 

[Malke]

got an error: error 2:/winint/system32/restore.log missing.

that's the only error i recall. the odd thing is i can get on the internet
but like i stated earlier cant click on links, cant put passwords in, or
anything to get help.

im pretty computer literate and i cant figure this out.

i figure the virus is gone, hopefully, but it messed up some files
obviously.

i can try again with the recovery disk or f10 and then i could report
exactly what happens.

so installing xp pro over xp media will not help huh?

It sounds to me like your computer is still infected. As I previously said,
either clean it up, or restore it to factory condition, or take it to a
computer tech. I really don't have anything further to add to this.

And once again you have failed to explain how XP Pro comes into this
(perhaps you have a retail copy of XP Pro lying around) but the answer is
the same: no, you cannot install XP Pro over XP Media Center. You could do
a clean install of XP Pro, but you would then need to install all the
drivers for your hardware. You should use the HP/Compaq recovery process
instead.

Malke

 

[lmn1220]

thanks malke. i have a retail copy of xp pro. this is my daughters computer
that has the problem and i dont use xp pro anymore have a laptop with vista.

i hate to say it but we'll probably just reformat it.

thanks for your help

 

[Twayne]

No. XP Media Center is a *super*set of XP Pro. IOW, Media Center is
Pro with media additions. I don't know why your recovery disk isn't
working, but you'd need to post back with how you're trying to do the
recovery and what came with the computer.

You need to boot with the recovery disk, not try to use it from within
Windows.

More details such as the make of your computer, what operating system
you are currently running (and why it doesn't match the recovery
disk) will help you give you a more focused answer.

Malke

To clarify a tad: XP Pro is the foundation upon which the media centers
reside. The install process is to set up partitions, install XP Pro,
and then install the media stuff. XP media center contains the exact
same XP Pro as you and anyone else uses without a media center machine.
Dell and many other sites will make that clear with a little reading
effort. I've installed several media center machnines from scratch.
Skip the recovery partitions and skip the media center install and you
have ... XP Pro!

HTH,

Twayne

 

[Twayne]

hi,
can i install xp pro over media center? if so how do i go about it?

we have some corrupted files, like no sys restore. computer had a
virus or worm and i believe its gone. tried using recovery disc that
came with computer and it doesnt work.

thanks

Depending on what you were given for install disks, yes, maybe, and
possibly no.

Is it possible the supplied recovery disk was just inserted at the wrong
time for the install process to work? Were there prerequisites for it?
In order to keep the media center part, there were definitely other
things to do first. There are specific sequences to do these things,
and even specific key squences to trigger the ondisk restoration if you
haven't removed it or formatted it out of existance.

As you described it, it's probably not going to work very well. A
better way to do it is first decide whether you want to keep the media
center part and proceed from there by saying so. Then describe your
system and what you have to work with. There is a good possibility
someone here has the same setup and can help you.

It's always in the details.

HTH,

Twayne

 

[lmn1220]

hi twayne,

my daughter made the recovery disk when she first got the computer she was
prompted to do that. so possibly she did something wrong. if not i'll try one
more time with the recovry disk.

i'm tired of working with the computer and i may just reformat it. she
saving her files, pictures & document. i told her to scan them to make sure
there are no viruses and start from scratch. what a pain in the butt.

thanks, maybe i will try to post elsewhere about the virus issue. this was
initially about doing a clean install.

thanks